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Most diners aren’t ready for robot-only restaurants
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🍽️ What’s Cooking?
Tech chiefs dine with Trump—Elon Musk is missing
On September 4 2025, President Trump hosted a high-level dinner at the newly renovated White House Rose Garden with top tech leaders. Guests included Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Apple’s Tim Cook, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. Tesla CEO Elon Musk was notably absent—though he confirmed he was invited but couldn’t attend. The gathering sharpened a growing divide between Trump and Musk. Attendees voiced support for Trump’s pro-business tilt and made major U.S. investment pledges—Apple reportedly committed $600 billion, Google $250 billion, and Microsoft between $75–$80 billion. Read more.
🃏 Running a Smoother Kitchen
“Scent-Sampler Service” to enhance guest satisfaction
Set up a small station near the entrance or at each table with scent diffusers featuring key menu aromas—like fresh herbs, citrus zest, or spices. Guests can take a quick sensory preview before ordering. This not only boosts appetite but also sparks conversation. It’s simple to switch scents daily based on specials—no new tech needed, just an extra dash of experience.
🚀 Scaling Up
Cat City Grill is Closing Down
Cat City Grill, a well-known steakhouse in Fort Worth, Texas, will close on September 28 after 15 years in business. The restaurant, located on Magnolia Avenue, is among several Texas establishments facing challenges tied to rising beef costs and shifting dining preferences. Owners Martin and Denise Thompson announced the decision in a letter posted on the restaurant’s website. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram was the first to report the closure. Read more.
🦾 Fresh Ideas
Most diners aren’t ready for robot-only restaurants
A recent Harri survey shows diners overwhelmingly prefer human interaction. Just 3% want fully automated service, and 90% say guest happiness needs people—not robots. About 78% say handling sensitive tasks like allergies or warm greetings should always be human-led. Around 30% have avoided restaurants they felt were “too automated.” AI is welcome behind the scenes to help staff—but not replace them. Read more
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