Lavu
iPad-based restaurant POS with AI-powered profit recovery
About Lavu
Lavu is a cloud-based point-of-sale system built specifically for restaurants, bars, and food service businesses. It combines iPad POS hardware with integrated payment processing, online ordering, payroll, and an AI engine (Marty AI) that analyzes operational data overnight to surface profit-recovery insights for owners and managers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Restaurant-specific feature set with strong order modifier and menu nesting capabilities
- Runs on iPads, keeping upfront hardware costs lower than proprietary terminals
- Marty AI delivers actionable profit-recovery insights without requiring an analyst
- Integrated payments, payroll, and online ordering reduce third-party stack complexity
- Multi-language support and 24/7 customer service
Cons
- Must use Lavu Pay for processing; bringing your own processor is no longer supported
- Pricing escalates quickly once add-ons (online ordering, marketing, multi-location) are stacked
- Some users report billing transparency issues and unexpected fee changes
- Offline payment support is limited compared to some competitors
- Higher-tier features (AI, multi-location) gated behind the most expensive plan
Key Features
iPad POS
Mobile, tablet-first point-of-sale with kitchen display system integration and offline ordering support.
Marty AI
Overnight AI analysis that flags labor, menu, and inventory leaks and suggests fixes each morning.
Integrated Payments
Lavu Pay processes credit card, contactless, and mobile payments with transparent flat-rate pricing.
Online Ordering
Branded online ordering and delivery integrations through Lavu To Go and MenuDrive add-ons.
Inventory Management
Ingredient-level inventory tracking with low-stock alerts and recipe costing.
Employee Management
Built-in scheduling, time clock, tip pooling, and integrated payroll automation.
Reporting & Analytics
Real-time sales, labor, and menu performance dashboards accessible from any device.
Loyalty & Marketing
Customer database with email/SMS marketing tools and a built-in loyalty program.
Multi-Location Support
Centralized management for restaurant groups with location-level menu and pricing controls.
Pricing
- 1 terminal
- Core iPad POS
- Basic reporting
- Integrated payments
- 24/7 support
- Everything in Starter
- Online ordering
- Advanced reporting
- Inventory management
- Loyalty program
- Everything in Growth
- Marty AI insights
- Multi-location support
- Marketing automation
- Dedicated account manager
Best For
Single-location full-service restaurants
Independent restaurants needing a tablet-based POS with table management, modifiers, and integrated payments.
Quick-service and counter-service concepts
Cafes, food trucks, and QSRs that benefit from fast order entry, online ordering, and contactless payments.
Multi-unit restaurant groups
Operators managing several locations who want centralized menus, reporting, and AI-driven cost optimization.
Bars and nightclubs
Venues needing tab management, fast bar ordering flows, and tip pooling.
Similar Tools
Notion
The connected workspace for docs, wikis, and projects
Salesforce
The world's #1 CRM platform for sales, service, marketing, and more
ClickUp
One app to replace them all - tasks, docs, goals, and more
Abacus.AI
The world's first AI super assistant for professionals and enterprises
Replicate
Run AI with an API
Ignition
Automate proposals, agreements, billing, and payments for professional services