Hungry, click here!

Spurred by the demand for online food services, more and more entrepreneurs are now foraying into this market segment, hoping to claim a sizeable pie of this nascent, but growing segment.

Websites with innovative names like www.ramnee.com , www.hungryzone.com , www.eveningflavor.com , www.webdhaba.com or menulog.com, offer a rich platter, ranging from the option of ordering food at your doorstep, booking a table, planning a party, providing food reviews, locating a restaurant to posting updates on discounts and a comparative menu price list.

The demand for online food services has been triggered with several consumers facing an acute time crunch and displaying a reluctance to rustle up some food at home after a long tiring day at work.

"Many of these consumers return home at odd hours and are reluctant to make their way to a restaurant and wait for their orders. They find it convenient to order food home", says Priyanka, co-founder of www.hungryzone.com .

“ramnee.com is the one stop shop for all food related needs of Hyderabadis. Restaurants those have tie up with www.ramnee.com are listed on the portal in detail, covering the cuisine, locations, food reviews and menus including prices. A customer can order food online or over phone and a customer care executive is also available on live chat to provide instant details free of cost,” says Ramu Poonjolai, MD, www.ramnee.com.

While convenience is the key ingredient in working up the market, factors like consumers wanting an "informed choice" before dining are also driving growth.

Consumers demanding value-for-money count on online food services to help them make informed choices by gleaning information on the cuisine a restaurant offers, the ambience, reviews by previous diners, the pricing and the overall rating of a restaurant.

The online food service scored over the order-by-phone as the latter restricted itself to verbal information exchanged between the restaurant employee and the consumer, while the online service offered a visual display of the menu and provided value-adds in terms of comparative pricing list, food reviews and cut down on hassles, says Ajay Mohan, co-founder of www.webdhaba.com .

For those who want to venture outside, these websites play the happy food guide, directing diners to the exact location of a restaurant.

"Those who visit our website are also provided information on the ambience and hence can make a choice whether it matches with the mood of the day or the reason for dining out", says Ravishrivas, Director of the six-month old www.eveningflavor.com .

The online food service providers also help consumers be 'smart on their pockets' by offering them a comparative price list of all restaurants and hotels.

The online search especially peaks during days like Valentine's Day and New Year Day, where consumers look for the best options in terms of food and ambiennce, says Priyanka.