What is an Open Check?

A bill that has been made for a customer at a restaurant but has not been completed, billed, or paid yet is called an "open" check. Until the table at the restaurant has no more orders, the check will remain open.

Open checks help by providing the restaurant with a way to accurately track the current status of their customer and to allow staff to adjust orders throughout the customer's meal. Open checks also allow staff to follow up on activity at the table and to ensure proper billing without hurrying the service process.

When a server starts an order, they create an open check linked to a table or customer within the POS system. As the dining experience progresses, items can be added to this open check until the guest requests their bill and final payment has been received.

For example, in a dine-in setting, a table may order drinks first and food later. The server keeps adding items to the same open check until the meal is complete and the bill is closed.