A Digital Dining Experience

I like to try new things. When I read on a newspaper that there was a new kind of restaurant in London where you can order your food using a computerised menu, I wanted to go there immediately. Well, the “immediate” did not come so soon and I almost forgot about this restaurant. Thankfully there is Groupon, a website with many discounted offers. One day, an offer popped into my inbox which said: "Pay £20 for £40 towards food and drinks at Inamo". The very same interactive restaurant  I wanted to go! I bought the deal straight away, booked a table and went with my partner.

 

Inamo specialises in an Oriental fusion cuisine. It has modern interiors and lively music. We were happily greeted at our arrival and seated at a table. There were empty plates in front of us and nothing more. Except for the “tablecloth” which was not actually a cloth at all, but projected patterns. The waitress explained to us how to order and then the fun began.

There was a little hole on the right hand side from the plate and when you put your hand on it, the menu appeared in front of you. The “hole” was actually a computer mouse and you moved your hand to scroll the menu. Every time you stopped the mouse, you could see the dish projected to your empty plate, so you had an idea how it would look like. Ordering was very easy: just a double click and the dish or drink was ordered. The service was quick and the food very good. The portions were quite small, but because ordering was such fun, it was actually good as otherwise we would have eaten too much.

There were many ways to get entertained during the dinner. You could watch the chefs preparing the food in the kitchen (the picture was projected again on the table) or to play computer games (on the table) or to play with the ‘tablecloth’ by changing the themes, patterns and colours.

After we were filled up with all that fabulous food, it took just one last click to order the bill. No need to be patient and try to get the attention of a  waiter.

It truly is a fun place for adults and also for children and teenagers.

By Eva Unt

Visit the FOCUS website: www.focus-info.org

Inamo Soho: www.inamo-restaurant.com

Inamo St James: www.inamo-stjames.com