Where to grab a byte

If you're a committed technogeek, and you're hungry, chances are you'll want to have WiFi with your stirfry.

This the theory behind LTK, the new high-tech restaurant conceived by Legal Sea Foods owner Roger Berkowitz, which opened this week at 225 Northern Ave. on South Boston's waterfront .

LTK, which stands for Legal Test Kitchen, is a ``concept" restaurant targeting 20- and 30-something professionals, Berkowitz says. The concept is this: Young hipsters like be wired at all times, even during meals; they're always in a hurry; they'd rather nibble on appetizers than eat full-blown entrees; and prefer bar seating to table service.

The sleek 166-seat restaurant -- which has an abundance of bar seating -- aims to satisfy these needs. There are iPod docks on several tables, so diners can play their own tunes, and touch-screen computers on the walls with wireless Internet access . (There are also plasma TVs around the restaurant, but part of this ``concept" is that diners want a more personalized TV option, lest they miss their favorite show.)

To speed the dining process up, LTK uses wireless devices to shave precious minutes from what Berkowitz calls the ``administrative" part of the restaurant experience. Waiters take customers' orders with a handheld wireless device, eliminating the need to queue up at a computer to key in the order. At the end of the meal, the waiter brings a portable credit card payment device to the table, so customers can swipe their own card. (It also, conveniently, calculates the tip.) ``One of the biggest frustrations customers say they have in restaurants is flagging down their server," Berkowitz says. ``Now, you can spend all the time you want here eating, but this makes for a much more efficient meal, period."

So, evidently, does the menu. Yes, there are entrees, such as sandwiches and salads, but there are also lots of quick ``noshes," ``nibbles," and sushi offerings. Not to mention Legal's clam chowder.

Of course, technogeeks may be asking: How secure is all this wireless technology? Is there a risk of credit card theft by network snoopers? ``This has been addressed," says Berkowitz, deferring to his tech support staff, and owning up this own relatively low-tech capabilities. ``I do have a Blackberry -- yes I do -- but I don't do any Web browsing on it," he says. ``And my kids have to program my iPod for me." -- LINDA MATCHAN