We’re taught from a young age how to behave in line; to form a single file and wait our turn. Civilized society depends upon such etiquette, but eventually, we realize these rules don’t apply to everyone. Pretty people, for example, never seem to wait in line at a club—go figure.
Imagine how much time you could save if you didn’t have to waste it standing in line for lattes and lobster rolls? These iPhone apps will let you order ahead, so not only will you stride up to the front of the line, but your purchase will be waiting for you when you get there.
Snap a Finger and Skip the Line
Snapfinger is your ticket to the front of the line at some of America’s most popular chain restaurants. Whether your town has a Restaurant Row or Strip Mall, chances are it has one of the 561,000 restaurants serviced by the Snapfinger app. Pre-order and skip the line at fast food places including Baja Fresh, Pick Up Stix and Zaxbys, or speed up your take-out order at casual restaurants like Yard House, Outback Steakhouse and Rock Bottom Restaurants where you can send your order directly to the kitchen and have it waiting when you arrive.
Zingle Txt Now 4 No Lines K?
Zingle is so simple that even users with “dumb” phones can get in on the fun. That’s because Zingle lets users text their order via SMS to restaurants and coffee shops. The Zingle app makes it easy to find participating locations and saves your favorite orders. There’s no charge to place an order, but keep in mind that text-messaging rates may apply.
Seamless Ordering for No Waiting
If you’re in one of the 40 cities covered by Seamless, download this app. Now. Every area is different, of course, but in Long Beach, CA I found a great selection of local restaurants with reviews, ratings and menus. Another bonus with this app is you have the choice of pick-up or delivery so you can skip both the line and the traffic. Score!
Use ChowNow to Skip the Line at Local Restaurants
ChowNow is creating the apps that make it possible for you to cut the front of the line at your favorite burrito spot. Their tools offer local restaurants the ability to have branded apps—even without a big national marketing budget. Now, hungry people like me can order a Mac Daddy pancake from The Potholder Café, pick it up and get home to eat it while it’s still hot.
Tapingo Gets College Kids Out of Line
The smart folks at Tapingo know that college students don’t have time to wait in line. (Toga! Toga!) They have studying to do. To help keep students on task—and on budget—the Tapingo app for Mobile Food Ordering on Campus even keeps track of payment partners like credit cards, Paypal, or student cards. The app highlights participating locations on (and nearby) a campus that accept mobile orders so students can get their orders and be on their way quickly.
If your time is too valuable to wait in line, it’s time to hack your mealtime routine. From smartphones to text-only, and office lunches to campus cuisine, there are plenty of ways to get ahead of the herd by pre-ordering with your iPhone. On the other hand, if what you really need is 10 more minutes with Temple Run, then perhaps a long line is just what you’re looking for.
