Google's New Feature Will Help You Skip the Line at Your Favourite Restaurants

Sometimes, waiting in line at a restaurant is inevitable. Heading out to dinner and planning ahead don't always go hand-in-hand, or maybe you're travelling, or perhaps you're simply keen on a particular type of popular cuisine. Of course, no one likes standing about, biding their time and hoping for a table. It might be a part of life, but even the most patient among us can get frustrated — particularly when your stomach is grumbling.

Now, thanks to Google's latest feature, you can find out just what kind of delay you're in for — even when you're grabbing a bite to eat on the fly. The technology company has added estimated wait times to Google Search, expanding upon its popular times and live status function. You won't just discover when an eatery is typically busy, or how hectic it is at the moment, but when your chances are of getting a seat.

The feature will also be rolled out to Google Maps, in excellent news anyone looking for some nosh while they're in an unfamiliar city or part of town. Almost a million places currently have their wait times included, as based on anonymised historical data, with that number set to increase. And, even if you're just trying to do something simple like treat yourself to something sweet, you can work out if that decadent dessert is really worth the wait.