I’ve always wondered why restaurants can’t automate the process of ordering and paying for food. While I like interacting with (most) waiters/waitresses - I’ve had enough unpleasant experiences that given the choice I’d rather plop into a booth and key my own order into a terminal. One restaurant chain does have this self-ordering feature. The restaurant is uWink. They currently have one location in Woodland Hills CA and are opening two more in 2008 in Hollywood CA and Mountain View CA. The chain was founded by Nolan Bushnell who was also responsible for the Chuck E. Cheese chain as well as the founder of video game maker Atari. Unfortunately after about two years on the market it doesn’t seem that this concept has caught on too well. Check out the next page for a YouTube video report that explains the concept, then read a review posted on May 2, 2008 titled “uWink: A Cold Greasy Plate of Fail” to hear about one reviewers experience.

Here’s a report from November 2006 where Noel Bushnell explains the concept behind uWink and gives a tour and demonstration of the restaurant. I’ll admit it does look cool.

Before you get too excited about the restaurant, here’s a rather cold review of one visitor’s May 2, 2008 experience –via web site Lemonodor - uWink: A Cold Greasy Plate of Fail.

Link: Wired Magazine Article on uWink
Link: October 2006 Kotaku.com review of uWink