Last Week

Writing from the porch of a bed and breakfast in Red Lodge, Montana, after driving the breathtaking Beartooth Highway to Yellowstone. No development work this week, but it’s a perfect time to share the vision behind my app.

The Inspiration

Last year in Shanghai and Hangzhou, I experienced a radically different dining culture. In virtually every restaurant, customers scan QR codes to order directly from their phones – no server interaction needed. The app knows your restaurant and table, you browse and customize orders at your leisure, and staff only bring out the food.

What does it mean in English?

While this QR-ordering system thrives in East Asia, it hasn’t caught on in North America. Why? Cultural expectations. American diners view server interaction as part of the dining experience – they want to feel special, ask questions, make special requests. Companies like Toast and Square have hit this wall trying to push digital ordering.

So I’m taking a different approach: start with what restaurants already need.

Nerdy Details

My app begins as a simple waitlist manager. Restaurants capture customer phone numbers when tables aren’t available, then send notifications when ready. This replaces expensive buzzer systems and lets customers roam freely while waiting.

But here’s the twist: while waiting, customers can browse the menu and pre-order. Consider the psychology – you’re already hungry, excited, probably looking up the menu anyway. Why not let them order?

Two key benefits emerge:

  1. Customer retention: Pre-ordered (and pre-paid) customers won’t abandon you for another restaurant
  2. Kitchen efficiency: Start that 30-minute dish while they’re still waiting, serve it minutes after seating

The long game? Normalize phone-based ordering through the waitlist experience first. Once comfortable ordering while waiting, customers might embrace QR ordering at tables too.

MVP and Beyond

Starting simple: just waitlist functionality. Names, numbers, notifications. Rock-solid technical foundation first.

Phase two adds pre-ordering capabilities. Phase three? Who knows – maybe I’ll use it in my own restaurant someday. That’s the ultimate dream: creating spaces where people enjoy great food, powered by technology that enhances rather than replaces the human experience.

Next Week

Still traveling, but aiming for an alpha MVP by end of June. 70% confident I’ll hit that target.