SINGAPORE - With the manpower shortage wreaking havoc on the local restaurant industry, some eateries have taken the extreme step of turning away diners even when there are empty tables.

For others, survival means thinking out of the box.

Here are five methods eateries are using to cater for the crowds.

1. Going high-tech

At Sentosa's Ruyi, a robot fries rice for diners. Meanwhile, Resorts World Sentosa has two large-scale dishwashers - each washing up to 2,000 plates an hour.

2. Self-service

More eateries are making customers serve themselves. At Jumbo Group's Jpot hotpot restaurants, customers order on iPads. At cafes like Wimby Lu in Serangoon Gardens, customers hold buzzers which ring when food is ready. Thai restaurant Siam Society on Jalan Riang requests that customers get water themselves.

3. Buying pre-made products

Instead of making food from scratch, more restaurants are turning to easier and faster alternatives. Rendezvous Grand Hotel Singapore, for instance, buys nonya kueh, roast meat and pre-mixed bak kut teh spices from suppliers.

4. Home deliveries

Food outlets are tying up with food delivery sites such as Foodpanda to deliver meals to their customers' doorsteps. This means more sales without the need to hire more people. Thai joint Nara Thai started delivering three months ago. Old Hong Kong Kitchen started doing so recently.

5. Pulling out all the stops to attract staff

Eateries are making their jobs more attractive. Salad Stop! has a flexi-work plan for older workers and housewives. Employees aged over 55 work 35 hours a week at times of their choosing. They also get bonuses and medical insurance. Housewives work 7am-to-2pm shifts - tailored to match school hours. They do not work weekends or evenings.