Meet The Detroit Startup Bringing You A Fine Dining Experience On Your Lunch Break

For many people working in cities with popping restaurant scenes, it can be grating work within walking distance of incredible dining experiences. Even if someone has an hour lunch break (a luxury in itself), it can be difficult to try new restaurants or get a good meal for lunch during the week. One can be surrounded by great gastronomical experiences and have to repeatedly settle for burritos for lunch.

However, a Detroit startup, Alocito, is working to upgrade lunch breaks with an app that allows customers to pre-pay and pre-order meals at restaurants, drastically cutting down the time it takes to eat out.

“Alocito is an on-demand dining service that removes all wait times in restaurants,” said Phil LaColla, Alocito founder and CEO in an interview with Benzinga.

Upgrading The Workday Lunch

After a customer places their order using the Alocito app, the service communicates their order directly to the restaurant staff, who begin to prepare the meal. Customers then go to the restaurant and are seated by the house staff.

“Within a few minutes, the food is on the table, and the customer can enjoy the meal and take their time,” said LaColla. “But whenever they’re ready, they can get up and leave—payment was taken care of in advance through Alocito.”

LaColla said the average meal time for Alocito users is around 25 to 30 minutes.

The app is currently working with one restaurant in Detroit, Cornerstone Barrel House. Mike Bowen, the owner and operator of the restaurant, said he was “honored and excited” to be the first restaurant to work with Alocito, and that he “looks forward to a long lasting partnership with the Alocito team.”

Bowen is excited because Alocito also solves problems for for restaurant operators.

“Table turnover is a big concern for restaurants,” LaColla said. “They’re always trying to figure out ways to innovate and bring in more customers. Another issue for restaurants that offer reservations is no-shows—Alocito lets customers pre-pay, so even if a user no-shows, the restaurant is still guaranteed that sale, and can pick up the order to go whenever they are ready.”

Alocito doesn’t leave servers out to dry, either. An automatic gratuity is added to each order.

Sizzling Startup In Detroit

LaColla was inspired to start his business in Detroit not only because he is from the Detroit metro area, but because of the city’s entrepreneurial spirit and booming restaurant scene.

“It’s been a great experience starting up in Detroit,” LaColla said. “The phrase ‘Detroit Hustles Harder’ is absolutely true—and every couple of weeks, a new restaurant springs up. You can sense the mentality of ‘if you want something, you have to go for it.’ Detroit knows that.”

Alocito formally launched Tuesday. Users in Detroit can try the app at Cornerstone Barrel House now, and LaColla expects to expand to other restaurants in the city shortly.