As the New Year has started, you’re probably gathering productivity tips for 2017. One of the key points to being more productive over the day is to take a proper lunch break.

Taking a break over lunch is key for us to recharge and stay productive over the day. Taking a break does not mean being lazy or unproductive. On the contrary, we are advocating you to optimize your lunch hour by reducing stress from dealings with crowds, wait times, and dining hassles.

By saving time and hassle on ordering and paying for food, you can take your time to seriously savor and enjoy your food and company.

Here are the top 5 wait-free dining hacks we’ve observed with busy professionals, from friends and customers’ stories to other entrepreneurs and professionals we have come in contact with.

1. Eat out before or after the rush hours

We see many wait in line during rush hours. We understand you may have forgotten to get out of work earlier, or you just happened to walk into a restaurant during a busy time of the day.

But if you haven’t been through the rush hours before, you probably don’t realize how long you have to wait just to get a seat, let alone having your food delivered.

You eagerly run to a restaurant for its famous tossed salads. You wait for 10 minutes in line just to place the order, a couple more minutes for a seat, and then another 15 minutes for the food to be delivered. All in the name of the very good food; but is it really worth the wait?

Key: Eat out before or after the rush hours. Check popular times in Google and arrive when the restaurant is not too busy. For instance, lunch is around 12:30 pm — 1:30 pm. Try to arrive before noon or after 1:30 pm to avoid the crowds.

2. Order all food and drinks at once

As you separate your orders, you increase your wait time. You have to flag your server down again and give them additional instructions for food. Secondly, you’ll have to wait again for the kitchen to deliver your food. Sometimes wait times can be higher if they get busier during your second round of ordering.

Key: The most efficient way is to order everything at once. This makes it easier for a server to deal with your order.

3. Ask for the check when you order

As you ask for the check when you order your food, you can leave without having to wait for a server after you finish your meal. This way you minimize wait time for the bill.

Multiple checks can be time-consuming for servers, so try to address this need early on and pay when the check is handed to you.

Key: Ask for the check when you order, and specify if you want to split the check.

4. Be kind and attentive to servers

Slow food may often not be servers’ fault, since they may have no control over the speed of the food preparation. If you’re in a hurry, let the server know in advance so they can prioritize your needs.

Tip servers for exceptional service, with courtesy and respect. Servers’ jobs can be physically and emotionally draining; tipping is a way to acknowledge their hard work, especially if your food is served on time.

Key: Tell your server that you’re in a rush, and tip them right when they give you a prompt service.

5. Use restaurant apps

Technology can really optimize your dining process. You can now use various restaurant apps to find new restaurants, browse their menus, pre-order and pay for your meal.

OpenTable allows you to book a table and pay your check with your phone making for a more seamless dining experience. HappyCow lists restaurants that are vegan, vegetarian, or vegan/vegetarian-friendly based on your location.

Allset (iOS / Android) guarantees a wait-free lunch in under 30 minutes. You can instantly book, order, and pay for your meal before arrival. In the restaurant, you get seated and served within minutes. There’s no check, so you can leave when you want.

Allset lunchers say it best:

“The walk to and from the restaurant took a total of 15–20 minutes so having everything prepared beforehand was great.” — Alice.

“The process was very simple, and I was amazed that I didn’t have to wait.” — Travis.

by Nicole Lana and Dimitri Nikulin