RObot waiters

The service may be a bit rusty: Inside the restaurant that uses robots to deliver food and drink to tables



Service with a smile also comes with an electronic voice at the Dalu Robot restaurant, where the hotpot meals are not as famous yet as the staff who never lose their patience and never take tips.

The restaurant, which opened this month in Jinan in northern Shandong province, is touted as China's first robot hotpot eatery where robots resembling Star Wars droids circle the room carrying trays of food in a conveyor belt-like system.

More than a dozen robots operate in the restaurant as entertainers, servers, greeters and receptionists.

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Restaurant robot: There are about a dozen robots performing various jobs at the China eatery which serves hotpot

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Entertainers: During meals customers are entertained by a dancing and talking robot that looks more like a mannequin with a dress, flapping its arms around in a stiff motion



The robotic staff includes two robot receptionists, or hosts, and six robot waiters.

With tables arranged in a circular arrangement, robots are bringing your dishes to the table by using a track to move around the restaurant.

Each robot has a motion sensor that tells it to stop when someone is in its path so customers can reach for dishes they want.

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No tips: '[The robots] have a better service attitude than humans,' said visitor Li Xiaomei, 35


Inspired by space exploration, robot technology and global innovation, the restaurant's owner, Zhang Yongpei, said he hopes his restaurant will show the world China is a serious competitor in developing technology.

'I hope this new concept shows that China is forward-thinking and innovative,' Zhang said.

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Food for thought: Humans cook the food in the Dalu Robot Restaurant in Jinan in northern Shandong province



As customers enter the dimly lit restaurant lined with blinking neon lights to simulate a futuristic environment, a female robot decorated with batting eyelashes greets people with an electronic 'welcome'.

During the meal, crowds of up to 100 customers, are entertained by a dancing and talking robot that looks more like a mannequin with a dress, flapping its arms around in a stiff motion.

Zhang said he hopes to roll out 30 robots - which cost £4,000 each - in the coming months and eventually develop robots with human-like qualities that serve customers at their table and can walk up and down the stairs.

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Service with an electronic voice: The new restaurant has robots bringing your dishes - and drinks - to the table by using a track to move around the floor