Techno Dining

Remember what the word 'hospitality' means? Back in the old days it was the 'people' industry, where waiters, bellhops, bartenders and chefs play with the punters, attend to their needs and add that special touch we call service. Last night, a good friend of mine told me about this restaurant in Sydney which sparked some debate about society being altered toward avoiding human interaction. Where has hospitality gone and does it need a voice?

Japanese restaurant Wagaya uses touch screen menu ordering from within a private booth table. Diners simply scroll through the menu items at their leisure and select preferred morsels by tapping. No pens and paper, no dialogue. Order in silence. The beauty of this system is you can order as you go. Want more tempura shrimp? Easy, I'll just tap the screen and it'll come along shortly. The menu keeps a running tally of your bill and allows you to see what you've ordered (in case you forget) however you never need to talk to a soul. Eaten too much with three sips left in your Singapore Sling? Just order another cocktail now and by the time you're finished, a fresh one shall be arriving via mute waitress shortly.

Apparently the food is great and the system works. What I find interesting is that 'wagaya' translates to 'our home' which contradicts our western traditional ideal of welcoming visitors to your kitchen table and indulging them with generosity of food and company with hardy conversation and sharing laughs. Tap, tap, tap - your dinner is ready.

Verdict: I think I love it - but the food is what would get me across the line.

Wagaya. Level 1, 78 Harbour Street, Haymarket in Sydney.