Ordering food from Campustown is now as easy as clicking a button.

Campusfood.com is a free service that allows students to view interactive menus and place orders online. Local restaurants participating in the program are Chinese Express, BoBo China and The Pita Pit. Students can also choose from a variety of pizza restaurants like Padanos, Monical’s, One World and Gumby’s.

“We offer a virtual food court,” said Ilise Rose, Campusfood.com marketing officiate.

Campusfood.com was founded in 1997, according to the company Web site. It is the nation’s leading network of collegiate restaurants and manages Internet ordering for more than 1,000 restaurants at nearly 300 college campuses throughout the country.

Campusfood.com was founded after company president Michael Saunders, then an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, was frustrated at hearing a busy signal while he was trying to place an order over the phone.

“He (Saunders) brainstormed a way for students to place orders without being on hold or getting a busy signal,” Rose said. “Campusfood.com has finally brought a systematic delivery service to campuses nationwide.”

Students can log onto the Web site and view menus, store hours and delivery service fees. Once students place their orders, Campusfood.com will fax it to the restaurant for preparation. By placing the order online, students avoid long holds and busy signals over the phone. Sam Moon, general manager of Gumby’s, said online ordering would also be convenient for the restaurant.

“We are always busy and usually have to put customers on hold,” Moon said. “This way our customers will always be able to get through.”

Krystal Truitt, freshman in LAS, said Campusfood.com seems like a good idea.

“I try to eat outside of the dorms more,” Truitt said. “But when I try to order on the phone and get a busy signal, I just hang up. I’m not a very patient person.”

Rose said the services of the company are unique because it offers weekly promotions and discounts. Students can get a free chicken pita from The Pita Pit, a 10″ cheese pizza from One World or a 12″ cheese pizza from Gumby’s free by placing the order online at www.campusfood.com today through Sept. 28.

Rose said restaurants also receive benefits through the program.

“For a lot of lesser known restaurants, we provide free advertising,” she said. “Business usually gets better for them through our program.”

Kit Lee, manager of Chinese Express, said she was optimistic about the program.

“I really think it will be a success,” she said. “But even if it isn’t, there is nothing to lose.”

Rose explained that participating restaurants have a three-month trial period with the company. If the restaurants do not receive any customers, they are not obligated to pay commission to Campusfood.com. If they do receive customers, the restaurant owners pay Campusfood.com a 5 percent commission based on the total value of the customer’s purchase.

“Students use Internet a lot so … I think it will help,” Lee said.