Re. Restaurants (rather than fast food places): They will always exist because the presence and demeanour of staff on the restaurant floor sets the expectation

Re. Restaurants (rather than fast food places): They will always exist because the presence and demeanour of staff on the restaurant floor sets the expectation for social interaction in the immediate environment. One function of the waiting staff is to provide a degree of protection from unwanted interactions from other patrons in the restaurant. One of the reasons you go to a restaurant (rather than eating at home) is to experience the pleasantness of being part of a communal group without the risks of eating beside random strangers. The staff provide that mediation (and contribute to the milieu) and are not going to be replaced by robots any time soon. Why can't a robot do the cooking? Because cooking is an art and we continually demand novelty.