Tian Fu Asian Bistro's east-side Bob Evans takeover
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A robot carries food at Tian Fu Asian Bistro. Photo: James Briggs/Axios
I, for one, welcome our new robot servers.
Driving the news: I recently went to the Tian Fu Asian Bistro, which opened last month at 7525 E. Washington St., and it's a cultural experience steeped in dissonance.
State of play: It's styled as an Asian restaurant, which it is, yet also feels like a former Bob Evans, which it is.
- It's in a somewhat desolate location off I-465 on the east side.
- There are robots! They talk and bring you food! That's more of a novelty than a practical amenity, though, because a human server guided the drone in my case.
Quick take: I tried the sweet-and-sour chicken, the Tian Fu — chicken, green pepper, onion, mushrooms, water chestnut, carrot, broccoli, snow peas and zucchini in house sauce — and a vegetable spring roll.
- All of it was good and cost less money (around $22, plus tip) than you'd likely pay at a better-known restaurant serving similar food.
Of note: Tian Fu also has a location at 3508 W. 86th St.
The bottom line: It was a trippy experience, yet also memorable and fun, and I'll be back.
- It's also just about the best reuse of a Bob Evans you'll ever see.