Murella restaurant in Marsalforn is to launch a QR code which will enable patrons to order straight from their mobile phones or tablets.
The app will allow patrons to order food and drinks, as well as to give their preferences, such as how they want their steak cooked and which sauce they want on the side. The specials of the day will also be listed, as will current promotional offers.
“It’s a very practical app but it is also fun,” Jubilee CEO Alex Scicluna said.
“I saw it at an airport and thought it was a great idea. It was quite a challenge to develop the app from scratch, but with the help of Gozitan IT firm OS3, we managed to get it done in good time.”
The app also had to be integrated into the other systems at the restaurant – including the billing and kitchen ordering system.
“This is not about replacing the personal service but about complementing it. For example, the app will recognise you as a repeat visitor and will also prompt you with a shortcut for your favourite meal... You would be surprised what creatures of habit people are,” he laughed.
“We think it will prove very popular and intend to eventually roll it out across our other outlets,” he said. Murella, named after the Scicluna patriarch’s nickname, has been a testing ground for new ideas ever since it was opened 18 months ago. It provides live entertainment on a 360° stage and had the first wood-fired pizza oven in Gozo.
The Jubilee Group, which already has six outlets in Gozo, will also be developing a new area within the Calypso Hotel as a retail store for sweets – with a cafe following the same theme. This will be opening within three months.
“We are very sensitive to the health concerns associated with candy, so we will be having organic, sugar-free, low-fat and even gluten-free options,” he said.
“I envisage a magical place that children will dream about. Even the decor will be decadent and have a retro feel – similar to the feel of our Cafe Jubilee outlets, with lots of wood and old-fashioned glass jars.”
In the meantime, the group is updating the three Cafe Jubilee outlets making subtle changes to give them a fresher look.
“I want people to sense that there is less clutter, more symmetry in the frames, brighter woodwork and subtler lighting. But I did not want it to be too different. I don’t believe in changing a winning horse,” he said.
It has been a tough year for the group, which was highly embarrassed by the revelation that a honey it stocked was fake. But Mr Scicluna said that the company took this very seriously and is determined to make sure that this never happens again.
“The only way to ensure that our clients get exactly what they expect is to take over production ourselves. We have stopped outsourcing as we don’t want to be at the mercy of unscrupulous providers. This involved huge outlays but at least now we have control and we believe the quality is even better. And we have even expanded the range of products. So every cloud has a silver lining,” he said.
Watch a video on how to use the QR app at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sULSAxncfiE&feature=youtu.be .