I do wonder how this effects accessibility. What if I don't have a device with me? What if I have a disability that prevents me from using a device? Seems like this might be an ADA compliance liability.
Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible
21–30 of 735 posts
Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible
#22I have never seen such a restaurant and if I did I would leave immediately.
Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible
#23Said no one ever
I’ll say it. Bring back menus, QR code’s are terrible.
You already printed this goofy thing why not just print the menu so I don’t have to dick around with some PDF on my phone.
Perfect example of a solution looking for a problem
Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible
#24As a counterpoint, QR code menus work very well in China. I've been to places where you scan the code to open a menu that lets you place all your orders. You can also pay for your table via per table QR codes. As a side note, you don't customarily tip in restaurants in China, so a non high-end place with good food will typically have rushed and curt wait staff. Ordering through the phone will give you a better experi…
>so a non high-end place with good food will typically have rushed and curt wait staff. Ordering through the phone will give you a better experience!
Not sure why that’s something we want to encourage.
Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible
#25QR codes are fine. What is varying quality is the menus served by the links in QR codes. Some can be great, some can be terrible, and everything in between. Same thing with paper menus, except they are also bulky.
A lot of menus on phones I find difficult as it is pretty unclear what the popular items are. Am I supposed to be looking at antipasta or "chicken" or "plates"?
This isn't a given. Places could design better instead of designing for paper and then just putting that online. But I still strongly prefer not to have to take out phone when with people.
Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible
#26Why not both? Qr codes are sometimes quickest, as you dont need to wait for the waiter to bring the menus.
Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible
#27I gotta say, I disagree with this piece. I, for one, love QR code menus. I can pinch zoom rather than squint at a menu with small/unreadable fonts in dim lighting. I don't need to badger the already exhausted wait staff on a busy night when they forget to drop us a menu or two. When orders are taken online, rather than awkwardly force a friend to not go to the bathroom (or take their kid to the bathroom) until a serv…
You’ve built a beautiful straw man that I’ve never seen in real life, rarely if ever have I encountered a menu with tiny font that is unreadable, I’ve never been to place that seated me and didn’t bring the menus at the same time. I’ve not experienced the bathroom thing either even in large parties, but it doesn’t sound awkward… if someone says they have to go to the bathroom they go, just tell the waiter this person…
Just because you have good eyesight doesn’t mean everyone else does
Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible
#28Digital menus can work when they are made for the digital format. Most Qr codes are just the menus that were made to look beautiful on paper and suck to look at on your phone, I don't want to have to open up my phone and jump between pages on two separate documents on my phone. It's also terrible that I have to waste my battery life to order food every time.
The ideal situation is isn't the China situation people are describing of scanning with their phone and opening an app or custom made site, it's the situation in Japan with a small tablet on the table everyone just puts their orders into and food is delivered as the orders are received when combined with a call bell for refills or asking questions. I don't have to install anything or worry about tracking.
Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible
#29I gotta say, I disagree with this piece. I, for one, love QR code menus. I can pinch zoom rather than squint at a menu with small/unreadable fonts in dim lighting. I don't need to badger the already exhausted wait staff on a busy night when they forget to drop us a menu or two. When orders are taken online, rather than awkwardly force a friend to not go to the bathroom (or take their kid to the bathroom) until a serv…
You’ve built a beautiful straw man that I’ve never seen in real life, rarely if ever have I encountered a menu with tiny font that is unreadable, I’ve never been to place that seated me and didn’t bring the menus at the same time. I’ve not experienced the bathroom thing either even in large parties, but it doesn’t sound awkward… if someone says they have to go to the bathroom they go, just tell the waiter this person…
Why do you assume he's built a straw man and not just had a different experience from you? Service levels vary across the planet. I used to live in Europe and restaurant service was always dreadfully slow, it could take ages to get the menu and order and pay, having a digital system in many of those restaurants would be fantastic
Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
You’ve built a beautiful straw man that I’ve never seen in real life, rarely if ever have I encountered a menu with tiny font that is unreadable, I’ve never been to place that seated me and didn’t bring the menus at the same time. I’ve not experienced the bathroom thing either even in large parties, but it doesn’t sound awkward… if someone says they have to go to the bathroom they go, just tell the waiter this person…
Just because you have good eyesight doesn’t mean everyone else does
If you have something that can read a QR code you also have something that can magnify text.