Allset App Launches In Chicago To Give Back Lunch To Busy Workers

Allset, a smartphone app that launched two years ago in San Francisco then New York, officially debuts today in Chicago with the goal of drawing more lunch-time customers to sit-down restaurants during the work week. The app hopes to achieve this by allowing users to preorder their meals before they arrive at the restaurant, that way food is served shortly after diners arrive and sit down at their tables. They promise diners will be in and out within 30 minutes and so far 35 Chicago restaurants in various neighborhoods are part of the app's network.

The app gives busy workers a realistic option of breaking up the routine of eating lunch at their desks. Users can reserve tables, invite their friends for lunch and pay for their meals all within the app. Allset founder and CEO Stas Matviyenko draws parallels to Uber and how the ride-share company disrupted the taxi industry. He wants Allset to do that for lunch, giving office workers a better option than fast food. Since launching in 2015 in the Bay Area, Matviyenko has counted a user base of about 100,000 in their three markets, including Palo Alto, Calif. Those users average about 11,000 lunch orders per month.

Chicago is the San Francisco-based company’s fourth market and they plan on expanding in one city a month with Boston up next. Seattle, Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles are also in their plans. The app is available for iOS and Android platforms. They’ve also developed a Facebook Messenger bot.

Allset’s criteria for selected restaurants is two-fold. They dubiously use Yelp, as participating restaurants must at least have a 3-and-a-half star rating. The restaurant's decor is the other factor. It doesn't have to be white tablecloth, but the dining room must deliver a “quality restaurant lunch experience,” Matviyenko said.

Courtesy of Allset

Allset charges restaurants an 11-percent commission. That’s the cost of bringing in more customers (also as a bonus, they’re diners who won’t loiter) during traditionally slower dining room times. For traditional restaurants, it also gives them a way to compete with fast-casual eateries, especially against the chain gang that often dominates lunch hours. Some restaurant owners feel the use of new technology will help them draw younger customers.

The company is also targeting corporate customers. Allset could make it easier for management to dangle carrots and arrange meals for their workers at local restaurants.

Matviyenko doesn't see the company focusing on reservations, avoiding the same niche occupied by OpenTable, Reserve and other companies. They may eventually expand into breakfast or brunch, but right now they want to grow into other cities.

Check out Allset’s initial 35 Chicago restaurants launch group below. Suprise—they’re not all downtown.

1. Anmol BBQ
2. Bacino’s of Lincoln Park
3. Baba Pita
4. Bang Chop Thai Kitchen
5. Bella Bacinos
6. Bijan’s Bistro
7. Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen
8. Cohiba Cuban Cuisine
9. Chicago Curry House
10. Curry House
11. Da Lobsta
12. Gino's East Of Lakeview
13. Go 4 Food
14. Forno Rosso (West Loop)
15. Heartland Cafe
16. Jerry’s Andersonville
17. Jerry’s Lincoln Square
18. India House
19. Kitsch’n On Roscoe
20. Kizin Creole Restaurant
21. Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya
22. Lao Beijing
23. Lao Sze Chuan (Michigan Avenue)
24. Manee Thai (Pulaski Road)
25. Manee Thai (Chicago Avenue)
26. Nepal House (South Loop)
27. Nepal House (Devon Avenue)
28. Pavilion Restaurant
29. Saigon Sisters
30. SaiMai Thai
31. Simply It
32. T & B Grill
33. Taj Mahal
34. The StopAlong
35. Tryzub Ukrainian Kitchen