Restaurants, customers in Nashville adapt to touchless payment methods

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Restaurants in Nashville are continuing to adapt to new changes even before the city enters different phases of reopening the economy.

Businesses like Frothy Monkey have transitioned away from paper receipts and pens to pay bills for the past five weeks. Using a variety of different programs, the restaurants have customers using their phones and scanning a QR code with their camera app to open a new window where they can pay, split checks and tip.

"You put in your information and it's super easy and super fast," Frothy Monkey Director of Restaurants and Hospitality Britt Russler told NewsChannel 5 after beginning dining services again. "We're kind of doing it at our own speed to what makes our staff and guests the most comfortable and safest."

Russler said they still have pens they can sanitize later since about a quarter of customers aren't comfortable with the idea. Customers like Alli Johnson said she supports anything that means easy and minimal exposure.

Just like Frothy Monkey, Lockeland Table in East Nashville uses a QR code to access online menus.

The touchless experience has been functioning great for bartaco in 12 South weeks after a few small bumps, according to the team. General manager Zach Moore said the restaurant loves the current process but wants to stay flexible.

"The way we see it, this process is a great fit for right now, but we’re always thinking about what the process will look like a few steps from where we are now. It’s always important that we’re anticipating future changes in the industry as well as being flexible to tweak things along the way based on guest feedback and making sure our guests’ experience is top of mind," Moore said.

The ability to swap new payment methods will be a question down the road as more people are allowed in restaurants and retail stores.

Phase Three allows more businesses to reopen for the first time at half capacity including small music venues, adult entertainment and transpotainment. Metro Parks can also reopen playgrounds, basketball courts, dog parks and picnic shelters.