'She never calls in sick': Victoria restaurant adds robot server to staff
If you're eating out at a restaurant and the server is robotic, that's not usually a good thing.
But at one spot in Victoria, it's by design.
While you can never truly replace a human experience, at Mantra Restaurant in downtown Victoria, there's a staffer whose smile is automatic.
Mantra Restaurant in downtown Victoria has a new mechanical staff member: (CTV News)
She never wears a mask, but that's no big deal. She's a well oiled, table-bussing, bread-bringing robot – and her name is "Robbie."
"She knows what to do, she never calls in sick," said Dharna Sohal, store manager for the Fort Street Mantra location.
"She's always on time, she never makes mistakes," added Sohal.
Six weeks ago, the restaurant brought her on, and she's rolled her way into customers' hearts ever since.
"I think robots have been an integral part of society for decades," said one customer who was served by the robot.
And Mantra's not the only one introducing a bit of automation to the culinary world.
Across town at Camosun College's Interurban campus, this pizza machine will hook you up with a pie in three minutes.
The pizza vending machine at Camosun College is shown: (CTV News)
And while the pizza vending machine is popular, it can't sing a song like Robbie can.
"It's the cutest thing ever!" said one Mantra customer as Robbie sung happy birthday.
While robots can't replace us, we can work together.
"We're wonderful people, she's a wonderful robot," said Sohal.
"Maybe we can get one for dishwashing."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.