“The iPad is already a tasty product among gadget lovers, but a North Sydney restaurant has become the first in Australia to replace their printed menus with Apple’s new touch screen device,” Stephen Fenech reports for News.com.au. “Global Mundo Tapas in the North Sydney Rydges Hotel yesterday introduced a custom-made iPad application which allows customers to browse the virtual pages of the menu with a sweep of their finger.”
“Diners can peruse the dishes and see a picture of what the dish looks like along with tasting notes before compiling their order and sending it wirelessly to the kitchen,” Fenech reports. “The iPad menu can also suggest the best wines to go with certain dishes and suggest the best food pairings.”
Fenech reports, “When ordering steak, users can even specify how they’d like the meat cooked and which sauce they’d prefer. It will even ask them if they’d like fries with that.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: In some darkened Vegas hotel room, Bill Gates is muttering about pen-based input as his fingernails grow out of control.
Always good to have Appy patrons…
Wow. That’s a novel use of the iPad. Wonder what’ll come next?
As much as I love my iPad and the two others I’ve purchased for my business… I can’t possibly see how this would fit into the budget of any reasonable restaurant. I have some friends who have owned restaurants and the profit margins are crazy thin. Only a few hit it well (maybe this is one of those few). But a reasonable sized restaurant would need 50+ menus (again I’m guessing at the size of this restaurant).
Now that’s cool. Gives people a chance to try out the iPad as well.
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That’s rare — err I mean well done.
But does it have a TIP CALCULATOR!!!!
@ Macanatic: You’d only need one or maybe two at the table so probably only need 5-10 at most depending on the size of the restaurant. And no more printing costs for menus or daily specials ever again plus access to really accurate data to help in your ordering so a more efficient operation
Seriously, this restaurant have been planning this for months to get free publicity.
@ jimSydAus
It worked!
@ Macanatic,
Good point. I guess there is an incredible amount of flexibility doing it this way though. Imagine being able change prices, nay, the whole menu easily and continuously. No more printing expense. Dang, and I’m a printer.
I wonder if location services is accurate enough to get the right plate to the right person ;~|
Then all you need is a food runner and not a waiter!
(I would miss raising the little Mexican flag, though)
Ah, the resto is in a hotel. No wonder they can afford this.
@MDN take: BAHAHAHAHAHA
I’m getting one for my ‘barbie’.
and if they fall inside someone’s purse or cargo pants pocket, what are they going to do?
@Macanatic The restaurant is in a Rydges Hotel, so they have the means.
@HMCIV This is Australia. We don’t tip here.
@John
Wow. That’s a novel use of the iPad. Wonder what’ll come next?
They can start by replacing all those crap video entertainment systems in the back of all the airline seats. Great in their day, boy are they ever dated now.
That should be good for about a couple million units!!!!!!
They are already being used in the Qzine restaraunt on board the Celebrity Eclipse cruis ship.
We used it last week, great.
HMCIV, Aussies don’t tip (serving staff get a decent wage instead).
Macanatic, North Sydney is a strip north of Sydney Harbour Bridge where corporations have their headquarters – full of well paid business people / office workers demanding efficient service and quality food. Margins are likely to be fat and juicy.
…And Balmer says: “It’s just another PC!”
Sure, you f*kng delusional bastard.
@enzos:
Do you know how expensive this restaurant is? I’d guess fairly expensive based on your comments.
MDN: Please don’t insult the great Howard Hughes by comparing Bill “Micro&Soft;” Gates to him.
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The iPad has the same security as the iPhone, and it can be remotely, locked, erased and GPS located. Besides, the restaurant probably has their credit card number: 2 burgers, 3 Cokes, 1 iPad = $550 + $82.50 (15%) tip.
If you think that’s cool check out the iPad used in an operating room tom assist with surgery. http://gizmodo.com/5554353/watch-an-ipad-assist-a-surgery-in-japan
Wonder if they’d be willing to give me a carry-out menu?
When my wife, some friends and I were dining out a couple of months ago (just before the iPad was released), we were talking about the iPad.
I commented that it would make a great menu replacement/customer entertainment device for restaurants. If digitally tethered to particular tables, staff would know where to deliver orders. Staff could be more efficient and attentive since they wouldn’t be spending time taking orders. Need a drink refill, touch a button on the iPad.