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South Carolina Restaurant Welcomes New Robot Staff Member

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Author Rob Tanner
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According to WCNC Charlotte, there is a restaurant in Rock Hill, South Carolina taking an advanced approach when it comes to catering to customers and handling staffing shortages. They are welcoming a new robot staff member.

Casa Tequila Mexican Grill now has a robot server named Bella BonBon to serve tables. Casa Tequilla Mexican Grill is a Tex-Mex cuisine restaurant in Rock Hill.

The restaurant’s owner Raul Ugalde said that it’s there to give his staff some needed relief. At the touch of a button, the robot server moves food from the kitchen to the tables.

He said, “When you carry food all day on your arm, that’s about 100 plates by the end of the night, you are tired. With this, it makes the job easier.”

According to the National Restaurant Association, around 62 percent of restaurant owners and operators are struggling with staffing problems.

There are some who are now turning to technology to help ease the staffing burden. Ugalde said although they have been well-staffed for the last few weeks Bella has provided needed support.

“She helps us when we are short one person,” Jesse Ugalde, Raul’s son said. “Typically, a food runner can only carry 4 to 5 plates, but she can help us out with two to three tables.”

Bella has cameras and sensors to help her move through the restaurant properly. It has 360 cameras, customization of the restaurant’s layout, and sensors so it doesn’t bump into people or tables.

Customers have already said that they are impressed with Bella and the Ugaldes’ said it was worth the investment they made.

“She’s very entertaining, you can touch the ears and all that and it smiles, and it is more like a fluffy welcoming Bella,” said his son, Jesse Ugalde.

“It is not cheap, it is not too expensive,” said Raul Ugalde. “But at the end of the day, you will see the difference.”

Southern Living Ranks These Charlotte Restaurants "The Best"

If you’ve been in Charlotte over the past few years, it is no surprise that the Queen City has a lot to offer for ‘foodies.’ There are literally hundreds of restaurants with a variety of cuisines. And according to Southern Living magazine, Charlotte has some of the best eating spots.

The magazine put together a list of the 22 best restaurants in Charlotte. It doesn’t matter what you crave — Southern traditional, Italian, Asian, or seafood — Charlotte’s culinary landscape has something for you. I have lived in Charlotte for more than two decades and I still have not experienced even half of the restaurants on their list.

In the article, Southern Living boasts of many of the successes made on Charlotte’s food scene. It states “For years, the Queen City has steadily marched toward becoming a top food city in the South—with recent nods from the James Beard Foundation validating its expertise and growth.”

And growth indeed. There are new restaurants popping up regularly. From fresh seafood, street tacos to rolled sushi, the sky is the limit. Charlotte’s international flare (Vietnamese, Ethiopian) on food makes it even more difficult to decide just where to go.

Which is why I listed a few of the restaurants I’ve already visited. (In no particular order) And if you’re open to trying something new AND  good, then check these out. Check out a full list of Southern Living’s restaurant recommendations.

 

 

 

  • Fin & Fino

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CsbdGy6NcUm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

    If seafood is your thing like it is mine, than you’re in or a treat! What I loved most about Fin & Fino is they get fresh fish and shellfish delivered EVERY DAY. And the raw bar is everything! The “Penthouse” is a seafood lovers dream. It’s a tower of  oysters, shrimp, lobster tails, crab and more.  And to top it all off, the ambiance is made for a nice date or a girls night out.

    35 Levine Avenue of the Arts #100, Charlotte, NC 28202

  • Leah & Louise

    It’s been called a ‘juke joint’, but the best kind with food made with love and a Southern Mississippi flare. Owned by a husband and wife team, Leah & Louise describe what they’ve created as a space that provides ‘Southern comfort food and cocktails and retro digs.’ It’s quaint, so not a lot of seating. I’d recommend reservations.

    301 Camp Road, Charlotte, NC 28206

  • Lang Van

     

    I got my first taste of Vietnamese food a few years ago at this spot and it’s still banging! Lang Van’s owner Dan Nguyen is well-known and is the soul of the restaurant. That’s because she brings passion to the dishes like the noodle dish I tried with fresh vegetables, pho and the spring rolls are to die for.

    3019 Shamrock Dr, Charlotte, NC 28215

  • 300 East

    I’ve been loving this spot since I moved to Charlotte. And it’s been around since the late 80’s. It’s a refurbished Victorian house that sits in the quaint and posh neighborhood of Dilworth. One of my favorites is its famous French Onion soup, and any one of the salads. It also a great go-to spot for brunch and you’ll have to try the Wong drink – a single drink served in a pitcher. And you are only allowed to order ONE!

    300 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203

  • Brooks Sandwich House

    This sandwich shop proves some of the  ‘best restaurants’ may not have all the esthetics, but the proof is in the puddin’, so to speak. Brooks’ Sandwich House doesn’t have high prices or even a classy view, but it DOES have some of the best burgers ($8) and hot dogs ($4) in the city. And did I mention their homemade beef chili? The shop has been around almost 50 years and is family-run. Here, they keep is simple. Only cash is accepted.

    2710 N. Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28205

Country 103.7’s funniest guy in town is none other than Rob Tanner with Tanner in the Morning! Rob Tanner has been the host of WSOC-FM's Tanner in the Morning Show in Charlotte, NC for 20 years. The show was named the 2018 ACM Major Market Personalities of the Year. He is well-versed in all topics in country music. Tanner also is a sports junkie who writes about any Carolina sports team, and he and his wife Missy spend most of their down exploring theme parks. He writes Disney insider content.

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