Automat - Wikipedia
An automat is a fast-food restaurant where food and drink are served through a vending machine, typically without waitstaff. The world's first automat, Quisisana, opened in Berlin, Germany, in 1895. …
The "Automat" era: Why the world's first fast food concept vanished
This was the Automat, and it was feeding millions of Americans every single day over a century ago. So why did something so revolutionary, so wildly popular, simply disappear?
A History Of The Automat, The 20th-Century Dining Fad Of The Future
May 6, 2020 · The Automat may have faded, but fast food lives on. Learn about the surprising history of fast food restaurant founders and then, check out these vintage menus from the heyday of the automat.
A Dining Experience to Remember: A Brief History of the Automat
New York City’s first Automat, operated by the Harcombe Restaurant Co., opened soon after the Philadelphia location at 830 Broadway. Here, diners could enjoy upscale fare—like lobster a la …
After Automats Died in New York, They Flourished in the Netherlands
Jul 15, 2019 · As it turns out, it had—over 100 years ago. The world’s first “automatic” restaurant—or Automat—was actually a German innovation, introduced in 1896.
The Automat: Birth of a Fast Food Nation - HISTORY
Jul 13, 2012 · Joe Horn and Frank Hardart’s Automat was a marvel of efficiency that revolutionized the American food service industry.
The Return Of Automat Restaurants In The Unites States
Jul 28, 2021 · An automat and a vending machine may seem similar, but they have distinct differences. An automat is a type of restaurant where customers can select a variety of meals from behind glass …
They’ve Been Gone For 30 Years, But Now Automats Are ... - NBC New York
Jan 28, 2021 · A brand new version of the old school automat service started Wednesday in Jersey City. NBC New York’s Checkey Beckford reports.
A Century Ago, Fast Food Automats Designed a New Way to Dine
Dec 16, 2025 · Ninety-nine years ago, a high-tech vending machine became an iconic eating establishment, and New York entered the age of the Automat. Modeled after a “waiterless …
Automats - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia
Automats first appeared in Germany and Scandinavia in the 1890s. The first Automat in the United States is credited to Joseph Horn (1861-1941) and Frank Hardart (1850-1918), whose Philadelphia …