Meet the Local Restaurants Bringing Serve Robots to San Jose and DC

Meet the Local Restaurants Bringing Serve Robots to San Jose and DC

This month, our sidewalk robots are rolling into two new cities on opposite coasts: San Jose, California and Washington, DC. These new markets expand our partnership with DoorDash, allowing customers to order anything from pizza to paper towels and have it delivered right to their door by a Serve robot.

To mark the occasion, we want to introduce you to two of the restaurants who are welcoming Serve to town: Bavetta Coffee in San Jose and Talkin’ Tacos in DC. They are the newest members of the family, using our robots to maximize their business and reach more customers.

As a California-founded company, we’re thrilled to have San Jose as our first Bay Area market.

Ryan Bavetta opened Bavetta Coffee with his wife in 2021. It quickly became a favorite in San Jose’s historic Alameda district for its inventive menu and playful, colorful comic book art that adds character to the block. Now, its partnership with Serve will help its coffee reach even more of its neighbors.

Much like the coffee shop has become an integral part of the neighborhood, Ryan already sees Serve’s robots as a natural extension of the Alameda community. He told us, “They’ve quickly become part of the neighborhood. Our regulars like that the robots have names. Someone will look out the window and say, ‘There goes Leroy.’”

For a busy coffee shop serving lots of pre-caffeinated customers, the Serve partnership is a game-changer for its ability to cover more quick, short-distance orders. Since delivery already makes up a third of Bavetta Coffee’s orders, having an additional option can help improve sales and expand its reach to new customers. As Ryan puts it, “Margins in coffee shops are thin, so a faster, cheaper option for delivery orders really helps.” Eager to test out the technology himself, Ryan placed an order to his home and followed the robot on foot. He was excited to see how the robot safely maneuvered the sidewalk and delivered his coffee while it was still piping hot.

The partnership means Bavetta Coffee’s lattes will reach more San Joseans, and support a thriving local business that means a lot to the community. That’s something worth raising a (coffee) cup to.

On the other side of the country, Serve is rolling into Washington, DC for the first time.

You’ll see our robots hanging out at Talkin’ Tacos, the Miami-born taqueria best known for its viral birria tacos. The team at Talkin’ Tacos has been longtime partners with Serve in their Miami shops, so they know firsthand how our partnership will keep their customers happy.

Their Dupont Circle location is a perfect home for our robots. The shop stays busy from morning until closing hours, feeding students and nearby office workers by day and a hungry crowd by night. Now, they’ll all be able to place orders on DoorDash and have their tacos delivered any time.

Daryl Perez, Vice President of Operations at Talkin’ Tacos, has watched the robots become a local sensation. He says, “Every time I see one of Serve’s robots rolling down the sidewalk, people stop to take pictures because it’s cool. It also makes everything smoother for our customers.”

For Daryl, the appeal is simple: more successful deliveries lead to more happy customers. Since teaming up with Serve in Miami, he’s seen higher rates of deliveries that are completed on time and without mistakes.

“We’re excited to use technology to give customers a better, more seamless experience,” he said.

Washington, DC is full of vibrant districts, great restaurants, and busy people on the move. Now, delicious tacos will be on the move right alongside them.

From a coffee run in San Jose to a late night taco in DC, Serve is proud to play a part in supporting these local businesses and keeping their customers coming back for more.