Did Apple see this coming? iPads are beginning to replace menus in the U.S., just as e-readers have begun to replace hard copy books. Restaurant goers will have an opportunity to custom order their meals with just a touch of a finger. A news at USAToday talked with the founders of Stacked: Food Well Built, a new restaurant chain that will put an iPad/menu on every table in its three new locations opening soon in Southern California:

The two co-founders — who founded the BJ’s Restaurant chain — plan to place 100 iPads in each restaurant. Diners will use them to look at meal options; design their own burgers, pizzas and salads; and, if they want, use the iPads to pay for the meals. But, says co-founder Paul Motenko, “We’re not going to market it as an iPad restaurant.” When Stacked founders first considered a concept with guests creating their own meals and ordering them on tabletop devices, the iPad didn’t yet exist. IPads were the breakthrough, Motenko says.

Others have tried iPads. Restaurants by Delta Air Lines gates at New York’s John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airport installed iPads at tables that let guests custom-order meals. Bone’s Restaurant in Atlanta uses iPads for its wine list. Co-owner Richard Lewis says wine sales jumped 20% since the iPads were added six months ago. Someday, they’ll be at all restaurants, Lewis says. “It’s the future”. Be the first to start an innovative restaurant here in the Philippines with an Ipad menu.

Ever experience going to a popular restaurant only to find out that its full of people so you have to wait on the waiting bench to have your turn? There is a great business idea for the restaurant owner to have there guest need not get bored waiting for there turn. ReadyPing lets restaurants notify guests by text message when their table is ready. The system aims to improve on restaurant pagers, which require a substantial upfront investment plus maintenance costs and have a limited range. Restaurants don’t need to purchase new hardware to use ReadyPing; all that’s required is an internet connection and a computer. ReadyPing charges a flat monthly fee of USD 35, which includes sending an unlimited number of ‘pings’.

To use the system, the hosts enter the guest or party’s name, number of guests, and their mobile number. When their table is available, the host clicks a button to send a customizable text message. ReadyPing is currently only available in the United States, but i’m sure this will be a hit here in the Philippines with so many restaurants around the country, why not develop a system something like this for the Philippine market.