[Technology] Out of touch with the 21st century, now it's Stat's turn - Lounges.

[sydney]

As someone who refuses smartphones and never had one and never going to get one... I relate to being out of touch with the 21st century.

I was 11 when year 2000 began so you would think I would get along fine with the 21th century but no.

Back in 1999 when I got my first computer + internet I thought "**** me, this is wonderful, in ten years everyone is going to be online everywhere all the time" and thought it was horrendous. A few years later I rewatched Die Hard 3 about 500 times. I didnt care about Bruce Willis or Samuel L Jackson or Jeremy Irons, I just watched car models, clothing, social interactions in the backgrounds. Die Hard 3 raised me to become this backwards human being. **** the 21th century.

mushrooms out early over there...??

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I've been to a couple of bars since lockdown eased and I have to say I liked it. Order drinks on your smartphone, they appear at your table a few minutes later. No wasting time at the bar, more time to chat.

I hope it is something that stays.

Same. Back in the olden days when we used to go on aeroplanes, it always worked a treat at Spoons. No longer faced with that Red Lion choice of leaving your luggage or losing your table. BRILLIANT!!

 

[amexer]

Had a recent experience where we had to download an App. Maybe the future but until it is I will avoid these places.

 

[GT49er]

Think I would just walk out and say you've lost yourself a table as I don't use QR codes.

Quite right. Any place that won't allow me in or serve me unless I've got a smart phone isn't worthy of my custom and will get none of my money.

 

[Beanstalk]

 

[BNthree]

Quite right. Any place that won't allow me in or serve me unless I've got a smart phone isn't worthy of my custom and will get none of my money.

They'll be mortified at losing your business I'm sure.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

After a hard mornings graft we went to our local 'Lounges' for lunch, I believe Alcampo is the Brighton version.

"Are you ok to order on line, sir?".
"No we want a table"

Not a great start.

So it turns out they've done away with table service.
You QR the code, on your phone. (after downloading a QR reader)
Order your meal and drinks on your phone.
Pay on your phone.
Sit and wait half an hour until the cold food arrives, desperately trying to not look at your phone.


I'm incredibly conflicted by this.

It seems like back in the good old days we had appropriate service.
Then we had "is everything alright with your meal" over service.
Now we have no service at all.
A direction I'll be amazed if it isn't the norm in 5 years time.

It felt like once I'd placed my order I should go out into the kitchen and cook it myself.


Weird, very weird indeed - I'm gonna buy a MkIII Escort and listen to The Charlatans on the tape deck.
Things were simpler back then.

It's completely put me off going out anywhere at all. I really cannot be bothered with all this pre-booking crap just to buy an over priced beer or meal.

 

[Eeyore]

A friend of mine was crowing about the Wethys table ordering process.

We went out together and she ordered her drink to our seats in North Street.

Only problem was she had located the wrong Wethys in the app and someone on table 21 in West Street got a free pint from her.

 

[Stat Brother]

It's completely put me off going out anywhere at all. I really cannot be bothered with all this pre-booking crap just to buy an over priced beer or meal.

Ah but the waitress was incredibly attractive and bouncy.
Sure I'm wearing pants older than she is, but I believe women love retro chic, don't they?


Table rebooked for tomorrow.

 

[Marty McFly]

A friend of mine was crowing about the Wethys table ordering process.

We went out together and she ordered her drink to our seats in North Street.

Only problem was she had located the wrong Wethys in the app and someone on table 21 in West Street got a free pint from her.

On the positive side, when I was at Spoons in mid-March last year our friends in Toronto were able to send drinks to us!

 

[PeterOut]

Ah but the waitress was incredibly attractive and bouncy.
Sure I'm wearing pants older than she is, but I believe women love retro chic, don't they?


Table rebooked for tomorrow.

You do know that Saturday is her day off, don't you?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Had a recent experience where we had to download an App. Maybe the future but until it is I will avoid these places.

Had to download an App.

My heart bleeds.

Let's cross to South Sudan where a mother of four is walking five miles to the local water supply in the hope that it's fresh and might keep the kids alive.

On the wider topic, you get what you pay for. App/QR ordering will never be acceptable in the Michelin Star world (or anywhere that's aspiring to it) but if you're chucking out good honest grub in a pub, lounge or burger joint it makes perfect sense.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Ah but the waitress was incredibly attractive and bouncy.
Sure I'm wearing pants older than she is, but I believe women love retro chic, don't they?


Table rebooked for tomorrow. [emoji38] [emoji106]

Now that's a completely different scenario.

I am very suddenly in.

Pert

 

[Stat Brother]

You do know that Saturday is her day off, don't you?

If she's reading this I think we can safely say she's already packed and on her way to Gatwick.


Bon voyage mon cheri.

 

[Bodian]

Had to download an App.

My heart bleeds.

Let's cross to South Sudan where a mother of four is walking five miles to the local water supply in the hope that it's fresh and might keep the kids alive.

On the wider topic, you get what you pay for. App/QR ordering will never be acceptable in the Michelin Star world (or anywhere that's aspiring to it) but if you're chucking out good honest grub in a pub, lounge or burger joint it makes perfect sense.

It probably actually comes from one of these warehouse delivery facilities that have sprung up.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

What are you supposed to do if you don't have a smart phone? Not everyone can use them.

 

[PeterOut]

Had to download an App.

My heart bleeds.

Let's cross to South Sudan where a mother of four is walking five miles to the local water supply in the hope that it's fresh and might keep the kids alive.

On the wider topic, you get what you pay for. App/QR ordering will never be acceptable in the Michelin Star world (or anywhere that's aspiring to it) but if you're chucking out good honest grub in a pub, lounge or burger joint it makes perfect sense.

There's no reason why you can't get Deliveroo to knock on your door with Michelin Star food - see https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/best-for/michelin-starred-food-delivery-london_9734

Just a small step from ordering via tablet / app so you can eat in their gaff, to ordering via tablet / app so you can eat the same food on your sofa in your onesie.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Games gone

 

[Stat Brother]

What are you supposed to do if you don't have a smart phone? Not everyone can use them.

At that point in the initial conversation, when I said 'can't I just order'.
The reply was 'well you could try and get someone's attention, but it'll definitely take longer'.


Ha, well the jokes on her as it took me feckin ages to order on my phone.

 

[Guinness Boy]

There's no reason why you can't get Deliveroo to knock on your door with Michelin Star food - see https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/best-for/michelin-starred-food-delivery-london_9734

Just a small step from ordering via tablet / app so you can eat in their gaff, to ordering via tablet / app so you can eat the same food on your sofa in your onesie.

In Covid World people have to do what they can to survive - from Maccy Ds to a three star joint.

However, starred restaurants are all about experience. Service, Presentation. Art. Smell. When things are more or less back globally I would expect anyone who delivers their food to front doors to lose their stars. Leave that to local takeaways who do it far better.

That doesn't detract from my original points. 1) quick-ish food can only benefit from technology, in terms of both company and diner if done properly and 2) losing your shit over having to download an app on to your app hosting phone is hilarious and tragic at the same time.