In this episode of The Simmer, Kristen Hawley and Brandon Barton discuss recent restaurant tech news and trends. Brandon shares his experience at the National Restaurant Show, noting the absence of major tech companies and a shift towards SMB-focused solutions. They also review their dining experiences at Alinea and Asador Bastian. The conversation shifts to the impact of the "no tax on tips" bill and its potential effects on the tipping culture. Later, Kristen interviews Lindsey Irvine, CMO of Square, about Square's new initiatives, including a physical corner store in San Francisco designed to provide hands-on support and foster community engagement. They explore Square's open platform strategy, its partner ecosystem, and the potential for Square to connect businesses with consumers through data and AI-driven insights.
