(Image: Plenty USA)

You won’t have to worry about tipping this employee when robatayaki grill restaurant Junkichi opens on Broadway later this month. There are no sick leave issues. Or even a minimum wage. And employers won’t have to count the little waiter if the new Seattle head tax comes to pass.

Part gimmick, part artificial intelligence, Junkichi plans to unveil the “social talker” robot — or SOTA — at its planned April 15th opening:

A camera in SOTA’s head connects images to Microsoft Azure’s FaceAPI service to allow the robot to recognize faces. Because it can remember faces, SOTA will be able to adapt to repeat customers. Guests can also use a smartphone app to make SOTA speak. SOTA has a number of prepared lines it delivers, but it can be told to say all sorts of things via Microsoft Azure’s Text to Speech service, meaning SOTA can have guided conversations with your table in real time.

Plenty USA, the company behind Junkichi, says the robots have already been tested at other restaurants including “an earlier version” that has been in use at its Santouka Ramen location in University Village.

The company says SOTA will be placed on the restaurant’s tables and will be able to “recognize faces, help customers, and make sure communication with the servers goes smoothly.” The Japanese-made robots cost around $800 each.

CHS first reported in December on the robatayaki restaurant project replacing the departed Einstein Bagels chain in the 200 block of Broadway E. The new restaurant will feature a “live fire charcoal grill” surrounded by seated guests who can “slow cook skewers of the freshest ingredients over hot coals” while enjoying sake in a classic combination of fire, booze, and robots.

Junkichi is planned to open later this month at 224 Broadway E. Hours will be 11 AM to 11 PM on weekdays (closed 2 to 4 PM), 11 AM to 11 PM Saturdays, and 11 AM to 9 PM on Sundays. You can learn more at junkichiusa.com.

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