Say hi to Myra, the AI voice taking your order at Chef Lama's Indian restaurant in York

When you call in an order at Chef Lama’s Indian and Nepali Cuisine on East Market Street in Springettsbury Township, you won’t speak with a real person, but rather an AI-generated voice.

Her name is Myra, and she can help you with almost any request you have, whether you're ordering takeout, making a reservation, or inquiring about dishes on the menu.

The system behind Myra is an AI communications platform called Avoca, founded by York County native Tyson Chen.

The 2013 Central York High School graduate went on to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and worked in the self-driving car industry in San Francisco for several years before creating an AI software program that would benefit the food and beverage industry.

“I fell in love with AI, and my whole career has revolved around it,” said Chen, president and founder of Avoca.

“I spent almost my whole life in York, and I wanted to expand and launch here. Chef Lama, to my knowledge, is now the first AI-enabled restaurant in all of York,” he said.

Chen reached out to his father, who emailed his colleagues asking if anyone knew a local business that would be interested in incorporating Avoca.

Chef Shekhar Lama was then contacted by a mutual friend of his father, and soon realized this system could benefit his business. Within a few months, Lama began a pilot trial incorporating Avoca at his restaurant.

And according to Chef, it has greatly helped him.

“Sometimes our employees are really busy, and sometimes we can’t take every call. The AI is really good because it automatically answers every call, and it’s really helpful,” said Lama.

In fact, the AI can take multiple calls simultaneously and answer up to 50 calls at a time.

How does it work?

Chen demonstrated just how seamless a phone call would look for an everyday customer calling in.

Using his cell phone, he called the restaurant, and Myra answered the phone.

“Hey, I’m Myra, the AI assistant for Chef Lama. I can help you place orders, answer questions, transfer you to the store and more,” the AI voice said.

“What is the most popular item on the menu?” Chen asked.

“The most popular items on the menu are the chicken tikka masala, the butter chicken and paneer tikka,” Myra responded.

Chen asked Myra what is in the chicken tikka masala, demonstrating the AI’s knowledge of each item.

“Chicken tikka masala is a dish where the chicken is charbroiled in a clay oven and cooked in a sauce with cream.”

While the system has been in use by Chef Lama for two months, he said it has helped his business immensely.

If a customer asks the AI a question that cannot be answered based on the knowledge it has in its database, the customer can be transferred to speak with an employee.

Mirroring the company's concept of merging text, voice and email, the name Avoca is symbolic, as it is named after a point in Ireland where three rivers converge.

Chef Lama: 'Now, there’s no headache'

“I have over 15 years of experience in the restaurant business,” Lama said.

Originally from Darjeeling, India, he started his restaurant business in New Jersey and operates two restaurants there, and he heard there was a lack of restaurants serving authentic Indian and Nepali cuisine in York.

He opened Chef Lama in December last year and said he noticed his clientele really enjoy Indian food.

“I really appreciate the AI because it helps so much − because sometimes, we can’t answer the phone, and we might miss orders. Now, there’s no headache,” Lama said.

Chen said Avoca is being used by over 100 food businesses in California and New York, and he is hoping to help implement it in more restaurants in his hometown.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Say hi to Myra the AI voice taking your order at Chef Lama's in York