Nice find. Posting here in case it disappears.
UWink - a Restaurant That Puts YOU in Control!
Order from the Table, Play Games, and Hang Out with Friends
uWink is a revolutionary new dining experience in Woodland Hills, California. Founded by Nolan Bushnell, founder and former CEO of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese, uWink features a touch screen computer at every table. You order your food, just how you like it, and a runner brings it out to you.
Walking into uWink, one might think they had wandered into an adult lounge, or a dance club. The atmosphere is the ultimate in modern art, with white walls surrounding the room, upon which were projected all sorts of colorful computer graphics. Despite the adult bar/lounge feel, the restaurant is relatively kid-friendly, with all kinds of games and a decent kids menu. On the other hand, they do keep the atmosphere mostly adult by only allowing minors in before 8 p.m., unless accompanied by an adult.
The uWink concept is unique. Founded by Nolan Bushnell, founder and former CEO of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese, uWink features a touch screen computer at every table. You order your food, just how you like it, and a runner brings it out to you. While traditional restaurants give you a paper menu and have a waiter take your order, at uWink the menu is all on the screen. Complete with tempting photos of almost everything on the menu, you have the power to hold the mayo on your sandwich, or add extra cheese to your burger, or change the sauce on your pizza, all from the touch-screen on your table.
Although we were at first a bit confused with the scan-card used to order, once we figured it out, my husband and I were pleasantly surprised with how quickly our drinks arrived at our table. We had barely pressed the "root beer" button when a runner appeared at our table with a full glass. We did not order anything from the bar, however, we did peruse the cocktail menu and were very impressed with the selection and the pricing.
While we waited for our meals, we enjoyed exploring the various entertainment options on the screen. One section allowed you to get a panoramic view of several places across the globe (we especially enjoyed Hawaii and Rome). Then we found the "Expert" game, and amused ourselves with various trivia questions for the rest of our wait.
We wondered how the food would taste. I mean, sure it's a cool place, but is the atmosphere and entertainment the highlight of the restaurant? The food arrived very quickly (probably too quickly, since we were having so much fun with the trivia game), and we discovered that it was high quality and delicious, especially for the price. Most entrees ranged around $8 - $15.
Although it was a fun evening, I would not recommend uWink as a good place for dates. It isn't exactly a romantic atmosphere, especially since the music is too loud for a really intimate conversation. They also have very few tables that are really good for a couple. The dining room is fairly small, and most tables are set up for parties of six or more. We ended up sandwiched right next to a family of four, practically sitting with them, which was a bit awkward. I highly recommend uWink for large groups, especially since the scan-card system makes splitting the bill a piece of cake! Plus, since there are no waiters, there is no pressure to hurry up and order, so it is a great place to just hang out, order drinks and appetizers, and meals if and when you want them.
At this point, the only uWink is located in Woodland Hills, California, but this location is to be the model for future franchises. According to the website, uWink is "currently able to offer franchises in 29 States and territories (AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, DE, DC, FL, ID, IA, KS, MA, MS, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, VT, WV, WY, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and other US Territories and Possessions)." If you are interested in franchise opportunities, please contact Nancy Nino at uWink for more information: 818-909-6030 x 102 or nancyn@uwink.com
