Is it dumb to delay getting a full POS for a tiny 10-table bistro?

helping a friend prep a tiny 10-table bistro opening in late August, and the decison fatigue on the tech setup is getting ridiculous. We are completely torn on what we actually need vs what we're being sold, and could really use some reality checks from people in the trenches.

Option 1: The full POS route (Square, Toast, Clover, etc)

This seems to be the default advice everyone gives. It looks professional and handles everything. But the upfront hardware costs and those monthly fees feel pretty heavy when we haven't even sold a single plate of food yet. My main worry is the menu. In the first few months, she wants to change things weekly to see what sells, tweak prices, do seasonal stuff, and deal with 86d items. I've heard that editing menus or dropping a dish mid-shift on those big systems is a multi-step nightmare. For anyone running Toast or Clover, is it actually that bad? Or does it just work?

Option 2: Just a digital menu and standalone payment

The other option is keeping it stupidly simple. No hardware contracts, no massive monthly subscription. Just a standalone card reader for payments, and focusing on a flexible digital menu setup instead.

Since the menu is going to change constantly, we dont need inventory tracking or complex kitchen routing yet. We just need customers to see what's actually available. I was comparing heavier POS setups with lighter tools like MenuForma, and I’m starting to think the first problem for a tiny shop might just be keeping the menu accurate. If we can just update a dish from a phone when it runs out instead of fighting a POS terminal, that saves so much headache. plus, we're in a heavy tourist spot, so having something that easily translates would save the staff a lot of breath.

my main worry with going the super light route is operational. Doesnt having a big central screen make a place look unprofessional or cheap? And if we do this, how do you handle card processing without getting completely hosed on standalone reader fees? Is it better to just bite the bullet on the big POS contracts early on for the rates, or is there a smarter way to bootstrap this?