neat.

JESUS!

umm it isnt really robotic besides for the ordering part part. yes it is very cool, but besides that it is just sending them down on a platter down a railing.

The future is NOW! Never been a waiter. I always imagined that dealing with jerks all day would be a downer.

@Technogen:
No he's not... that's a shorter guy... beard, long hair...wears sandals But yes, that is pretty amazing.

If our local population's success with Self-Checkouts means anything, that'll never make it here.

I didn't see a single robot. They make it in the kitchen and shove it down a track. The only automated part is the ordering screen at your table.

We've got something like that in my city they put your food on a small model train, which has been here since 1960.

Thoughts:
1) Cool!
2) How do the little trolleys get back up to the kitchen?
3) Those touchscreens are going to get nasty.
4) Needs more robots.

I always though that ordering meals via touch screen would always be cool. The only problem is when you want to customize it. Perhaps have an area where you can type in what you want changed.

If it were up to me, McDonald's would have no lines and just a bank of touch screens where you order your meal, pay for it at the screen, and receive a receipt with an order number. Your number would be displayed on a nice LCD screen when it was ready like your prescription at a hospital. When you have an issue with your meal when problems arise, a counter person would be available.

sure cuts down on overhead i spose... not having to pay for waiters.... although ... the geek squad could be pricy to fix your system

can someone get me a spoon? hello? anyone?

so there is a heaven...

Hey Jesus, first post since noon, what have you being doing?

Probably having fun with the Beamz, you bad boy!!!

If this machine broke a plate, would a bunch of idiots still start clapping?

But....

The plate carrier sled goes down to your table by gravity, you take off the plate- then someone has to pick up the carrier off of the rails and carry it back upstairs? Not really automated, is it?

Anyone old enough to remember the restaurant (since burned to the ground) in Seattle that had large scale model trains that came out of the kitchen and stopped at your table with your food? Much cooler.

Gravity is a robot

I already hate vending machines. Would a robotic restaurant appeal to me? Probably not.

@Jones Foyer: I figure that the tracks could (or should) somehow let the dishes whirr back. I don't see them managing this without *busboys*, though.

What's the big deal? HAMBURGER CHOO CHOO in Huntington, NY did that in the fifties and early sixties. You ordered your food and it was delivered by LIONEL trains.

@TVGenius: The self checkout's would be alot more useful or at least gratifying if they had wiffle ball cannons to shoot people with more then 12 items or take more then 5 minutes.

@tonashideska: My grandpa told me of Hamburger Choo Choo. It sounded pretty cool. Now all we have in Huntington are high priced crappy resturants. Except for good old Munday's.

Jesus Christ!

Food in Europe is so cheap!

Australia really sucks.

5 pounds is like $10. For that crappy little beefsteak salad, 'spensive, Compared to the gigantic plates you can get in any Houston Restaurant.

No robots, it's a slide, I think by 4 year-old has one.

Who is going to sing you happy birthday, and do the clapping, stomping, singing tomfoolery?

How will my pick-up lines work on the touch screen waitress?

Robo-restaurant? they just have human food! What do robots eat anyway?

@karnak: "How will my pick-up lines work on the touch screen waitress?" Just as well as your attempts with a live waitress, i imagine. It just won't slap you if you touch it the wrong way!

As much as I love technology (and I do) I can't help but think who is going to be able to eat at these places when everyone is out of work?

@Set to evil: From my admittedly limited experience with robots (Bender), they seem mainly to drink. And smoke. And gamble. And steal. Eat? Not so much...

you know, I'm fine with walking up and getting my own food, why is it that a restaurant with waiters/waitresses somehow makes is classier?

ok two things about this crap...first it's freaking Europe no one tips. It's included in the VAT tax and the service tax and the table tax. Second what's wrong with having someone serve your meal. What happens if you don't want carrots, or you would like a suggestion, or a substitution, or your dressing on the side? Why are the German's waging war against the wait staff?

@b3n: Apparently you've never had a meal go cold or get rubbery under heat lamps when your wait person goes on break or off shift and forgets to inform the new wait person that your order is almost up. You've probably also never had the distinct pleasure of bringing an attractive person on a date and having your wait person pay absolute attention to your date even when taking your order. Oh, and you've probably also never had your tip amount altered after you leave if the wait person didn't think your tip reflected their service. You're right about the finer things like customizing your order or having problems with the order once it arrives. Do you call "tech support" on the screen?

I applaud the design and implementation. Sweet and simple, rather aesthetically pleasing and above all: low maintenance.