Map each restaurant service model before buying
“The counter” means different things in a full-service dining room, a quick-service restaurant, and a takeout operation. Choose the product placement only after identifying where the guest experience genuinely ends.
| Service model | Completed handoff | Useful stand position |
|---|---|---|
| Counter service | Food is delivered or the pickup process is clear and payment is complete | Exit side of the service counter |
| Full service | The check and tip decision are complete and the guest is leaving | Host stand or another natural exit point |
| Takeout | The complete order is in the guest’s hands | Guest side of the pickup shelf or counter |
| Catering pickup | Order review and pickup paperwork are complete | Final pickup station, away from production |
| Delivery only | No stable in-person guest handoff | A fixed counter stand may not fit this workflow |
This completion rule should apply consistently. If an order problem occurs, follow the restaurant’s normal recovery process. Do not reserve the Google invitation for guests who appear delighted while routing everyone else to a private survey.
Use the available stand where it fits
Current WhyILike stands combine passive NFC and a visible QR code, need no battery, and open a managed destination selected by the account owner. The destination can be updated through a free WhyILike account without requiring a paid software subscription while the service operates.
For a restaurant with one shared exit, begin with one stand. A separate takeout counter or event pickup point may justify another stand only if it has its own complete handoff. For multiple locations, each device needs an explicit profile assignment even when the physical units look identical.
Portable cards can fit tableside or curbside situations in theory, but WhyILike review cards are not currently available for purchase on this store. Do not promise servers or delivery staff a product that has not launched. The current option is a fixed indoor WhyILike review stand in one-, three-, or five-pack configurations.
Separate the review invitation from tipping
A review prompt beside a tip screen can feel like part of the same decision. Place the stand beyond the payment device whenever possible and mention it only after the receipt and tip interaction are finished.
For counter service, staff can say:
If you’d like to share an honest review, you can tap or scan here.
For a host or manager at the exit:
If you’d like to share feedback publicly, the stand can take you to our review page. It’s optional.
Do not ask for five stars, name a dish the guest should praise, stand over the phone, or ask whether the review was submitted. The guest controls whether to continue and what to write.
Place the hardware for service, scanning, and cleaning
The final position must work during the busiest part of a real shift. Test it from the guest side rather than from behind the counter.
- Keep the stand outside food-preparation and beverage-splash zones.
- Avoid hot surfaces, direct spray, and clutter that blocks the QR code.
- Leave enough room for a phone without crossing the payment terminal.
- Check for glare under daytime and evening lighting.
- Follow the product care guidance and return the stand to the marked position after cleaning.
The current stand is intended for a stable indoor counter. A patio host station exposed to weather, a drive-through window, or a curbside parking space calls for a different placement decision rather than assuming the same product will work.
Build the request into the shift without quotas
Use a five-part operating routine:
- Opening test. A manager or shift lead taps and scans the stand and confirms the location name that opens.
- Position check. Staff keep the stand visible at the documented final handoff.
- Neutral invitation. The designated employee uses the same short sentence after the transaction is complete.
- No observation. Staff move on instead of watching the guest’s screen.
- Closing reset. Clean, inspect, and return the stand to its marked location.
Train for availability and consistency, not review volume. A contest between servers, stores, or shifts based on ratings or review count can encourage pressure, selective asking, or incentives.
Follow Google and FTC review rules
Google currently allows businesses to remind customers to leave reviews and to share a review link or QR code. It requires reviews to reflect genuine experiences and prohibits benefits such as discounts or free items in exchange for reviews.
That means a restaurant should not offer an appetizer, dessert, loyalty credit, coupon, sweepstakes entry, employee benefit, or other reward for a Google review. The FTC also advises businesses not to ask only the people they believe will leave positive reviews and to understand the rules of the review platform being used.
Policy can change, so recheck the linked official sources when the restaurant updates signage, promotions, or staff training.
Keep each location mapped correctly
For a restaurant group, create a device register with:
- restaurant and public location name;
- stand ID and physical position;
- intended Google Business Profile;
- account owner;
- last NFC and QR test dates; and
- backup person responsible during manager turnover.
A customer should not need to choose from similarly named locations after tapping. Re-test after a profile merge, rebrand, relocation, ownership change, or redirect update. Use the bulk planning and quote page when a rollout requires 10 or more stands, preconfiguration before shipment, mixed branding, or split shipping.
Add software only for a defined need
The counter stand handles the in-person access point. A restaurant group may separately evaluate tools for feedback, response workflows, or reusing approved reviews in marketing. Watch the WhyILike software overview and compare it with the actual operating requirement.
For a single-location pilot, begin with the stand’s included managed destination. The no-required-subscription guide explains the difference between that free link layer and optional paid software.