Robot waitress could serve your next meal at DC diner as labor shortage continues

WASHINGTON (WJLA) — She needs no training, doesn't call in sick and is always ready to lend a helping hand — or tray.

"Rosie" is Steak N Egg's newest employee. The diner is a Northwest Washington mainstay with a loyal following. While customers have grown accustomed to consistency, "Rosie" is turning some heads.

She looks like a side table with wheels and a small computer screen. Carefully navigating the busy restaurant, she delivers plates of hot omelets, pancakes and more.

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The device is from California-based Bear Robotics which partnered with Pepsi to pick minority-owned restaurants for the pilot program.

"Rosie" can navigate a busy restaurant using cameras and sensors. It works much like a Roomba and has a charging dock as well. It can work with the wait staff or kindly ask customers to pick up their plate of food before returning to the kitchen.

Steak N Egg owner Osman Barrie said this is not about replacing human employees.

"Rosie helps us when, you know, right now we have a shortage of employees everywhere because of COVID, and Rosie fills in the blank," he told 7News Reporter Victoria Sanchez.

You might start seeing more robots roaming restaurants. Chili's and Denny's are implementing them and places like casinos and senior living centers are looking into the technology too.

Each leased device costs around $1,000 a month, or about $33 a day.