Looks like Buffalo Wild Wings went the Web portal route too. (I seem to remember them using tablets before.) I say "web portal" and not QR because apparently you have to give the server your phone number first so you can be texted the URL to pay. Despite there being a "contactless self checkout" button after scanning the QR code on the table, it only talks about the steps I mentioned.

Also, apparently one of the suggestions from this NYTimes writer for someone who had their card decline for every overseas transaction is to insert instead of tap: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/14/t...-overseas.html. Weirdly the UK has always been a less problematic country for Americans so I'm not sure what could have gone wrong.