Who gets the tip if your waiter is a computer?

For diners at uWink in Woodland Hills, it's a compelling question. The restaurant has replaced apron-wearing servers with file servers. Every uWink table is equipped with a touch screen computer that serves as both digital menu and ordering system. Also loaded with games, puzzles and quizzes, the tabletop terminals serve as an entertainment center, creating an interactive dining experience.

The idea to combine technology, food and games comes from Nolan Bushnell. The companies he founded enjoy better name recognition than he does: Atari and Chuck E. Cheese. The man who put Pong in our homes and lured us to a restaurant with a singing rat is injecting technology into another segment of our increasingly computerized culture.

More curious about a waiterless restaurant than technology, I talked April into taking the kids for lunch at uWink one Saturday afternoon. It looks like a typical restaurant, with a bar, patio seating and sleek minimalist design. What stands out are the ubiquitous digital projectors protruding from the ceiling and flashing images on the stark white walls.

A host seated us quickly and gave us a quick rundown on how to use the terminal at our table. It had two screens, so those on both sides of the table could access the menu and the games. We took turns perusing the menu, poking the screen and exploring all the different options.

Logging onto uWink uWink is located at the Westfield Promenade, 6100 Topanga Canyon Boulevard #2310 in Woodland Hills, 91367. Call 818-992-1100 or log onto beta.uwink.com. Hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

The menu, which is described as modern comfort food, carries some of the usual fast casual standards, but has some surprises too, such as the Hawaiian Barbecue Pork sandwich or the Pan Seared Salmon Sandwich. The ordering system is user-friendly and flexible, giving you the option of customizing your order. With the push of a button, you can hold the onions on the Napa Valley Chicken Sandwich.

I was especially impressed with the Nutrition Information button accompanying each item. According to the computer, the Granny Smith Apple Tart served with dulce de leche ice cream and dusted with powdered sugar has no calories, fat, sodium, carbs or protein. As much as I'd like to believe that, I think the restaurant, which opened in October 2006, is still a work in progress. Indeed, the host who seated us pointed out two software engineers hunched over Apple laptops working on making the gaming consoles interconnected between tables.

The kids were immediately absorbed by the terminals. Even 19-month-old Brooke got in on the action, helping big sister Laurel, 4, pop balloons on the BalloonBash game. Drew, 2A½, made the most of his first restaurant visit in which the words "don't touch" weren't needed. He was so busy pushing buttons we had to remind him to eat.

The novelty wore off quickly for April. "I do not care for this at all," she said after about 10 minutes. I too was experiencing sensory overload. Between the tabletop terminals, pulsing Top 40 soundtrack and the myriad of shifting images dancing on the walls, uWink's atmosphere is more "Minority Report" than Macaroni Grill. I couldn't help but wonder if this was a sign of my advancing age and that the restaurant was designed for a younger, more plugged-in demographic.

The food arrived and was a welcome distraction from the digital chaos. April enjoyed her barbecue beef salad, which featured shredded beef atop romaine lettuce, along with crispy fried onions, salsa, roasted corn, pepper jack cheese tossed with chipotle ranch dressing. My turkey burger was a messy mouthful, which I expect from a good burger. But the generous dollop of guacamole couldn't compensate for the dry, overcooked turkey patty. The kids shared a pepperoni pizza, and yes, it was far better than anything served up at Chuck E. Cheese.

The service at uWink is comparable to, if not better than, a typical restaurant. Food and beverages are delivered by "runners," and everything arrived in a timely manner. If you need a refill, extra napkins, or anything else, you can flag down a runner or just press the Help button on the table's terminal and someone will appear.

Getting the check when it's time to leave is easy, too. Hit the Tab button on your terminal and it totals your bill. A host prints it at the front and you pay it on the way out.

Like any restaurant, the bill includes the option of leaving at tip. I went with 15 percent, but I have no idea who got it.


Eric Harnish is a Newhall resident.