i noticed a lot of cafes/restaraunts you order and pay at counter. Is this a new trend?

no that has been the norm for a long while 

thats been happening here in queensland for many years but not every where here

No Both my clubs do that you Order your meal from the Giant menu Behind the cash desk or my other club it is a Buffet classy but still a buffet

Yes, and they will soon just allow people to defecate on the floor of the cafe before they rub their own fresh human poo everywhere.

No Nothing new Mosty of Europe does the same 

No it's not new but it does depend somewhat on the level of the cafe/ Restaurant. Bakeries, Cafe's and Pubs have been doing this for years. Classier fine dining Restaurants don't do it.

Nope, not a new trend at all.  next question...............

No, it's called fast food. 

No places like that in my area (not Australia) have been doing so for a long time. 

I’m pretty sure McDonald’s has been this way for 70 years