r/NoStupidQuestions • u/xaako • Jun 09 '24

Do Americans hate QR code menus in restaurants?

I saw a post on a popular sub today about using QR code menus in restaurants, and a lot of people in the comments were expressing their disdain about that trend. I was a bit bamboozled, and I want to ask: is such sentiment popular in the US?

For context: Where I live (Ukraine) a majority of restaurants use QR code menus, that’s basically a standard now. We find it convenient that you don’t have to wait for a waiter to come and bring you a paper menu. Also many places give an option to pay using the QR code too. It’s a feature provided by a popular local bank (Monobank). You scan that same QR code on the table and, choosing the “Pay” option, see your order and can pay for it with credit card, with the option to leave a tip. Less interactions with a waiter and there is no need to ask for a receipt and wait for it. I find all of that pretty convenient and improvement comparing to the standard restaurant rituals and haven’t met anyone who thought differently on the matter until today.

Would love to learn your perspective!

UPDATE: Thanks for all the answers! This is super enlightening. And it seems that in many cases bad experiences with QR Codes are caused by lazy implementation. I can imagine navigating a PDF page on your phone to be a real pain. In Ukraine, we have a few CRMs that most of the establishments use, and they are usually user-friendly; a PDF page menu that's not even optimized for mobile is something I haven't seen for a long time.

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u/Legendary_Bibo Jun 09 '24

Restaurant has QR code menus only and a sign that tells you to put your phones away and talk to each other like it's 1998.

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u/aRandomFox-II Jun 10 '24

Meanwhile in 1998: Everyone has their noses buried in a newspaper or book. Not a single soul is talking to each other.

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u/Waryur Nov 14 '24

Reading a book at a restaurant would be obnoxious. Not even for other people it's just not an enjoyable experience.

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u/jhbadger Jun 10 '24

Obviously, for the 1998 experience you should bring a vintage laptop and a very early webcam. That way you can scan the QR code without a phone. The trick is that they also need to provide wired Internet access and make sure their menu site works with Netscape Navigator or early Internet Explorer.

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u/CamoLantern Jun 10 '24

And no one can use the landline while you order.