Automated food service and billing system and method

A method for supporting the service of food at a restaurant comprising a plurality of enclosures having customer access openings covered by lockable closures accessible by customers, a food supply area for delivery of food for consumption by customers, a computer system, at least one screen in electronic communication with the computer system, a customer order terminal capable of communicating with a customer and a customer's authorization device, and at least one order information facility accessible in the food supply area and in electronic communication with the computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a food order entered by the customer and customer authorization information corresponding to the customer authorization device;
• transmitting an electronic signal to the computer system representing the food order and the authorization information;
• transmitting an electronic signal from the computer system to the food supply area representing the food order;
• electronically storing the food order, the authorization information and a corresponding one of the enclosures for receiving the food order in the computer system;
• electronically displaying information on the screen and viewable by the customer identifying the corresponding one of the enclosures receiving the food order;
• delivering food corresponding to the food order to the corresponding food delivery location in response to an order at the information facility;
• and
• electronically transmitting a signal from the computer to the corresponding one of the enclosures so as to enable the customer to open the one of the lockable closures for the corresponding one of the closures when the authorization device of the customer is in communication therewith.