The Appetizer ... or the Main Course ... of Things to Come?

Coming soon to a casual dining establishment near you ... a table-mounted tablet that will automate the ordering process (and keep you entertained while you wait, if that's your thing):

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-03/applebees-is-now-serving-tablets

Chili's is already doing this with a rival product. Applebee's says this won't affect staffing levels. To quote the great Jim Bouton ... Surrrrrrrre.

 

Every time I walk into a Sheetz and punch up a sandwich and fries order on the computer screen and my changes and special requests come back perfect I wonder why McDonald's and Burger King haven't switched to it.

 

That's punishment for going into Applebees

 

Eh, mixed feelings. If it helps get the order right, maybe not such a bad thing. Sometimes, a good waiter can improve the dining experience. I think it depends what type of restaurant it is. I wouldn't mind it at fast food places at all, if it gets the order right and helps speed things up. (Few things worse than having someone who doesn't understand English well take your order and screw it up.)

Within 5-10 years, I suspect you'll be able to place an order at McDonald's or Pizza Hut on your smart phone and press a button at the drive thru and have it handed to you by a robot --- after you insert your credit card in the slot, of course.

 

Been ordering fried chicken from Royal Farms for years using that system.

35 years ago, or so, in upstate Pa I recall a Bob's Big Boy type restaurant that had phones in the booths. When you were ready to order you picked up the phone and gave your order.

 

Will it look like this?

 

There are a couple of places in Orlando with these; won't use 'em for the same reason I don't do self-service checkout at Home Depot or Lowe's. If I wanted to work there, I'd go fill out an application.

 

I hope this becomes the norm, at least at most fast food places, where nobody seems to be paying attention to a word you're saying as you order.

 

I used to feel that way as well but it pisses me off too much when I get stuck behind some idiot holding up the line at the register who either: A) Won't fucking shut up and let the cashier do his/her job B) Dicks around while trying to pay C) Bitches about the bill after it's been rung up.

Now I'd rather check myself out and get the hell out of the store as quickly as possible.

 

It must suck to be with trifectarich when he needs cash, and won't go to an ATM because he doesn't work for the bank.

And, when he sits in the line at the toll booth, to go to a manned booth, instead of dropping his change in the basket, or using E-Z Pass, it must really irritate his passengers.

And, of course, if he goes to New York City, he won't be able to ride the subway.

 

Chili's automatically charges you $1 to use it, but if you ask them to take the $1 off, they will.

Being able to pay at the table is pretty awesome.

 

There's a joint here, one of those steakhouses where you can grill your own steak. I won't go. Because if I wanted to cook my own steak, I'd eat at home and part of going out to eat is the total experience of service, food and atmosphere.

Having a tablet on the table takes away from that experience.

Also, when I need cash I don't go to the ATM, what I normally do is get cash back from a trip to the grocery store or Walgreens.