Originally Posted by
JBord
But I agree with you on the service front. For a quick lunch, I'd much rather order and pick up at the counter. Saves me time and I don't have to tip a server. Maybe that's the way "automation" goes. Order at your table from a screen and then either pick up at the counter or a robot delivers your food. It could breed a number of different methods, and make human servers obsolete, other than at those restaurants where you expect more of a personalized experience.
That style of restaurant service was developing in my vicinity way before. One very close to me was named among the best new restaurants nationally by the country's leading airline's inflight magazine a couple of years ago. I went there and was very surprised that it was counter service.