I just picked up a great little book on the history of Horn & Hardart's Automat eating establishments, those very cool restaurants from decades ago (the last one close in the early 90s) where you would serve yourself from these giant machines that housed the food in little compartments. The first one opened in Philadelphia in 1902, and the last one close in the early 90s. The restaurants were used in many, many NYC movies over the years, and Edward Hopper has a famous painting set in one.
Customers and fans swear by the food, and the book has a bunch of great, authentic recipes, including Macaroni and Cheese and Baked Beans.
If you'd like to buy one of the machines, go here. Boston's Museum of Fine Arts is having an Edward Hopper exhibit until August 19.
New York Times Magazine's food issue
Chicken McNuggets frolic at New York City pet store
Eat your broccoli orbs! 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-24-2007 @ 5:13PM
Ben said...
There is still an automat-type place in Lower Manhattan called Bamn!
http://www.bamnfood.com/
I've never been there, but it looks interesting.
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7-24-2007 @ 6:04PM
jsmylie said...
I remember seeing my first Automat in "Dark City" and thinking "boy, what an out-there concept." Then I found out they actually existed! Shows how young I am, I suppose. With restaurants like uWink eliminating waitstaff, maybe soon we'll see a return to the self-service of yesteryear...but I kinda doubt it.
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7-24-2007 @ 6:23PM
Dona Gibbs said...
I wrote an article about Bamn. It's titled The Automat Returns. Here's the link.
http://english.ohmynews.com/
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7-24-2007 @ 6:56PM
ann lemons said...
My husband was raised in Brooklyn, and reports that one of their slogans was "Less work for Mother". And indeed, occasionally when my late mother-in-law was in the middle of some project, she'd send him out with a quarter to go buy his lunch, for a treat.
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7-24-2007 @ 7:23PM
Michiel said...
Actually, places like this are quite common in the Netherlands. The contraptions are used to serve fast food.
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7-24-2007 @ 8:50PM
Marion in Savannah said...
When I was a child in New York City there was a Horn & Hardart automat about 4 blocks from the building where I lived. I was always absolutely amazed by the women who changed dollar bills into nickels, which the automat used. They would pick up a handful and toss them out, then sweep them towards you. They never made a mistake! Also, it was great fun for a little girl to put nickels in, turn the knob, open the little door and get her food. I miss them.
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7-25-2007 @ 10:23AM
Gobo said...
I visited Bamn! when I was in NYC recently. Besides being surprised at how tiny the place is (about the size of a bank's ATM area), I enjoyed the PB&J croquette and fried mac & cheese, which were fun to purchase from the authentically-Automat style windows. They also serve freshly-made Belgian-style frites from a window, but the employees were rude and not at all interested in serving anyone -- several people (including me) asked for fries and were laughed at by the three employees sitting around on packing crates.
Overall, fun, but I long for the legendary Horn & Hardart Automat palaces with silver dolphins spouting hot coffee.
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