I was totally surprised when I went to Applebee’s for an evening business meeting to see a Ziosk sitting at every table. I was immediately intrigued and wanted to know exactly what it did. At first sight I though you could just pay for your meal once you were finished ordering because of the card machine positioned at the right hand side of each Ziosk but, boy was I wrong… It does so much more! It’s a touch screen device that enables you to order your drinks, appetizer and dessert using the Ziosk. You still have a server greet you, check on you during your entire visit and they put in your entrée order. So the Ziosk DOES NOT take the place of your server.
The Ziosk also allows you to play games and they are in categories like Popular, Arcade & Action, Casual, Puzzles, Kids and Preschool. This is a family’s dream to keep the kiddos occupied in addition to their crayons and activity menus. The cost to play games is $.99 per visit. You can play as many games as you’d like during your visit and it’s added to your bill at the end of your stay. You can also call your server, reorder drinks, join the Applebee’s e-club or view specials, and pay your bill. It even has a tip calculator allowing you to add your tip and you have the option to choose not to get a receipt, have one emailed to you or printed out right from the Ziosk.
The tech in me played with the Ziosk throughout my dinner at Applebee’s. I found myself apologizing to my business colleague for being so taken with it. I had to reassure them I was listening to every word and they weren’t being ignored. I was taking pictures and figuring out everything it did the entire time. I think this is another step towards awesome futuristic technology. I love that most Applebee’s offer free wi-fi and that’s why I love having business meetings and regular casual dinners there with friend and family. They have an awesome menu and these bonuses make visiting super convenient and a pleasure each time. Take a look at the Ziosk and how cool it is…
