[majormajor]

I wouldn't be shocked. QR code to payment website instead of on-site card processing hardware. A new small shop may be trying to run things super minimally.

I'm skeptical of the "chain" aspect - a chain is more likely to have hardware and support other methods - but a visitor may not know what is/isn't a chain anyway.

OR a particular employ is new or lazy and just didn't want to drag out the hardware. ;)