ROCK HILL, S.C. — A South Carolina restaurant is taking an advanced approach to cater to customers and handle staffing shortages.
Tex-Mex cuisine restaurant Casa Tequila Mexican Grill in Rock Hill is implementing a robot server named Bella BonBon to serve tables. Bella BonBon is getting food from the kitchn to tables at the touch of a button, giving staff members a much-needed break.
The robot server is getting the food from the kitchen to the tables at a touch of a button. Raul Ugalde, the restaurant's owner, said it's about giving his staff some much-needed relief.
"When you carry food all day on your arm, that’s about 100 plates," Raul Ugalde, the owner of Casa Tequila, said. "By the end of the night, you are tired. With this, it makes the job easier."
According to the National Restaurant Association, 62% of restaurants are struggling with staffing. Some restaurants are turning to technology to ease the burden for overworked employees. Ugalde said the robot has been beneficial despite being well-staffed over the past few weeks.
“She helps us when we are short one person,” Jesse Ugalde, Raul's son said. “Typically, a food runner can only carry four to five plates, but she can help us out with two to three tables.”
Bella has 360-degree cameras and with customization knows her way around the restaurant. It also has sensors, so it does not bump into tables or people.
Customers said they are impressed by the technology.
“It was just surprising and exciting to see that technology is now available,” Eureka Rigby said.
The Ugaldes say it's worth the investment to deliver hot meals on time to keep customers happy.
“She’s very entertaining, you can touch the ears and all that and it smiles, and it is more like a fluffy welcoming Bella,” Jesse Ugalde said.
“It is not cheap, [but] it is not too expensive,” Raul Ugalde said. “But at the end of the day, you will see the difference.”