Portable transaction terminal apparatus adapted for use in eating and drinking establishments. A terminal housing has a generally rectangular shape and a size slightly larger in length and width to corresponding dimensions of a restaurant guest check. A folio-type cover is mounted to a left side portion of the terminal housing by a hinge arrangement and thereby adapted to swing between open and closed cover positions, the cover corresponding in length and width to the terminal housing so as to completely cover a top face of the terminal housing in the closed cover position and to lie flat against a surface in the open cover position. A data entry keypad and an alphanumeric display are carried on the top face of the terminal housing. A card reader module is mounted in the terminal housing for accepting and reading a transaction data card selected for use by a guest of the establishment for payment of the amount of the guest check. A microcomputer system is carried within the terminal housing and being pre-programmed with operating system and application software for management of data entry, message display, card reading and transaction message formatting and storing functions associated with a preselected data entry sequence and data message format. The microcomputer system communicates a transaction data message to an external transaction terminal system for completion of transaction processing steps. A docking station is provided for communication with a transaction terminal. Recharging stations with intelligent charge controllers are provided for recharging the batteries of the portable transaction terminal.