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Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

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Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#301

Post by Freak_NL »

elric wrote: post #138

It's really simple: if I can't read your menu, I'm not eating. Goodbye. IIRC there's a law here that mandates a menu visible from outside the premises, it isn't always followed to the letter, but but most places comply, and it's a great way to avoid unpleasant pricing surprises. Same with paying. You don't accept cash or credit cards? Goodbye. You only accept apple pay or some other nonsense payment system? Goodbye.…

The basic principle that you should be able to go out and participate in society without an Apple or Google smartphone should be heralded as common sense.

(Feel free to put up a URL and a QR code for the menu online in addition to paper menus though.)

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#302

Post by Broken_Hippo »

bruce343434 wrote: post #270
jiofih wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> why do you feel like the conditions in place are acceptable? “Acceptable”? To whom? This is why you sound entitled. The alternative is not dining out . You make it sound like restaurants are letting you down or should try harder . The word “acceptable” has no place in this conversation. It’s fine that you don’t want to go out to restaurants right now. But you’re complaining about how inconvenient it is for you like…

I disagree. You are allowed to have an opinion about something you would pay for. In fact you are allowed to have an opinion period. That doesn't make you entitled.

It isn't the opinion that makes them sound entitled.

The base opinion is: I haven't gone to such places since Covid began because the experience is less enjoyable and more stressful.

But it is said with contempt for the businesses and regulations, which the businesses cannot do much about. Even where it is open, they have to think about their employees and the risk they put them in. Not only that, but folks have been dining in tents and under wooden awnings - in booths even - enjoyably for decades. Where I am at, before covid hit they had heating and blankets outdoors so the restaurants could extend the outdoor seating season. The poster acts like it something horrible thrust upon them, when the fact is that they simply aren't a fan.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#303

Post by tomrod »

atatatat wrote: post #269
dgb23 wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Orders are typically stored anyways?

But not how long you stared at the deserts, or what side of the "give me lobster" button you pressed.

Meaningless and trivial metrics, ultimately. Third order at best.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#304

Post by Farbklex »

This shows that there is room for a well designed, easy menu app. No ordering, no separate app installs, no mandatory accounts for the end-customer, no PDF menus.

Native app clip / instant app is a also a good use case for this if you really want to develop more than just a good mobile site. Add the ability for the owner to quickly make changes to the menu (dish of the day?) and it should be better than what we have right now.

Of course only if you have decent internet coverage at the place.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#305

Post by Broken_Hippo »

bregma wrote: post #254
dagw wrote: post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dining at a restaurant is a luxury I think this is the crux of the difference of opinions. Dining at a restaurant is different things to different people at different times. I love the 'luxury' dining experience with all that it entails, will happily pay a lot of money to experience it, and I cannot wait to do that again. And in those cases, yes I expect that all aspects of the dining experience live up to that. But…

It smacks of entitlement when dining at a restaurant is considered basic necessity and preparing your own meals is considered a luxury. Think about history. Think about the vast, vast majority of people on earth. Consider just how entitled one must be to have the help prepare your basic necessities of life.

Fast food has been a staple of life since antiquity: For centuries, folks went to the baker to get bread, since home kitchen facilities were very limited. Women have been stuck in home kitchens for eons, with male family members not learning even basic skills unless they were employed as cooks or bakers.

I think we've been depending on others for food prep for a very, very long time.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#306

Post by herbst »

vmception wrote: post #140
RalfWausE wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As i mentioned: No dining out after March 2020... but this will change next month (finally). Your observation is correct: Many germans like to stay in an restaurant es an event , not just to eat something quick ... for this purpose there are tons of Pommesbuden, bakerys or Dönerläden.

Although I do hate it when aspects of Germany become more like America, I do wish that sit down nice restaurants had wait staff that checked on us a little more frequently with the expectation that maybe we want to leave!

The not 'checking on you' is the whole point we prefer about our 'system'. Just call them if you need something and otherwise they let you enjoy your time without permanent nagging or time pressure

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#307

Post by tristor »

This is one subtle reason I love Boomers. They don’t want to deal with this sort of stuff and businesses have no choice (for now) to cater to them, which means annoyances from tech being unnecessarily inserted into a process are almost always bypassable simply by asking politely.

I’ve yet to be forced to use a QR code menu. I have sometimes had the alternative be looking at a large menu board over having a menu card in my hands, but even many restaurants will happily hand you a menu card on request. That said, given the circumstances I haven’t left a 50 mile radius of my house, so it’s possible it’s different elsewhere.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#308

Post by herbst »

I don't have a phone number (verification) and don't bring internet with me all the time. Guess that would already lock me out me out of many restaurants? But same is true for most tourists.

I haven't been out eating since the pandemic, but if this makes uncomplicated WiFi hotspots in restaurants more common I am ok with it I guess.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#309

Post by advanced-DnD »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #40
er4hn wrote: post #6

As 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…

Unless you are a visiting foreigner without cell phone service and the WiFi requires you to login with a working cell phone number, then you are in 没办法 territory.

As an overseas Chinese visiting China, the cashier always look at me weirdly when I told them (in Chinese) I don't have online wallet/mobile internet. They think I'm taking them for a laugh.

Re: Bring back menus, QR codes are terrible

#310

Post by e-clinton »

School-Cotton wrote: post #275
topicseed wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With covid, many restaurants removed paper menus to avoid transmission. I hate QR codes so that was a move I was not in favour of.....

That’s indeed why they did it, which is silly because there’s zero evidence that paper restaurant menus are a significant risk of covid transmission. It’s pure hygiene theater.

Hygiene theater? That’s just hygiene. You don’t HAVE to bathe everyday, nothing will happen if you don’t. But doing so is just hygiene.
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