How DineDash works

Order first. Eat fast. Pay less. Every restaurant runs a Time-Based or a Fixed offer. Here's how both work, from scanning the table to paying at the till.

Time-Based · example tiers
30%
< 15 min
20%
< 30 min
10%
< 45 min
0%
> 45 min
FastestSlowest

Order first. Eat fast. Pay less.

Scan your table QR, order, and pay at the till with your discount already applied. On a Time-Based offer, the sooner you finish, the bigger the discount. On a Fixed offer, there's no timer at all.

Time-Based and Fixed offers

Each restaurant chooses its offer and when it runs. The percentages below are examples. Every restaurant sets its own, and the app shows you the live one.

Time-Based · example tiers
30%

< 15 min

Biggest discount eat efficiently

20%

< 30 min

Great discount comfortable pace

10%

< 45 min

Good discount relaxed dining

0%

> 45 min

No discount full price only

Fixed · example
10%

No timer

The same discount however long you stay

Step-by-step breakdown

Every detail of the DineDash experience, explained.

Step 1

Scan the QR code on your table

  • Open DineDash and sign in a quick one-time step with your phone, email, or Apple/Google account.
  • Tap the Scan tab and point your camera at the QR code on your table your dining session opens automatically.
  • The app shows the restaurant's current offer, Time-Based or Fixed, before you order.
Step 2

Add items to your order

  • Browse the restaurant's full digital menu inside the app.
  • Tap + to add any item your running total updates instantly.
  • Tap items more than once to add more, or tap × on any item to remove it.
  • No need to flag down a waiter your order goes straight to the kitchen.
  • On a Time-Based offer, order everything in one go for the best chance at a top-tier discount.
Step 3

Confirm your order

  • When your order is complete, confirm it. No payment happens yet.
  • On a Time-Based offer, the button reads 'Start timer' and confirming starts your clock.
  • On a Fixed offer, there's no timer. Your discount is the same however long you stay.
  • Payment happens once, later, when you're ready to leave. Nothing is charged now.
  • You can add more items later. On a Time-Based offer, the clock keeps running.
Step 4

Enjoy your meal

  • On a Time-Based offer, a live timer shows your current discount. On a Fixed offer there's no timer, so the discount stays the same however long you stay.
  • On a Time-Based offer, a big pulsing timer appears on the Session screen the moment you confirm.
  • The timer changes colour as you cross each tier green for the top tier, amber, then red.
  • Encouraging milestones pop up along the way. No pressure, just cheers.
  • The percentage shown next to the timer is your CURRENT discount it's locked in the moment you pay.
  • You can leave the app and come back at any time the timer keeps running on the server.
Step 5

Pay & get your discount

  • When you're ready to leave, tap 'Scan till QR to pay' on the Session screen.
  • Walk to the restaurant's till and scan the till's QR code with your phone.
  • DineDash applies the live offer: the Fixed percentage, or on a Time-Based offer, the tier you finished in. It then charges your card via Stripe for the discounted total, or you pay cash at the till.
  • Card payments are processed securely by Stripe your card details never touch DineDash's servers.
  • Important: your order isn't paid until you scan the till QR.

Everything explained.

Tap any section to learn more about each part of DineDash.

  • DineDash lets you order from your phone at participating restaurants and pay less, with the discount taken off automatically when you pay.
  • Each restaurant runs one of two offers: a Time-Based discount or a Fixed discount.
  • Time-Based: the sooner you finish, the bigger the discount. A live timer shows where you are.
  • Fixed: a flat percentage off with no timer, the same however long you stay.
  • Restaurants set their own percentages, so check the app for the exact offer at each restaurant.
  • Restaurants choose when each offer runs, down to the day and the hour.
  • A restaurant might run Time-Based over its busy lunch and dinner slots, and Fixed for the rest of the week.
  • When both are set up, the Time-Based offer applies during its hours and the Fixed offer applies outside them.
  • Only one offer applies to a visit. You never get both at once.
  • The app always shows the live offer, so there are no surprises at the till.
  • Sign in once with your phone number, email, or Apple/Google account it takes seconds.
  • Your details are saved, so you won't need to sign in again on that device.
  • No loyalty cards, no points just a simple account that remembers you.
  • Signing in also means your order history is there next time you visit.
  • Confirming your order doesn't charge you anything, on either offer.
  • Payment happens once, at the end tap 'Scan till QR to pay' when you're ready to leave.
  • DineDash calculates your discount and charges your card via Stripe for the discounted total or you can pay cash at the till instead.
  • Card payments are processed securely by Stripe your card details never touch DineDash's servers.
  • From each card payment, Stripe keeps its processing fee (typically 1.5% + 20p) and DineDash keeps 3%. The rest goes to the restaurant.
  • There's no separate refund step the discount is already taken off before you pay.
  • A big pulsing timer appears on the Session screen the moment you confirm your order.
  • The timer changes colour as you cross each tier green for the top tier, amber, then red.
  • Encouraging milestones pop up along the way. No pressure, just cheers.
  • The percentage shown next to the timer is your CURRENT discount it's locked in the moment you pay.
  • You can leave the app and come back at any time the timer keeps running on the server.
  • A Fixed offer is a flat percentage off your bill, set by the restaurant.
  • There's no timer to watch, and the discount doesn't change however long you stay.
  • Order, enjoy your meal, and scan the till QR when you're ready. The discount is already applied.
  • When you're ready to leave, tap 'Scan till QR to pay' on the Session screen.
  • Walk to the restaurant's till and scan the till's QR code with your phone.
  • DineDash applies the live offer (on a Time-Based offer, based on how long you took) and charges your card for the discounted total.
  • There's nothing to claim afterwards the discount is already applied before you pay.
  • Important: if you don't scan the till QR, your order isn't paid.
  • Decide what you want before you confirm your order. On a Time-Based offer, that's when the clock starts.
  • Order everything in one go adding items mid-meal slows you down.
  • Have your phone ready when you finish so you can scan the till QR immediately.
  • Add your card in the app before you visit, or have cash ready. It makes checkout faster.
  • Got time to spare? You still save as long as you finish inside the restaurant's slowest discount tier.
  • Diners sign in and use DineDash for free only restaurants pay a subscription.
  • Tap Profile, then 'Owner Sign In' to create or sign into your owner account.
  • From the dashboard you can manage your restaurant, menu, tables, offers, and live sessions.
  • Choose your offers: Time-Based, Fixed, or both, with your own percentages, days and times.
  • Print the table QR codes from the QR Codes screen and place them on each table.
  • Print the till QR code and display it at your payment counter diners need it to pay with their discount applied.

Ready to try it?

Download DineDash and earn your first discount today. Quick sign-in, that's it.

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