Configure Custom Dining Options

Last updated: Jun 16, 2026, 2:11 PM

Learn how to create custom dining options and set their behavior, and how to use dining options on your POS device.

In this Article:

 

Create and manage dining options in Toast Web to control how orders behave for dine-in, takeout, delivery, and curbside. You can set restaurant-wide or device-specific defaults, prompt servers to select a dining option on every order, and archive options you no longer need.

 

Before You Begin

Applies to: Toast Web, Toast POS

 

Permissions needed:

  • 6.2 Kitchen/Dining Room Setup
  • 7.1 Terminal Set-up to assign a default dining option on the POS.

 

What you'll accomplish: Create custom dining options, set their behavior, and control how they appear and default across your devices.

 

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Create a Custom Dining Option

 

Video overview: Set up custom dining options.

 

Toast pre-populates four dining options — Dine In, Take Out, Delivery, and Curbside — when you first set up your account. You can customize these names and add new options at any time.

 

  1. In Toast Web, navigate to Kitchen > Dining options > Dining options.
  2. Select +Add to create a new dining option, or select an existing option to edit it.
  3. In the Name field, enter a name for the dining option. You can also edit the names of the pre-populated options.
  4. Under Behavior, select how the dining option functions. The behavior you select determines what information is required when staff create orders with that option:
    • Dine In: For orders where the guest stays at the restaurant. Supports table number and server assignments.
    • Takeout: For orders where the guest picks up. Requires customer information.
    • Curbside: A type of takeout that also requires curbside pickup information.
    • Delivery: For orders delivered to the guest. Requires customer and delivery information.
  5. Configure the following optional settings:
    • Select the Default checkbox to make this the default dining option for new orders. When staff create a new order, this option is pre-selected unless they change it manually.
    • Select the Show on POS checkbox to make this dining option accessible to floor staff on the POS. Deselect this to use the dining option for third-party delivery providers only — it will remain active for integrations, but staff cannot select it on the POS.
    • Select the Future checkbox if orders using this dining option must be scheduled for a future time.
  6. Select Save and Publish to push your changes to your devices.

 

Expected outcome: Your dining option appears in the list at Kitchen > Dining options > Dining options and is available on your POS devices after the next sync.

 

Note: The Show on POS setting does not enable the dining option modifier group on the order screen. To allow staff to change the dining option per item on an order, see Optimize Your Order Screen With Additional Ordering Tools.

 

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Assign a Default Dining Option to a Device

Default dining options can apply across your entire restaurant or to a specific device. Use this setting when a particular terminal or handheld should default to a different dining option than your restaurant-wide default — for example, a bar POS that should default to Dine In while the host stand defaults to Takeout.

 

  1. On the POS main menu dashboard, navigate to Setup > Device Setup.
  2. Scroll down and select Device Default Dining Options.
  3. Select the default dining option for this device.

 

Expected outcome: All new orders created on this device default to the dining option you selected.

 

Note: You cannot set different default dining options for Quick Order mode and Table Service mode on the same device. If you need different defaults per mode, staff must manually change the dining option when creating an order.

 

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Require Servers to Select a Dining Option

If servers are starting orders without selecting a dining option, you can configure Toast to prompt them before the order is sent or paid.

 

  1. In Toast Web, navigate to Front of House > Order screen setup > UI options.
  2. Scroll to the Order Screen section and select Yes for Prompt for Dining Option?.
  3. Select Save and Publish.

 

Expected outcome: In Quick Order mode, servers are prompted to select a dining option after selecting Pay or Send.

 

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Track Sales by Dining Option

Sales Summary and Sales Breakdown reports in Toast Web show net sales and order counts broken down by dining option. Any order that is not assigned to a dining option appears in reports under None.

 

For a full overview of available sales reports, see Sales Reports Overview.

 

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Archive a Dining Option

If your restaurant no longer needs a dining option, you can archive it to remove it from active use.

 

To archive a dining option, select the three horizontal dots next to the option and select Archive.

 

To unarchive a previously archived dining option, contact Toast Customer Care.

 

For dining options that you cannot edit or remove yourself, see Remove Uneditable Dining Options.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I see my dining option on the POS?

A dining option may not appear on the POS if the Show on POS checkbox for that option is deselected. After saving and publishing the option, verify the Show on POS checkbox is selected in Kitchen > Dining options > Dining options. For step-by-step troubleshooting, see Enable Dining Option on the POS.

 

Also asked as:

    • My dining option isn't showing up on the POS
    • How do I make a dining option visible to staff?

 

What happens to orders that don't have a dining option assigned?

Orders without an assigned dining option appear under None in your Sales Summary and Sales Breakdown reports. To reduce unassigned orders, set a restaurant-wide default dining option using the Default checkbox on the option, or enable Prompt for Dining Option? to require servers to select one on every order.

 

Also asked as:

    • Where do unassigned dining option orders show in reports?

 

Can I set different default dining options for Quick Order and Table Service modes?

You cannot set different default dining options for Quick Order and Table Service modes on the same device. The device default applies to all modes on that device. If staff need to use a different dining option for specific orders, they must change it manually on the order screen.

 

Also asked as:

    • Can I have a different default per service mode?

 

Can I reassign a dining option to a past order?

You cannot reassign a dining option to a past order. At this time, past orders only support reassignment of guest count, revenue center, and sales category.

 

Also asked as:

    • How do I change the dining option on a completed order?

 

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