Robot Restaurant Opens in China

If you happen to visit China you may want to check out the Dalu Robot restaurant in Jinan in the northern Shandong province, where service with a smile also comes with an electronic voice. More than a dozen robots operate in the restaurant as entertainers, servers, greeters and receptionists.

The Dalu Robot, which opened this month, is touted as China’s first robot hotpot eatery. The robots, which resemble Star Wars droids, circle the restaurant carrying trays of food and drinks on a conveyor belt-like system. The restaurant’s owner says he was inspired to use robots in his restaurant to show the world China is a serious competitor in developing technology.

One restaurant patron commented that the robots have a better service attitude than humans. He commented that unlike humans, robots don’t feel tired or impatient and they won’t accept a tip.

I have to admit that the idea of a restaurant staffed by robots would certainly be a spectacle to see. However, I noticed that none of the articles about the Dalu Robot had anything to say on the quality of their food. Robot waiters would certainly be enough to get me in the door, but I can’t say for certain that they could entice me back for a second meal.