Dancing robot busts a move, and dishes, after going rogue at California hot pot restaurant

A dancing robot went wild at a California hot pot restaurant, smashing dishes and sending chopsticks flying instead of doing the robot

A dancing robot went wild at a California hot pot restaurant, smashing dishes and sending chopsticks flying instead of doing the robot.

The robot was captured on video at the Haidilao location approaching a table before pounding on it, then knocking over utensils and food in front of customers. Servers can be seen struggling to restrain the robot while it wildly dances.

Eventually, three servers are needed to hold on to the robot by a strap on its neck, pulling it away from tables as it continues to shuffle its feet and gesticulate.

The restaurant chain said in a statement to NBC News that the robot “was not malfunctioning or out of control.” Haidilao said that the movements performed by the robot in Cupertino are preprogrammed, but were taking place in “a closer-than-usual setting.”

“In this case, the robot was brought closer to a dining table at a guest’s request, which is not its typical operating setting,” the statement said. “The limited space affected its movement during the performance.”