Stacked, the newest restaurant on Del Amo Mall’s outdoor promenade opened today. I was invited to a special media lunch one hour before they opened to the public for the first time.
At the host stand, guests would be assigned a table. Once seated, a simple swipe of a credit card unlocks the iPad where orders are made, and customized.
My first thoughts on the iPad ordering took me back to my server days, punching away orders at the micros. However, I was my own server this time and I could add as many toppings to my burger, pizza, or salad as I wanted, and I could also change the bread, patty & sauce. “Hang on, this sounds a lot like the counter” is what you say. Alas, there is a difference. Stacked has more than just burgers. Salads, sausages, and pizza are available and made to order. Also, the menu is ingredient centric. When an ingredient is taken off the meal, the price goes down & vice versa. So you truly get exactly what you pay for.
The iPad itself was a very nice interface. All the images of the ingredients were crisp and clear. The price would change with each substitution made on an item. The order could be sent at your leisure. Cashing out is simple. Diners can easily pay with their credit cards and go, or click on the help button and a server would be happy to settle the payment. Servers would also be available at any time to assist guests with the iPads or answer any questions they may have. Co-owner Paul Motenko explained, “We are not replacing good service with technology. Rather the iPads serve as a tool to dramatically improve the dining experience for our guests while enabling us to keep menu prices down” The iPads didn’t replace the servers. They were constantly seen on the floor helping guests, refilling drinks, bussing tables, anything you would normally see at a restaurant.
I customized their Kung Fusion burger by substituting a turkey patty & a pretzel bun, holding the sriracha mayo and adding caramelized onion. The pretzel bun was a delicious change & the turkey, slaw, and veggies went together well.
Up next,a small portion of sweet potato fries with a butternut squash aioli which truly hit the spot. Even this small portion was too big for me so I took it home.
I ended my lunch with a snickerdoodle cookie filled with strawberry ice cream. The cookies weren’t too big, just enough to wrap things up.
The restaurant continued to fill up as I finished my meal. I know it was only day one, and everyone is on their best foot forward & my only hope is it’s still like that when I visit in a few months.
Del Amo Fashion Center
3525 W Carson St
Torrance, CA 90503
