In New York, visitors and residents alike reap the benefits of the city’s diverse array of food choices. Whether you’re in the mood for Peruvian or Japanese, a world of cuisines are conveniently located on every city block. But sorting through the endless variety of options can be overwhelming, and a handful of tech companies are attempting to alleviate the stress that comes with finding the perfect meal in New York City.
Seamless is a go-to app among the late-night crowd in New York. The app allows users to order food directly from their smartphone, bringing the convenience of online food ordering to a whole new level.
Blue Apron is a grocery delivery service company that delivers recipes and the required ingredients to customers’ doorsteps. The service eliminates the time it takes to grocery shop and the precisely portioned dinners minimize waste, while simultaneously providing customers with new recipes and fresher food. Blue Apron’s “meal kit” approach offers the convenience of delivery while allowing customers to flex their cooking skills.
Reserve is an app that acts as a digital concierge service, and focuses on making all aspects of the dining experience more enjoyable. Users choose where and when to dine based on Reserve’s “curated list” of restaurant partners. The app then organizes the reservation at the restaurant, and clues in customers with updates. Reserve also acts as a mobile payment service—customers have their payment information and tipping preferences on file through the app’s service.
Dash is a mobile payment platform that simplifies the process of paying restaurant tabs. The app allows users to view, split and pay their tab from their smartphone, as the platform integrates a leading hospitality point-of-sale system. Restaurants can easily accept Dash a form of payment, streamlining the process of closing out at a busy establishment.
OpenTable
OpenTable is another option for easily booking dining reservations. The app allows you to choose from various cuisines, price ranges, times and locations, as well as invite friends to eat with you. The app also rewards you for eating out. When you honor a reservation made through the app, you accumulate Dining Points, which you can then redeem for a Dining Reward. The app also provides profiles of restaurants, complete with user reviews, payment options, and dress code.
