What robots are doing in restaurants right now
Over 100,000 service robots already run in restaurants. Pick the jobs you want done, answer a few questions about your restaurant, and we will show you which robots fit.
8Jobs robots do for a restaurant today
20Independent deployment records behind this page
9 of 20Records that document a pause, removal or failure
1Jobs we advise against
Tick the jobs you want a robot to take
Each card shows how mature the job isTaking orders at the table
Early reports say operators who tried autonomous order-taking went back to tablets: noisy rooms, accents and allergen questions trip it up. A tablet does the job.
We won't rank robots for this job
Where this does not work — read before you enquire
- Gaps narrower than about 80 cm anywhere on the route. Robots stall repeatedly in narrow spots. Some vendors advise closer to 1 m.
- Steps, thresholds or split levels without a lift. The robot needs flat, continuous floor.
- Tables right next to the kitchen. It is often faster for staff to walk those plates over — robots earn their keep on the far tables.
- Expecting guest delight to carry the rollout. A chain expanded on positive guest surveys, then paused when it could not see a return. Decide the payback before you scale.
- Taking orders at the table. Early reports say operators who tried autonomous ordering went back to tablets. Limited evidence
- Expecting headcount to fall automatically. Robots free walking hours; whether those hours come off the roster is your decision. Our advice
Unlabelled points come from operator-reported or independently observed deployments.
Built on 20 independent deployment records. Robot prices are vendor or reseller list figures and vary by market — confirm with the vendor.