Opinion The androids at the restaurant

I got an email about a new app for the Blackberry,it is called Zomato. (Yes,it reminded me of “you say tomato,I say zomato”,I must stop before the whole song plays out in my head),so the mail goes on to say that one can search and see reviews of any restaurant near you. A lot like surfing the net for food review sites. But the whole deal of it being an android application,and the fact that the BB boys and girls will have something new to talk about,must keep the suits excited. But “food” as a topic,is like a mixie blitz without the lid on,it is everywhere– on the telly,on your phone,everywhere. Everyone has their favourite food TV show to talk about,or that new “eating place” that “you must try,it is not that expensive”. Restaurants have also been caught in the blitz and know that the customers are now picky,read menus more attentively and need detailed descriptions for every dish that is being served. To satiate this very new need: android apps are on their way to restaurant menus,so you can click you way to a gourmet meal.

Few restaurants in Delhi have plans for these “touch menus” where you can directly select what you want,and it goes straight to the kitchen. Bangalore soon enough will have India’s first touch table restaurant,though details are sketchy at this point,Touche diner and bar,is said to be “The world’s fifth touch table dining destination that blends interactive technology,multi-cuisine fine dining and state-of-the-art design to offer guests a fascinating experience that goes beyond the joys of great food and drink.” So you can swiftly order on a wide screen on your table,swishing menu pages with your fingers like you always did,only this time on a screen.

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Restaurants have always been about human interaction – from the food being laid out by the chefs,the waiters recommending the day’s special,the polite conversation out the day’s catch or even getting to know why the prices have been revised. Restaurants have been about conversation,and not just with your date. I cant help wonder how much of that would change if the apps have their way.

To be more practical,I wonder how food resistant the new touch table tops and the touch screen menus will be? Also with touch screens doing all the work,what do you ask the waiter? — Do you ask him how to turn the menu screen on,or ask him to dim the back-lighting on the menu?). Maybe asking for a finger bowl will also come as an option on the touch screen? Not everything can be programmed at an eating table.