NoWait App Takes the Annoyance Out of Restaurant Buzzers

Make a reservation.

T

he system for waiting for a table at a popular restaurant has gotten an overhaul in the form of an app that organizes customers into a wait list and texts them as their table becomes ready. It's a convenient way of dealing with crowded lobbies, and costs less than equipping a restaurant with buzzers, so why aren't more places using it?

NoWait features three party types—walk-in, call-aheads, and reservations. Restaurants can queue up their diners in order according to space available. Diners give their cell phone number to the restaurant, and the host(ess) enters the information into the app. As tables become available, diners are sent a text as the host presses a button on the app. Once they're seated, the host clicks another button indicating so, and the list is reorganized.

Wait for a text message telling you your table is ready.

Interestingly, the app also includes a feature that shows the restaurant how many people ended up leaving and not coming back for their table—perhaps an indication of how popular their restaurant could be if they had more seating available.

It's an interesting concept and also skirts the issue of restaurants creating their own apps or texting setups, which some customers don't like because they are sent offers for the restaurant long after they've dined there. Texting through the app ensures that diners aren't bothered by unnecessary coupons or updates from the restaurant.

We'd like to see this used in more restaurants, especially if it's as effective as it claims to be. Estimated wait times could be inaccurate, and sometimes we're in places where cell service is spotty—but overall, this app and concept sound promising.