Zomato adds a mode that hides food prices from your dinner guests

Zomato has added Host Mode to its food delivery app across India. It hides prices from menus and the cart, so a guest can pick dishes without seeing what they cost. Only the host can bring the bill back into view.

The idea came from a customer. Marketing manager Ayushmaan Agarwalla wrote on LinkedIn that guests often hold back when someone else is paying. They choose cheaper dishes or leave the decision to the host. He called it 'Mehmaan Mode'. Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal agreed, and the company says the feature went live within 72 hours.

How it works

• Tap the Host Mode chip on the home screen or a menu page, or go to Profile, then Your preferences.
• Choose 'Switch on Host Mode'. Prices disappear from menus and the cart.
• To see the bill, the host taps 'Exit host mode to review bill'.
• The app asks for a fingerprint or face check before showing it.

The host can then check the total, including savings, and tap Place Order.

What is not clear

Zomato launched it ahead of the festive season, when many people order for friends and family. The report does not say whether guests order from the host's phone or their own. It also does not say whether other delivery apps plan something similar.