Why Leading Restaurants are Switching to Square

Key Terms

gpv financial

Gross Payment Volume (GPV) is the total value of all transactions processed through a payment platform or merchant network over a given period, before refunds or fees. Think of it as the total cash that passes through a store’s register; it shows how much business the platform is handling. Investors watch GPV because rising volume suggests growing customer activity and revenue potential, while declines can signal weakening demand or competitive pressure.

bitcoin financial

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency and asset that exists only online, created and recorded through a public digital record maintained by many computers worldwide—think of it as a shared spreadsheet that no single person controls. Investors care because it behaves like a high-risk, high-reward store of value and speculative commodity: its supply is limited, its price can swing sharply, and owning it can change a portfolio’s risk, diversification and exposure to market sentiment.

From fine dining to breweries, leading operators and local icons are choosing Square for its stand-out product innovation, ease of use, and transparent pricing

DISTRIBUTED-WORKFORCE/OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Square’s comprehensive platform, product velocity, and intuitive design and pricing are driving restaurants to switch to the platform. Square recently reported that GPV from its food and beverage sellers grew 16% year-over-year in Q4 of 2025¹ as more businesses from fine dining establishments to breweries choose Square to power their operations.

“Restaurants are tired of overpaying for technology that isn’t working for them and their businesses. At Square, our food and beverage business is growing, and that’s because we’re committed to serving sellers with innovation, transparency, and ease of use,” said Nick Molnar, Head of Sales and Marketing at Block. “Even with more complex business models, restaurants are using Square to save time and money so they can focus on hospitality.”

How leading operators are using Square

For Michelin-recommended Anajak Thai, Square’s purpose-built features for fine dining and its dedicated support were the key differentiators in switching their business over. The legendary Los Angeles restaurant leverages Square Handheld for quick and precise tableside service, and they use Square’s direct integration with OpenTable to manage reservations and uplevel their hospitality through diner insights and data.

“Our restaurant can't afford downtime or clunky technology. Square's platform is intuitive and reliable,” said Justin Pichetrungsi, James Beard–awarded chef and owner of Anajak Thai. “But what really sets Square apart is the people behind the product – they listen, they care about our success, and they're constantly innovating. That's the kind of partner you want when you're running a business at this level.”

Saucy Brew Works in Cleveland, Ohio transitioned to Square to enhance operational efficiency and unlock savings and flexibility for future growth. Across their five locations, the business is using Square Handheld, Square Stand, Square Staff, and the Square Kitchen Display System to manage front and back-of-house operations, and they are using integrations like Restaurant365 and Tripleseat to help power employee scheduling and event management, respectively. The brewery is also rolling out Square Bitcoin payments to all of its locations, and as a result of the switch to Square, they’re set to save on costs between processing and subscription fees.

“Our previous point-of-sale provider was getting out of touch on what a small business needed as far as pricing. It came to a point where we realized we were overpaying and they were underdelivering,” said Michael Grasso, director of restaurant operations at Saucy Brew Works. “With Square, sitting down with the team made the difference. They laid everything out really well so we could see the value.”

Lotus of Siam, a renowned Thai restaurant chain based in Las Vegas, also looked for cost savings and ease of use when shopping for a new point of sale provider to power their three locations. Given frequent internet blackouts in their area, too, they needed a reliable platform like Square that offered easy mobile and offline payments. Lotus of Siam is using Square Handheld, Square Stand, and Square Staff to manage the front and back of house, and have been leveraging insights from Square AI to both better understand their business and onboard employees faster.

“Square is dummy-proof, and it’s a lot easier to read when you’re looking at your sales and your reports. I have three managers who don’t have to call me in the middle of the night and ask me, ‘Hey, how do I do this?’” said Penny Chutima, owner of Lotus of Siam. “And so it actually helps us manage our funds a lot better. We’re also getting cost savings on the product, too – as of today, we’re now saving five figures with Square.”

Why the Square difference matters

Today's restaurant operators face unprecedented pressure: labor costs are climbing, consumer expectations are rising, and the technology landscape has become increasingly fragmented. Many find themselves juggling multiple disconnected systems, each with its own pricing model and learning curve. The result is wasted time, wasted money, and a constant struggle to keep up – leaving little room for the strategic decisions that actually grow a business.

That's where Square comes in. Square delivers technology that simplifies operations, reduces costs, and gives restaurants back the freedom to focus on what matters most – their customers and their business. Which is why leading hospitality businesses across all segments are making the switch.

To learn more about how Square powers food and beverage businesses, visit squareup.com/restaurants.

¹Block Q4 2025 Shareholder Letter

DISCLAIMERS

Square Bitcoin is not offered to NY Sellers or non-US Sellers. Availability subject to change and regulatory approval. Bitcoin’s value is volatile and can change quickly. Bitcoin transactions are irreversible and may experience occasional delays or payment failures. Bitcoin services are provided by Block, Inc., licensed where required. Block, Inc. operates in NY as Block of Delaware and is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYDFS.

Offline payments are processed automatically when you reconnect your device to the internet and will be declined if you do not reconnect to the internet within 24 hours of taking your first offline payment. By enabling offline payments, you are responsible for any expired, declined, or disputed payments accepted while offline. Square is unable to provide customer contact information for payments declined while offline. Offline payments are not supported on older versions of Square Reader for contactless and chip (1st generation, v1 and v2).

About Square

Square helps businesses turn transactions into connections and businesses into neighborhood favorites.

In 2009, Square started with a simple invention – the first mobile card reader, which changed how the entire financial system thinks about small businesses. Square has since grown into a global business platform helping millions of sellers of all sizes participate and thrive in their communities.

Whether independently run or a global chain, Square understands that sellers succeed when they have the freedom to focus on the experiences that keep customers coming back. From point of sale and payments to online commerce, staff management, cash flow tools, and more, Square brings together the tools sellers need to run and grow on one intelligent platform. For more information, visit squareup.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260323084852/en/

Media contact:

Square Press

press@squareup.com

Source: Block, Inc.