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BERLIN - A restaurant in Germany has taken a radical step to eliminate slow service and surly waiters - it has replaced them with a fully automated rail link.
Dishes in the newly opened Nuremberg restaurant 's Baggers are delivered directly to diners on an elaborate spiral rail network that descends from the second floor kitchen.
The high-tech system distributes color-coded dishes on miniature train-cars to diners, who scoop them up as they pass by, restaurant owner Michael Mack said yesterday.
"The system is the only one of its kind," he said. "The concept will revolutionise the food industry."
Guests' orders are placed via touch-screen computers, and there are no waiters.
Despite its futuristic concept, the restaurant's menu focuses on traditional Bavarian meat and potato-based fare.
A restaurant spokeswoman said 's Baggers, which seats 100, was fully booked every night and that "costs had been cut in half".
Main courses cost around 10-15 euros ($19-$29).
Nevertheless, the restaurant, which takes its name from a local fried-potato dish, admits it is not perfect.
Some customers have complained that dishes get stuck on the tracks, forcing staff to give them a helping nudge with sticks.
*The below YouTube video about the restaurant is in German
- REUTERS