Olive Garden To Roll Out Table Side Tablets

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

ORLANDO (CBSMiami/AP) — The next time you pop into an Olive Garden for a quick bite, don't be surprised at the new high tech touch at your table.

Florida's Darden Restaurants Inc. has announced that they will install Ziosk computer tablets at all of its U.S. locations so customers can order and pay by touch screen.

Ziosk tablets were tested in several restaurants last year. The chain said locations using the devices had faster dining times and increased tip percentages for wait staff.

The plan is to start rolling them out at additional restaurants next month and have the 7-inch devices to be in all of its more than 800 U.S. restaurants before year's end.

"We've been focused on improving the dining experience at every touch point, and we're excited to give our guests the ability to customize their visit by leveraging the technology of Ziosk's tabletop tablets," Dave George, Olive Garden president, said in a statement.

Tablets have made appearances in airports, where travelers can have food delivered to where they sit, but are still limited in the traditional restaurant scene. Ziosk tablets are in use at Chili's restaurants and are in the process of launching nationwide at Red Robin.

Darden's stock fell 47 cents to $68.13 in afternoon trading.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)