When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad to the world, he wouldn’t have imagined this even in his wildest dream – the iPad being used as a replacement for a Menu Card in a restaurant. Sounds impossible? It’s a reality – A Sydney based restaurant Global Mundo Tapas in the North Sydney Rydges Hotel is using the iPad as [...]
When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad to the world, he wouldn’t have imagined this even in his wildest dream – the iPad being used as a replacement for a Menu Card in a restaurant. Sounds impossible? It’s a reality – A Sydney based restaurant Global Mundo Tapas in the North Sydney Rydges Hotel is using the iPad as a replacement for paper menus. Dining surely has gone hi-tech, isn’t it?
The iPad has found several interesting applications over the last few months, it’s used in cars for entertainment and several airlines are contemplating to adopt it as the next-generation in-flight entertainment system. Doctors in Japan have used it as a surgery display to operate patients. However, the owner of Global Mundo Tapas has beaten all other iPad users in terms of innovation.
The iPad in this Australian Restaurant runs a custom App which allows customers to view menus, read dishes along with tasting notes, and see photos of the dish. The order is then complied and sent over a wireless interface to the kitchen. As an additional feature, the app can also suggest the best wines to go with certain dishes and suggest the best food pairings. There’s an eye for detail as well – you can specify how you’d like your food cooked and which sauce would you prefer.
What’s more, the iPad app serves as an inventory management system as well. It keeps track of stock levels so if certain dishes and wines sell out they will automatically disappear off the on-screen menu. It’s a win-win situation for the Restaurant owner as well as the customers. While the owner can employ lesser number of waiters to take orders, the customers have something to play with till their order arrives.
I’m sure that it’s a matter of time before other restaurants and food chains try out the idea at their outlets as well. Now that’s what I call a ‘Fine Dining’ experience. What do you think?
Check out these videos to see how restaurants use the iPad:
Whitney Port
Minka Kelly
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