Play Games At Restaurant Table for $2 on their tablet.

As usual on Monday evening Suzi and I were in the Southend and chose Olive Garden because we have a coupon. (We so wish there were more independent restaurants) We go in and get a table within 6 minutes. There on the table is a Ziosk. Much like Chili's you can get appetizers, drinks, desert or pay your bill at the end of a meal. BUT, in this case you can pay $2 and play games on the small tablet computer provided by the restaurant.

So what do you think of this?

Richard

It's something we just ignore whatever a restaurant has them. It is a more convenient way to pay the bill sometimes instead of having to wait for the waitress but other than that they are totally useless. I put them in the same category as parents who allow their children to bring in video games to play while eating dinner, then need to learn better table manners!

What a shame. No conversation over a meal. No ideas shared, no thoughts exchanged.
(Heavy sigh)
And like Mark, I think it's a poor substitute for child amusement. Why not engage them in conversation and use the time to find out what's on their mind?

Man, I hate these things. Maybe the essence of a dining experience is evolving, or maybe this is just trashing up the place. I can't tell yet, but I am not a fan. The real kicker is that most of these places already have huge TV's to keep you from noticing that your meal has been microwaved from the freezer.

I blame hipsters and millennials.

Red Robin has something like that too...but I also very much prefer service from real live people!

I guess the Olive Garden tablets are to distract their guests from the food.