You Can Order Roast Chicken From Machine At Hudson County Automat

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — An American dining icon returned early this month with the opening of a chef-curated Automat Kitchen machine near the Jersey City waterfront. While Automats were first introduced in 1895 in Berlin and in 1902 in America, the last Automat closed in New York City in 1991 — until a new business owner launched a product inspired by the original during the pandemic.

The new Automat Kitchen is the only one of its kind in the United States right now. And it's contact free for those who use their phone to order.

The Kitchen is located in the busy Newport section of the Jersey City waterfront, within walking distance to Hoboken and the PATH train to Manhattan.

A wall of cubbies allows hungry patrons to order everything from a roast chicken to waffles and omelettes.

A PR representative explained, "Principal owner Joe Scutellaro has been working on Automat Kitchen for more than a decade — it is not related to the old Automats but inspired by them. He had fond memories of going to an Automat as a kid and wanted to recreate it for the modern era."

Scutellaro had proprietary technology developed and secured two patents.

"Automat Kitchen was supposed to open in April 2020," said the rep, "but the pandemic delayed the opening, which allowed them refine the technology and make the experience not only contactless but also touchless." People can use their phone to order in advance.

The original Automat was owned by a company called Horn & Hardart. After the first Automat opened in Germany in 1895, Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart licensed the concept to bring to the US in 1902 (in Philadelphia). Automats did well in northern cities with lots of office workers.

Said a representative, "Joe chose Jersey City for the first location due to its mix of office workers and young professionals who had recently moved to the area. They originally looked at New York City locations but the costs of rent were prohibitive at that time. There are no other locations of Automat Kitchen, though there are plans to open more in the near future."

The Automat utilizes consulting chef Quirino Silva’s modern comfort food menu and adds creative and global twists on American classics for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The meals are actually not cooked within the machine. Chefs prepare them on-site in a kitchen on the other side, but they are forwarded to the customer through the cubbies.

There is also on-site seating that hasn't been used during the pandemic, but may be used in the future.

The menu

The Automat includes dishes like Pastrami Reuben Flatbread, Frito Pie Burrito, chicken pot pie, a wedge salad, spiced roasted cauliflower with turmeric, garam masala, sweet potato and cilantro, Atlantic salmon with broccoli, and a chicken dinner with half of a rotisserie chicken, black beans, brown rice and spicy sofrito sauce.

Breakfast items like waffle sandwich with breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs, and maple syrup, and even smoothies like The Hulkster with kale, avocado, green apples, spinach and spirulina.

Delivery from the Automat Kitchen is even available through Doordash.

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