Apple Pay Headed Directly to Restaurant Tables With 'PrestoPrime EMV' Terminals

Pay-at-table terminal manufacturer E la Carte today announced that Apple Pay is coming to its new state-of-the-art "PrestoPrime EMV" line, thanks to an included NFC reader that will also support Android Pay, Samsung Pay, and mobile wallets that use QR codes. E la Carte's previous terminals included NFC, but lacked EMV certification, which Apple Pay requires since it complies to the latest EMV standards for tokenizing transactions.

With the addition of Apple Pay support, restaurant guests will be able to pay for their meal at the table with a quick tap of their iPhone. Users can also pay with a traditional swipe method, or use the new EMV chip reader to insert any newly-issued credit card with a chip inside of it. The terminals also have a "store and forward" ability that allows guests to continue to pay for food and drinks even if the restaurant loses power or internet connectivity.

presto prime emv

“Brick-and-mortar payments and security requirements have changed dramatically in the last 5 years. We wanted to take a leadership role in helping our partners navigate these volatile waters, while also generating direct operating benefits that offer a real hard dollar ROI to recoup their investment,” said Raj Suri, CEO and founder of E la Carte. “Combining robust security with a frictionless user experience, PrestoPrime EMV sets the bar as the best tabletop platform available to restaurant operators.”

Pay-at-table terminals have become more popular over the years, with companies like E la Carte and Ziosk offering customers quick access to menus and payment methods at restaurants like Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, and more. Most of the terminals, including PrestoPrime, also include limited paid gaming features intended to pass the wait time for food orders.

E la Carte's reach in the industry currently extends to over 1,800 restaurants across the United States, centering on Applebee's and Outback Steakhouse locations.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

Popular Stories

ios 26 1 slide to stop

iOS 26.1 Brings Back 2007 Feature in New Way

Friday October 31, 2025 1:40 pm PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a small but helpful change for iPhones, and it could prevent you from running late to something important. Specifically, when an alarm goes off in the Clock app, there is a new "slide to stop" control on the screen for turning off the alarm. On previous iOS 26 versions, there is simply a large "stop" button, which could be accidentally tapped. The new ...
iOS 26

6 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.1

Wednesday October 29, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple is about to drop iOS 26.1, the first major point release since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least six notable changes and improvements to look forward to. We've rounded them up below. Apple has already provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 26.1, which means Apple will likely roll out the update to all compatible...
M5 MacBook Pro

Waiting for New Macs? Apple Just Shared Bad News

Friday October 31, 2025 7:32 am PDT by
Apple has just given a strong indication that it will not be releasing any additional new Macs for the remainder of the year. Apple's CFO Kevan Parekh dropped the hint during the company's earnings call on Thursday:On Mac, keep in mind, we expect to face a very difficult compare against the M4 MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac launches in the year-ago quarter.Parekh essentially gave a heads up ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Coming Soon: New Features for Your iPhone and Release Date

Monday October 27, 2025 7:55 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more. Below, we outline key details about iOS 26.1. Release Date Given that Apple has yet to seed an iOS 26.1 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, the...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

8 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Thursday October 30, 2025 4:42 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
maxresdefault

Apple TV 4K Could Still Launch Before 2025 Ends: All the Rumored Features

Monday October 27, 2025 4:51 pm PDT by
Apple is designing an updated version of the Apple TV 4K, and rumors suggest that it could come out sometime in the next couple of months. We're not expecting a major overhaul with design changes, but even a simple chip upgrade will bring major improvements to Apple's set-top box. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We've rounded up all the latest Apple TV rumors. ...
Coffee Burgundy and Purple iPhone 18 Pro Mock 1

Leaker Outlines Potential New Colors for iPhone 18 Pro

Friday October 31, 2025 8:28 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could be available in new rich and warm color option, according to a known leaker. The Weibo user known as "Instant Digital" today suggested that next-year's iPhone 18 Pro models will be available in at least one of the following color options: Coffee, purple, and burgundy. The iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Pro were all available in ...
ipad mini 7 feature blue

OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Wednesday October 29, 2025 7:13 am PDT by
Rumors are stoking excitement for the next-generation iPad mini that Apple is reportedly close to launching. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out. Processor and Performance Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to...
Apple Foldable Thumb

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Friday October 31, 2025 8:52 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that have been leaked about Apple's foldable iPhone so far. Ove...

Top Rated Comments

gmcalpin Avatar
113 months ago
Oh that's going to fit right in…
:rolleyes:
They're in places like Chili's and Applebee's. Not exactly fine dining, man.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheAppleFairy Avatar
113 months ago
How is this different from handheld wireless POS machines that already support tap-to-pay? Restaurants around here have had those for a few years.

The first one sits on the table and you can order food from it as well and see your entire bill, pay for overpriced games too.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arkitect Avatar
113 months ago
Oh that's going to fit right in…
:rolleyes:



Edit: And you can play games? Even less reason for people to have a conversation while sharing a meal.

Edit 2: And I can only imagine servers/waiters are going to get stiffed royally.

Edit 3:
allows guests to continue to pay for food and drinks even if the restaurant loses power or internet connectivity.
As opposed to heading straight for the exit under cover of darkness.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dwaltwhit Avatar
113 months ago
Another product that most restaurants in America are going to have a really hard time justifying. (Notice how it's only the bigger chains that buy the tableside tablets?)

I'm telling you: pay at the table is going to be relatively uncommon in the US compared to elsewhere. Why should most places spend the extra money on even the handheld terminals mentioned above when tip adjust is still possible and PIN isn't mandatory with the chip? Restaurants that want to accept Apple Pay are almost better off doing so via an app like OpenTable, as at least they won't have to buy anything new that way.

(Note: this is based on my experience with chip at US restaurants so far, which admittedly isn't all that many places. My card was still taken away and brought back at nearly every single one, however.)
I think the benefit of these is it seems like it would increase orders. If I have an easy way to order extra stuff without having to wait for a server, I'm probably more likely to spend more money.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheAppleFairy Avatar
113 months ago
Then why call them restaurants? Surely Fast food joints is more appropriate?

"…divided by a common language… ;)
They aren't fast food places....just chain restaurants, not terrible, not great. Just average food.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0970373 Avatar
113 months ago
How is this different from handheld wireless POS machines that already support tap-to-pay? Restaurants around here have had those for a few years.

These still aren't used in the US. I don't get the aversion to this in the States.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)