Manuel Velasquez / GettyThe QR code could be the ATM machine of our day. Before ATMs, people would wait in line to get money out from a bank with the help of a bank teller. Today, many restaurants don't use a physical menu, but instead instruct guests to access it via phone from a laminated QR code on the tabletop.
Similar to the ATM, the QR code has been around for decades. As Insider's Kristen Hawley reports, it dates back to the 1990s, and widespread adoption of it has waxed and waned. Insider's Ben Winck reported that the pandemic accelerated automation's adoption in restaurants, with QR codes leading the way at Cracker Barrel, Dave & Buster's, and Olive Garden parent company Darden.
More automation means less cashiers, too, so be prepared to wait longer to pay for the food that you ordered on your phone. With the persistent rising trend of ordering to-go, there's a chance you'll have to wait for the restaurant staff to sort through their flood of online orders first, too. You could also end up eating more. Insider's Grace Dean reported diners could feel less judged, and end up ordering a lot more food.