Have you ever invited friends or relatives home and handed them your phone to order food from Zomato, only to see them hesitate while looking at the prices? Some guests avoid selecting expensive dishes because they do not want their hosts to spend too much money. Now, a simple suggestion from a LinkedIn user may help solve this familiar situation. Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal has responded positively to an idea called ‘Mehmaan Mode’, a feature that would hide food prices while guests choose what they want to eat.
The suggestion has attracted attention online because it addresses a small but relatable social situation in Indian households. Interestingly, Goyal has also indicated that the company plans to introduce the feature within the week.
What Is Zomato’s Proposed ‘Mehmaan Mode’?
The proposed ‘Mehmaan Mode’ is a simple feature designed to make ordering food with guests more comfortable.
The idea is to allow users to hide menu prices temporarily when sharing their phones with friends, relatives or other guests.
Normally, when someone opens Zomato and passes their phone around, guests can see the prices of every dish. Some people may feel uncomfortable choosing expensive food because they know someone else will pay the bill.
With Mehmaan Mode, guests could browse the available dishes and select their favourite food without worrying about how much each item costs.
Once everyone finishes selecting their dishes, the host can take the phone back, check the order and make the payment.
The idea is simple: guests can enjoy ordering food without feeling guilty about the bill, while the host remains in control of the payment.
Who Suggested The New Zomato Feature?
The idea was shared by Ayushmaan Agarwalla, a marketing manager, through a LinkedIn post.
He tagged Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal and explained how a small change in the app could make ordering food more comfortable when people are hosting guests.
Agarwalla observed that people increasingly pass their phones around when ordering food together.
However, the presence of prices can sometimes make the experience awkward.
He suggested introducing a dedicated guest mode that would temporarily hide menu prices.
He also pointed out that the feature could be particularly useful during the festive season, when families invite friends and relatives home for meals.
His suggestion was based on a familiar social experience rather than a complicated technology requirement.
Deepinder Goyal Responds: ‘Shipping It This Week’
What made the suggestion even more interesting was the response from Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal.
Instead of simply appreciating the idea, Goyal responded that the company would work on introducing it within the week.
His reply read, “Thanks for the suggestion. Shipping it this week. Wish you the happiest festive season.”
The response quickly attracted attention on LinkedIn.
Many users appreciated how quickly the founder acknowledged the suggestion and indicated that the company was planning to act on it.
The proposed feature also sparked discussions about how small improvements can make everyday app experiences more convenient.
However, the exact launch date, final design and availability of the feature will depend on Zomato’s official rollout.
Why ‘Mehmaan Mode’ Is A Very Indian Idea
The suggestion has particularly caught people’s attention because it reflects a familiar situation in Indian homes.
Imagine inviting your cousins, friends or relatives for dinner.
You open Zomato, select a restaurant and hand your phone to everyone so they can choose their favourite dishes.
One person selects a biryani, another looks at starters, and someone else wants a dessert.
But before confirming their choices, they check the prices.
If a dish costs Rs 700 or Rs 900, some guests may hesitate and say, “Leave it, let’s order something cheaper.”
Others may avoid adding extra items because they do not want the host to spend too much.
This is where Mehmaan Mode could make a difference.
By hiding the prices, guests may feel more relaxed while selecting food.
The feature also reflects the importance Indians often place on hospitality. Hosts want their guests to enjoy themselves, while guests do not want to feel that they are creating an unnecessary expense.
Users Suggest More Improvements To Mehmaan Mode
After Agarwalla shared the idea and Goyal responded, other LinkedIn users started suggesting additional improvements.
One user described Mehmaan Mode as a feature request that perfectly captures Indian social behaviour.
Another user praised the idea, saying it could remove awkwardness when guests are ordering food.
Some people also suggested making the feature more advanced.
One suggestion was to rename it a ‘Price-less Menu’ and allow hosts to enter the number of guests and their maximum budget.
An AI-based system could then recommend suitable dishes based on the number of people and the selected budget.
For example, if a host has eight guests and a budget of Rs 2,500, the app could suggest a suitable combination of starters, main courses and desserts.
This could make group food ordering even easier.
Such suggestions show that users are interested not only in hiding prices but also in making the entire ordering experience more convenient.
How Could The Feature Work For Indian Families?
If introduced as proposed, Mehmaan Mode could be useful in several everyday situations.
1. Family Gatherings
When relatives visit home, the host can share the phone and allow everyone to select their preferred dishes without worrying about individual prices.
2. Festivals And Special Occasions
During Diwali, Eid, Christmas and other celebrations, families often order food for larger groups. A guest mode could make group ordering more comfortable.
3. Friends Meeting At Home
Friends frequently order pizza, burgers, biryani and other dishes when meeting at someone’s home. Hiding prices could reduce unnecessary hesitation.
4. Office Celebrations
Employees ordering food for a team celebration could select dishes without constantly checking individual prices, while the person paying retains control of the final order.
Will Hiding Food Prices Actually Make Ordering Better?
Although the idea sounds useful, the feature may also need a few additional controls.
For example, the host should be able to review the complete order before payment.
There should also be an option to set a spending limit so that guests do not accidentally select too many expensive items.
Another useful addition could be a notification when the total order reaches a certain amount.
These options would help balance guest convenience with the host’s budget.
After all, hiding prices should make ordering more comfortable, not create unexpected surprises when the final bill appears.
A Small Feature That Could Solve A Common Problem
Zomato’s proposed Mehmaan Mode has attracted attention because it focuses on something people experience in everyday life.
Not every useful technology feature needs to be complicated. Sometimes, a small change can make a familiar activity much more convenient.
Deepinder Goyal’s response has also highlighted how customer suggestions can influence product improvements.
If introduced successfully, Mehmaan Mode could become a useful addition for people who regularly order food for friends and family.
What do you think about Zomato’s Mehmaan Mode? Would you use a feature that hides food prices when your guests order from your phone?