After many years of sharing insights, stories, and ideas from inside restaurant operations, our blog content has a new home. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who’s read, shared, and learned alongside us here, and we hope you’ll follow along with the Crunchtime blog for even more emerging …
Why a Good KDS is Essential for Managing High-Volume Restaurants
Guests expect fast service, but speed means nothing if the food is wrong. That’s where a Kitchen Display System (KDS) comes in. A good KDS can mean the difference between controlled chaos and total breakdown in a busy kitchen. Keeping Orders Organized and Moving In a high-volume environment, …
Order‑Ready Screens in 2025: What They Are, Why They Matter, and What’s New
The Power of Transparent Wait Times In today’s fast‑paced dining world, wait time transparency is no longer a nice‑to‑have—it’s expected. Order‑ready screens make the wait visible, informative, and stress‑reducing. By showing order numbers, estimated pickup times, or even guest names, these displays …
May I Take Your Order: The Past, Present, and Future of Drive-Thrus
Restaurant drive-thrus are a quick and convenient place for customers to grab their favorite foods along their daily commutes. Pre-pandemic, 60-70 percent of a quick-service restaurant’s business came from the drive-thru. As restaurants innovate to create additional profit avenues, drive-thru …
Kitchen Display Systems for Dummies: Your Ultimate Guide
Welcome to the world of the kitchen display system, where we break down the essentials of your new kitchen quarterback, also known as a KDS. This guide is crafted to give you a clear understanding of what a kitchen display system is and how it can revolutionize your restaurant operations. Whether …
What is a KDS? A 2025 Guide to Kitchen Display Systems
In today’s fast-paced restaurant industry, speed and accuracy are more important than ever. A Kitchen Display System (KDS) is a crucial tool for streamlining operations and keeping guests happy, whether you run a quick service, fast casual, or full-service restaurant. But what exactly is a KDS, and …






