After a decade reviewing restaurants, I despair at modern dining
The New York Times’ food critic argues that booking apps, Instagram and other technology are ruining the pleasure of dining out.
Last week, the restaurant loyalty app Blackbird introduced a new way to pay for dinner. Customers check in on the app on arrival, pick a payment source and tip percentage, and then eat. Ben Leventhal, one of the app’s founders, explained what he called the “best part” in an Instagram video shot at the Italian cafe Lodi, a chain based in California.
“When you’re done, you just get up and go,” he said. Then he demonstrated how it’s done, high-fiving Lodi’s host on his way to the door without breaking stride.
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