Uber and Uber Eats have made me lazy (in the best way). I don't have to run to the subway in a time crunch or trek blocks and blocks for my favorite Thai food—they provide the ease and convenience I crave. And now, I'm about to get even lazier because the platform is rolling out a new feature that simplifies what can otherwise be a logistical nightmare: dinner plans.
Uber Eats is teaming up with OpenTable to coordinate your reservation and ride to the restaurant—at a discounted price. Here's how it works: The partnership allows you to book dinner straight from your Uber Eats app (Uber One members will even get priority tables at the hottest haunts in town), and then, along with your res, you'll score a discounted Uber to get you to the restaurant. Not only does it save you money, but it saves you time and toggling between apps. Only caveat? You'll have to be patient for the rollout. It's slated for the fall.
"We’ve spent more than a decade building a platform that connects people with the food they love, and along the way, we’ve heard from both diners and restaurants about the desire for even more ways to connect offline. So, Dine Out was a natural next step," Chief Product Officer Sachin Kansal told Food & Wine. "It’s about helping restaurants fill seats, introducing them to new customers, and making it easier for diners to enjoy the same great food—plus a ride to get there. Our ultimate goal is to extend the Uber Eats experience from delivery into the dining room."
The reservation feature is not the only new one, though. Users are getting many more helpful updates, including AI-powered commute alerts to let them know the best time to request a ride, new Uber One benefits, and the new Savings Slider, a built-in button to compare food prices.
"The savings slider came from a simple insight: People want more control over how they shop—especially when it comes to price," Kansal added. "Behind the scenes, the app analyzes data from our network of grocers and retailers to recommend smart swaps based on things like price, product type, availability, and what’s popular in your area."
