I have been to restaurants where you see the menu using a QR code and also place an order and pay over the website. I do not like this because, first it seems like its more self serve and there's no service really except bringing the food from the kitchen and I am still expected to pay the same 10-20% tip and second, I am afraid we are perhaps headed towards restaurant analytics, impressions/views for menu items etc, and perhaps the online retailer behavior of not being able to pay without adding a card on file and all the dark UX patterns that come with it.
> headed towards restaurant analytics, impressions/views for menu items etc
Isn't all this already captured today? Restaurants can very easily keep track of what most people are ordering, what dishes are being sent back, etc.
I understand it would become easier to collect this data, but I'd be surprised if most (decent) restaurants don't already track popular dishes, table turnaround, etc.
Well, do a lot more than just see if a dish sells well or gets sent back more. I meant head deeper down that rabbit hole. To quickly think of a few things, building customer profiles, personalized menus, personalized menu item combo pricing, variable and surge pricing perhaps so busy hours cost more etc etc.
Yes I've been thinking more and more recently about how personalization means fewer shared experiences.
It becomes much harder to remain a cohesive group when everyone is getting their personalized version of a thing.
I don't think there's much value in this for something as small as a restaurant where menus are always limited enough that personalization wouldn't impact what is on the menu (maybe just how its presented to you).
Personalized pricing (combo or otherwise), surge pricing etc for restaurants seems just unlikely IMO. But I can see why some might think otherwise.
I am super grateful for QR codes to see a menu and pay my bill, but I will not dine at any establishment that makes having an special app/account a requirement.
