[chefbillyb]

I think the FOH is more likely to happen sooner than later. You only need to tell a robot to smile once. The whole menu could be punched in on a iPad while the customer even sits at a table. When the order is complete they swipe the credit card then call your number when the order is ready. The thing I do like is, the robot doesn't take 10 smoke breaks during the shift.

 

[chefbillyb]

There are lots of place in Japan that actually work this way. There's a sort of vending machine at the front, and you select what you want and put the money in. Then a server brings the food you ordered; in some places, they call a number, but more commonly it's a server or it's counter service. This is very big for things like ramen joints, but there's an amazing restaurant called Yayoiken that does a wide range of full meals this way.

Their regular menu is at this link.

The one near our apartment in Kyoto was 24 hours, too! (Though they stopped serving beer at midnight.) And very good food.

Chris, not a bad menu at all, I would be all over that. Service is really something we all want in high end restaurants. In 90% of the restaurants in America all people want is fast, hot. Americans are running all over town picking up kids. Both parents are working and I don't think anyone cooks at home anymore. If I was building a restaurant now I would build like the front line shot order cook style that diners used to have. All the stools would face the counter/front line with one waitress working. I would have two employees plus me. each stool seating would have have an iPad ordering menu/credit card paying system that cames to me POS at the grill. The waitress would deliver the meal. Everything fresh hot and steaming coming to the customer........