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Comment by chomp | Hacker News Reader

>an have an expediter bring it to my table?

You mean a waiter? Someone has to exist between kitchen and table, to take payment, set out food, remediate order issues, and at fancier restaurants, pair and serve wines, and essentially act as a salesperson for the menu. Why would I want to get up from my table and interrupt my conversation, collect silverware and my food, and bump into other people doing the same thing when I can have someone bring it to me?

Also using an app is just gross, are you going to have people wait for another app to download, install, and possibly create a new account so that they can sell your personal information, when you could just tell someone what you want?

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Near me, places have QR codes that pop open a browser with the menu and payment. Food comes out pretty fast. One nice part is that you can place additional drink orders as needed.

Servers are still needed, but I do enjoy the simplicity of ordering from an online service with tableside "delivery".

My parents, however, would not agree. They wouldn't be able to order their own food from a digital menu.

I just now had dinner (takeout, ate in my truck) at a Petro truck stop in Bordentown NJ. There was QR code on the napkin holder for the menu.

Full disclosure: I have been a waiter on 2 different occasions, many years ago. Regardless of what I say here, I generally tip well.

Why do we have to keep people employed in low-end jobs, such as waiters? I go to quality restaurants and they can't even get good waiters. I'm an educated consumer, I don't need someone to tell me what I should order. Besides they are just trying to upsell on high-profit margin items. I don't drink so that is out of the question. I do believe in waiters at restaurants where the chefs are award-winning or the meal is going to be over $200.

Waiters are like robots anyways. 1. They come over to the table, repeat a generic script their manager has taught them. 2. They return with drinks. 3. They come back with the food. 4. At the exact moment that you have food in your mouth, they come over and ask how your dinner is. (As if they cared) 5. Would you like dessert? Yes, here is our menu. No, here is your check.

Agreed I don't want another app on my phone, however; but dealing with poor service, just doesn't seem worth it. I'm really starting to enjoy getting downvoted, it gives me hope that I'm not thinking like everybody else, which I believe is important. Especially on this site.

A number of places around Boston have started ordering by QR code and it's awesome.

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