Restaurant menus getting interactive, turning to iPads

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Printed menus at restaurants around the world are being replaced by iPad menus.

The new, high-tech ordering system is being tested at places like III Forks. The steakhouse's Jacksonville and Houston locations aren't offering their full menu on Apple's gadget, but the chain has however been handing out interactive wine lists.

General manager of La Catina Laredo in Palm Beach Gardens, owned by the same parent company as III Forks, says he would be open to the idea if it were to come to South Florida.

"You just gotta keep up with the times," Michael Ryan, La Cantina Laredo General Manager said.

Because iPads cost a whopping $500, some may think that investing in the digital menus would be pricey.

Ryan thinks it might actually save money.

"It saves on cost I would think eventually because you don't have to keep reprinting menus. You just type in a different item. Then you can change it on a regular basis."

Some 'see' other benefits for restaurants that dish out the digital menus.

"Well one of the things is that it's lit. Many times in restaurants, it's a little dark, hard to see the menu So it lights up. It would be a unique, kind of fun thing to have," restaurant patron.

And if you don't know how to use an iPad, don't worry, you're not going to starve, or go thirsty for that matter. Unlike restaurants in Japan, the steakhouse isn't planning to do away with all of its regular menus.