Anyone every heard of, or used, the app "Nowait"?

Friday we visited a restaurant (Au Cheval, best cheeseburger I think I've ever had in my entire life, for real!) that had a long wait (2-2.5 hours). They don't take reservations, they don't allow you to call ahead, and we really, REALLY wanted to try their cheeseburgers, so we agreed to the wait and walked across the street to a cool bar we know to hang out while waiting.

Now, I've been to many places that will use a text message to alert you to when your table is ready. This place does that, but it also suggested we download the "Nowait" app on our phone so we could check on our status in line. Since it was free, I decided to try. It's pretty awesome!

All I had to do was enter my phone number in the app and it automatically showed that I was in line at Au Cheval. It showed me how many parties were ahead of me at the time (47 ), and what my estimated wait time was. Any time I wanted I could click on the app and see how many parties were still in front of me, and what the updated estimated wait time was. It was nice for us because it allowed us to hang out at the other bar until we saw that our wait time was less than 15-20 minutes, at which time we got the check and walked back across the street. By the time we walked over there they were texting us to come to the host stand to be seated.

What I didn't realize at the time was that the app ALSO lets you get in line without being at the restaurant yet (skipping the need to go there physically first to sign in), and lets you search local restaurants for current wait time.

We were staying in the city for the weekend, and the breakfast spot we wanted to try was also one that use that app. Since that place was maybe an 8-10 block walk from our hotel (too close to Uber, but a decent walk) and is often packed for breakfast, we put our name on that last partway through the walk so that we didn't have to wait much once we got there, as opposed to others waiting 30+ mins.

Obviously the app is limited because only certain places use it (I've heard the fee is about $50/month for a restaurant to be on the list). There are a few major chains (like Chilis) that use it, so that hopefully will allow it to grow greater usage. Their main target is fast casual places that don't take reservations, and/or trendy spots that don't take reservations but that may have a long wait.

If you eat out much I'd recommend at least checking it out. You could easily download it for free, search your area for restaurants, and if there aren't any/many just delete it. But if you live in an area where it has a decent group of places that use it, it could be very helpful.



PS - Thought about putting this in Gear with other app talk. Thought about putting it in Food since it is geared specifically towards restaurants. Decided to dump it here as a compromise.

 

Looks like the only place in town that uses it is Buffalo Wild Wings.

 

That wouldn't be terribly worth it. I wonder if there are many places in Portland that do. I personally won't use it too much in my town or the neighboring ones, but I'll definitely use it when in the city or collar suburbs.

 

I checked. Only Bdubs there too.

 

This is pretty cool. There are more than a dozen places showing up for me, at least a few I'm familiar with. (Including the Mill St. Brew Pub!) There are also a half dozen listed as "coming soon." I'd like to see how this app grows. It's a great idea.

I should note that about half of the places are out of town for me, including places in Niagara Falls and Buffalo.