Automated restaurant


An automated restaurant or robotic restaurant is a restaurant that uses robots to do tasks such as delivering food and drink to the tables and/or cooking the food.

History

Restaurant automation means the use of a restaurant management system to automate the major operations of a restaurant establishment. Even in the early 1970s a number of restaurants served food solely through vending machines. These restaurants were called automats or, in Japan, shokkenki. Customers ordered their food directly through the machines.
As of 2011, across Europe, McDonald's had already begun implementing 7,000 touch screen kiosks that could handle cashiering duties.
More recently, restaurants are opening that have completely or partially automated their services. These may include: taking orders, preparing food, serving, and billing. A few fully automated restaurants operate without any human intervention whatsoever. Robots are designed to help and sometimes replace human labour. The automation of restaurants may also allow for the option for greater customization of an order.
In 2020, a restaurant in the Netherlands began trialling the use of a robot to serve guests.

Locations

Automated restaurants have been opening in many countries. Examples include: