Baresto Manager

Overview

Baresto Manager brings several restaurant floor and service workflows together in one locally run system: QR menus for guests, mobile ordering for waiters, a kitchen display, cashier checkout and manager reports. It is open source under the MIT license and has no license fee or SaaS subscription. Day-to-day service can run on the venue’s local network without an always-on internet connection.

The system runs locally on port 8765. Windows installation uses a GitHub ZIP and launcher; macOS and Linux installation requires Python 3.11 or later. Internet access is needed to download and update the software, even though it is not required throughout daily service.

The live demo is shared, and its site cautions against entering real customer data because information may be reset periodically. For teams setting up a venue, optional paid installation support is available through the contact form, including help with Windows setup, networking and initial configuration.

Key features

Table and waiter workflows

Waiters can work from table and floor-plan views, place mobile orders, send items to the kitchen and mark them delivered. When service is finished, they can close a table with payment. The product supports password access as well as four-digit PIN login, with separate admin, manager, waiter, kitchen and cashier roles.

Kitchen display and routing

The kitchen display organizes tickets by table and lets staff update dish status. Filters separate kitchen, bar and grill stations, while real-time alerts help staff follow incoming work. Baresto Manager supports station routing and order status tracking. The display platform is web-based.

Guest QR menu

Guests can open a public menu using a QR code. The menu supports Greek and English, lists allergens and item availability, and includes a call-waiter button. Venues can use codes assigned to individual tables or shared codes.

Checkout and reporting

The cashier workflow supports closing a bill with cash or card and printing a receipt. Managers can review revenue, orders and top items, then export reports as CSV.

Guidance for staff

A bilingual staff guide covers the main roles: waiters, kitchen staff, cashiers, managers and administrators. This provides role-specific guidance across the service and management workflows described for the system.

Pricing

Baresto Manager is free: the listed plan is free, billed Free to run. There is no license fee or SaaS subscription. The software is open source under the MIT license. Optional paid installation support is separate from the free plan.

Platforms

Baresto Manager is listed for Linux, macOS, web and Windows. It is deployed on premise and runs locally at the venue; the kitchen display is web-based. Linux and macOS setup requires Python 3.11 or later, while Windows setup uses a GitHub ZIP and launcher. Daily operation can use the venue’s LAN or Wi-Fi without always-on internet, but downloads and updates require internet access.

Who it's for

Baresto Manager may suit restaurants that want QR menus, waiter ordering, kitchen ticket handling and cashier checkout in a single local system, particularly where continued internet access during service is not practical. Its role-based logins and bilingual guide address teams with distinct front-of-house, kitchen and management responsibilities. Because setup differs by operating system and some installations require Python 3.11 or later, venues should account for those requirements when choosing who will install and maintain it.

Teams evaluating a kitchen display can also browse Kitchen Display System Software.

Pros and cons

Pros

• No license fee or SaaS subscription; open source under the MIT license.
• Daily service can run on the venue’s LAN or Wi-Fi without always-on internet.
• Combines table ordering, kitchen station views, QR menus, checkout and CSV reports.
• Offers role-based access, Greek and English guest menus, and a bilingual staff guide.

Cons

• Installation has specific requirements: Windows uses a GitHub ZIP and launcher, while macOS and Linux require Python 3.11 or later.
• Internet is still needed for downloads and updates.
• The shared demo is not suitable for real customer data, which may be reset periodically.
• Installation support is optional and paid.

Alternatives

Other options in the restaurant and kitchen display space include Odoo Restaurant, FloCafe KDS, Ordering.Tools, HungerRush, Lightspeed Restaurant, NodeDR OrderRestro, ZeusPOS KDS and ChefDesk.

Verdict

Baresto Manager’s clearest distinction is its locally run, free and open-source approach, paired with a broad set of restaurant workflows: guests can browse QR menus, staff can manage tables and route orders, kitchen teams can track tickets, and cashiers can close bills. Reports add basic management visibility through revenue, order and top-item summaries with CSV export.

The trade-off is that the venue must handle installation and local setup, with different procedures for Windows versus macOS and Linux. Internet is not needed throughout daily service, but remains necessary for downloads and updates, and the shared demo should not be used with real customer data. For venues comfortable with those conditions, Baresto Manager covers a substantial range of day-to-day restaurant operations without a recurring software subscription.