The family-owned La Cantina Italiana restaurant in Framingham, Massachusetts, has actually been providing fantastic Italian food for 77 years. But it’s the method they’re serving it nowadays that has individuals talking.
Food is getting to tables through a friendly fleet of robotics.
“They are the BOTticelli sis,” said owner Lee Mencoboni, who called them. “The 2 little ones who seat individuals are Leonarda and Michaelangela. The ones who bring beverages to the tables or out in the lobby for individuals waiting are Bella and Stella.”
The adorable cat-faced bots, which have animated facial expressions, got here about a month earlier.
“In this day and age, we need to remain present,” explained Mencoboni. “I desired them due to the fact that it was something advanced, and I felt that we would figure it out as we moved forward. But they weren’t here for more than a number of weeks, and I saw instantly how structured whatever ended up being.”
The robotics understand the table numbers and are configured to steer the layout. They lead consumers to their tables, inform them the everyday specials and provide food and beverages. They will stop if they notice items in front of them or to the side.
“I was a bit went nuts myself by them,” said Jennifer Mencoboni, Lee’s child. “But, you understand, as the days went on … they’re practical and individuals appear to like them, so we’re absolutely getting utilized to them.”
The bots aren’t changing any staff members — they are helping them so the human beings can provide much better client service. But they have actually filled a space amidst ongoing staffing lacks.
“It’s like the floodgates have actually opened and everyone wishes to be out,” Jennifer Mencoboni said. “We’re simply getting busier, however we do not have a great deal of staff. We’re attempting, however it’s absolutely been hard, so they have actually assisted a lot with that.”
“The performance, they have actually been fantastic,” said Micah Smith, Lee Mencoboni’s boy. “I’ll provide you an example. A table of 4 on a hectic Saturday night orders their 2nd round of beverages. In the past, that 2nd round of beverages may sit at the bar for 7 or 8 minutes since that server is at another table taking a meal buy. Now, they order that 2nd round of beverages, the robotic brings it out and they’re getting it right now. So that’s amazing for us, however it’s amazing for the customer, also.”
They’ve been a success with the consumers.
“The greatest surprise is the search individuals’s faces when they can be found in,” said Lee Mencoboni. “I understood we were going to shock individuals, however, you understand, last night, there was an older lady and her boy, and she was hysterical. She simply liked it, she was chuckling.”
They can even sing “Happy Birthday” while providing a dessert with a candle light in it.
The Massachusetts Restaurant Association state some dining establishments in the state have actually explore various robotics, however this is still a little a novelty around here.
“We had actually one consumer can be found in … he does business in Japan,” said Smith. “He said, ‘These things are all over. You understand, on the golf course, they’re flying around and bringing beverages.’ So it’s absolutely coming, and we lead the curve, which is fantastic.”
And leading the curve is where Lee Mencoboni likes to be.
“You understand, if you’re going to remain in this business, and you like what you do and you intend on remaining for a while, you require to understand what’s going on,” he said. “You need to stick with it.”
