delivery bots, assemble!

Domino's powers up Houston's first robot delivery in The Heights

Look for the Nuro R2 on the roads of Woodland Heights.

Courtesy of Domino's Pizza, Inc.

The relentless march of progress has come for pizza delivery drivers. Domino's announced it will begin testing a pizza delivery robot in Houston this week.

First announced in 2019, the pizza giant has partnered with Nuro to utilize a self-driving car for deliveries from its Woodlands Heights location (3209 Houston Ave.). When a customer places an order from that location, they will have the option to select delivery via Nuro R2.

Once they've ordered online, customers will receive a text message with a PIN and an update on the R2's location. When the robot arrives, simply enter the number on a touchscreen to retrieve that Ultimate Pepperoni pizza and Stuffed Cheesy Bread.

How customers respond to the program remains to be seen. Perhaps they'll miss the convenience of having an actual person ring the doorbell with a piping hot pizza in hand. Then again, robots don't receive tips or want to engage in awkward small talk while you sign the receipt.

"There is still so much for our brand to learn about the autonomous delivery space. This program will allow us to better understand how customers respond to the deliveries, how they interact with the robot and how it affects store operations," said Dennis Maloney, Domino's senior vice president and chief innovation officer, in a statement. The growing demand for great-tasting pizza creates the need for more deliveries, and we look forward to seeing how autonomous delivery can work along with Domino's existing delivery experts to better support the customers' needs."

Nuro's self-driving cars are a familiar presence on Houston's roads. Back in 2019, Nuro tested Toyata Priuses equipped with its technology for grocery delivery. The fully self-driving R2 has been in use by both Kroger and CVS for deliveries in some neighborhoods, CultureMap sister site InnovationMap reports.

"We're excited to introduce our autonomous delivery bots to a select set of Domino's customers in Houston," Nuro co-founder and president Dave Ferguson added. We can't wait to see what they think."

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green machine

James Beard-winning chef opens 26-seat new restaurant in the Heights

The Green Room restaurant seafood platter

Courtesy of The Green Room

Meals may begin with raw and cold seafood dishes.

An intimate new restaurant with a James Beard Award-winning chef is coming to the Heights. The Green Room will open for dinner on Thursday, March 5.

Located within the same building as Heights & Co. (1343 Yale St.), the Green Room is a 26-seat, fine dining restaurant with a European-inspired menu. Part of Doke Concepts (Heights & Co., Lazy Lane), the restaurant is led by chef-partner Daniel Davidson and chef de cuisine Tom Cunanan, who won Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in the 2019 James Beard Awards for Bad Saint, a pioneering Filipino restaurant in Washington, D.C. Sous chef Skyler Bancroft comes to the Green Room from Bludorn Hospitality.

“We’ve always believed Houston deserves experiences that feel exciting but never intimidating,” co-owner Brian Doke said in a statement. “With The Green Room, we set out to create something ambitious yet approachable, where the food is elevated, the wine over delivers and hospitality feels personal from the moment you walk in.”

The menu includes the chefs’ takes on staples of contemporary fine dining, such as scallop crudo, sliced hamachi, crispy duck, and roast chicken with salsa verde. Other dishes include salmon en croute, smoked bucatini with shrimp, and an heirloom tomato tarte tatin.

In addition to its a la carte menu, the Green Room will offer a five-course Chef’s Dinner Party Menu that will include dishes not on the regular menu and a glass of wine or a cocktail. Both menus are expected to change monthly.

The wine list will include both grower champagne and certified organic producers, most of which will be priced at $100 per less or bottle. A separate Cellar Series will feature premium by-the-glass options. They’ll be joined by a range of classic cocktails.

“It’s no secret that Houstonians are looking for new experiences when dining out,” the restaurant’s partners added. “We’re trying to meet them where they are, where the experience feels curated without being pretentious and elevated without losing warmth.”

In November, Doke and Davidson opened Lazy Lane in Garden Oaks. The neighborhood restaurant serves steak, pizza, pasta, and more.

Courtesy of The Green Room

Meals may begin with raw and cold seafood dishes.

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