I looked into whether there's a genuinely free WordPress ordering system for a restaurant client - here's what I found

I recently had to answer this for a client project: Is there a free online ordering system that actually works on WordPress, or is "free" always a bait-and-switch for an upsell? Short answer: yes, RestroFood is a free WordPress/WooCommerce plugin that gives restaurants a full ordering system out of the box, with no forced subscription to launch.

The core plugin includes:

1. Free theme plus the complete ordering system
2. Same-page cart and checkout
3. Delivery/pickup scheduling with time slots
4. Zip code and distance-based delivery checks
5. Separate dashboards for shop owner, kitchen manager, and delivery staff
6. Customer and management mobile apps
7. Automatic order status email notifications
8. One-click invoice printing for thermal/receipt printers

It's compatible with standard WooCommerce payment gateways and common page builders, which makes integration into the existing site straightforward. RestroFood states it currently has 4,000+ restaurant owners using the plugin globally.

Where "free" stops: add-ons like POS, Multibranch, Table Reservation, In-Restaurant QR ordering, Tip Management, and Multi-delivery Fees are separate paid products. For a single-location restaurant that just needs online ordering live, the free core plugin was enough to ship.