About Us

CyberChef connects millions of online consumers with their local restaurants.

CyberChef is the Internet's largest marketer of convenient meal solutions. The service allows consumers to place take-out and delivery meals online at restaurants in their neighborhood free of charge. Since its inception in January 1999 CyberChef has gone nationwide, with more than 10,000 restaurants and 350,000 registered members.

Despite its size, array of features, and variety of cuisines, the strength of CyberChef lies in its unique ability to give local consumers meals from their own neighborhoods. The secret is in the integration of a comprehensive restaurant database with large-scale geo-positioning software and other proprietary technology to bring customers fast access to participating restaurants, grocery stores, and restaurant delivery services in their area.

When a consumer requests a restaurant, it is located by a geo-coded mapping system that tracks each restaurant's longitude and latitude. The database instantly shows consumers only those restaurants from which they can order, which restaurants are open, every item on their menus, any specials they offer and which credit cards they accept. This way, a customer in Boston can find a Greek restaurant to deliver spinach pie to his home, while at the same time a San Franciscan working late can get moo shu pork delivered to her office.

CyberChef: a consumers perspective

When hungry consumers point their web browsers to https://members.tripod.com/~cybchef it opens a window on all the dining choices their communities have to offer. Upon registering their name, address, telephone number, and email address, they are provided with a custom Web page that lists participating restaurants and food providers in their area. Customers can choose which restaurant they want to order from and then point and click through a series of menus to choose food items and submit their order. CyberChef confirms each order via email, providing an estimated pick-up or delivery time. If for any reason the order can not be filled, a CyberChef representative phones the customer directly. Returning CyberChef members are greeted with a personalized ordering page and can add to or change their personal information at any time. The service allows members to save favorite orders, and even place orders up to 90 days in advance.

CyberChef: a food retailers view

CyberChef is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways for restaurants and other food retailers to increase their sales volume - and reach the thousands of existing and potential new patrons that are currently spending more and more time online. Food retailers on the CyberChef network don't need to change anything about the way they do business. They do not need to have a computer. After they sign on as a partner, CyberChef creates and maintains their custom, order-enabled website. When a CyberChef member orders online, the service forwards the request to the restaurant, along with a map or directions by phone or fax - or in some cases, directly to the restaurant's point-of-sale (POS) terminal. Restaurants process the request as they would any other takeout or delivery order. CyberChef partners pay a small initial set-up fee to join the network, and then a nominal fee for each order delivered through the service.

CyberChef: the technology

CyberChef utilizes the latest and most powerful technology available to make its service easy and convenient for consumers. The secret is in the integration of a comprehensive restaurant database with large-scale geo-positioning software and other proprietary technology to bring customers fast access to participating food retailers in their communities. The system locates local food retailers that are open and taking orders, and allows customers to view full menus and get information regarding specials, hours of operation and credit card policies. The system also provides a map and driving directions at the customer's request.

CyberChef delivers orders to food retailers via an automated Voice Recognition Unit (VRU) which sends computerized voice instructions over standard telephone lines. If desired, CyberChef will also deliver orders via fax. In addition, CyberChef gives food providers the option of using Menucaster, a software package that enables on-line orders to be received directly through a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. Menucaster's "keyboard-to-kitchen" order delivery bypasses both phone and fax, enhancing productivity and reducing the possibility of errors.

© 1998-99 CyberChef