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inamo restaurant: where dining and technology unite

by Parm Mann on 23 February 2009, 12:57

Tags: inamo

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I'll be first to admit that the geek within me loves to see gadgets and technology popping up in unusual areas. Having seen Microsoft's Surface on show for many years, myself - and many others - have wondered how long it'll be until we see such technologies realised in everyday environments.

If you're inclined to try out something new, inamo restaurant on Wardour Street in London's Soho is now offering something very similar as part of its interactive dining experience.

Once inside, you'll be seated at tables equipped with touch-sensitive panels. Rather than taking the Microsoft Surface approach, inamo's tables are projected upon via cocoon-housed projectors dangling from the ceiling - leaving diners with ample under-table room to stretch their legs.

At the table, you'll have a choose of animated virtual tablecloths, creating something of a psychedelic atmosphere. Once accustomed to the bright lights, you'll be able to browse the menus and place your orders without having to wait for waiters - though, they'll be on hand should you experience any technical difficulties.

inamo serves Asian cuisine influenced by Japanese, Thai and Chinese cooking. The food looks decent, but for the first time ever, I'm lured by a restaurant not to sample its cuisine, but to play with its technology. Rumour has it, the tables are equipped with a game of Battleships, too.

Have any of our esteemed readers dined at inamo? If so, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the HEXUS.community forums. Is the coming together of dining and technology a match made in heaven, or do you prefer the good ol' waiter? Let us know.



HEXUS Forums :: 3 Comments

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I'm eating there next week, will let you know :)
So we went there this week, and the food wasn't anything specail.

The tempura we had was disntictly average, while it like my scallops lightly cooked, i can't help but feel theirs where a little too lightly. The kind of quality vrs price just wasn't that impressive, when you think how many excellent Japanese restaurants there are in london, yet it certainly wasn't fusion, least not when you compare it to the likes of Gilgamesh etc.

The surroundings where dark, as dim as a 13 year old who listens to my chemical romance, rebelling against her parents by painting her bedroom black, with paint they obviously bought for her.

However, the projector tables are fun. They provide light in the darkness, every part of them has been designed to be novel and entertaining, from been able to customize the wallpaper pattern on the table, to the built in games. if ever you eat there, book insisting you get a projector table.

So you have no interaction with the waiting staff until the payment at the end, everything from drinks, starters mains and deserts is ordered via the table system. Its fun and simple to use, we had a good few games of battleships which really put you in a happy mood.

In short, an experience that is something thats novel and fun, they have a set menu for £20 per head, and its quite possible to go for 2 course ala cart for 2 people including drinks for £60.
One of my london friends was there just before christmas. He quite enjoyed it, but I think for the tables rather than the food.

He was dissapointed they weren't MS Surface tables though.