The Meet the Interns Lunch: Group Order in Action

It was the intern team's third day here at Snapfinger.com's Buckhead offices, and already our positions were paying dividends. Why yes, you can count me in for a free office-wide catered lunch.

So, where's the one menu we're all sharing? I assume my choices are to either wait patiently for my turn to peruse it or be annoying and look over someone's shoulder, right?

As the nervous newbie, I guess I should be prepared for awkwardness.

And where's the scrap of paper that we're all scribbling our desired dishes on?

If there's even the slightest chance of the restaurant getting my food the way I want it, I'm going to need some quality time with the "order form" that's getting passed around.

Well, as it turns out, I never did find either of these staples of the typical group order. Instead, I got an e-mail in my inbox, clicked one link, and had my own copy of the California Pizza Kitchen menu in front of me. It was complete with pictures and descriptions, and I had all the time I needed to make my decisions.

After I selected the Chicken Caesar Sandwich, I just typed in my name so the folks at CPK could label my item and hit the submit button. Then Jay (one of my coworkers who I'd meet at the table later that day) went over and picked our food up, and we were eating mere moments after the pickup time, which my boss had set a day in advance when he created the event.

And still the greatest surprise was to come: They got everyone's order right. Guess that's possible when you entirely skip the step of talking to someone on the phone.

I'll be honest: The idea of the group order was not a big selling point for me when I first heard of the service my new employer offered. But hey, it just came in pretty handy.

I suppose you could continue your tradition of getting the wrong stuff and screwing up your colleague's meals.

Or you could snap out of it and order your takeout online, like you do everything else.