The Automatic

This place is fantastic! Manages to both be in plain view and hidden at the same time. Retro-futuristic decorations. The food is amazing, tried a wide range and everything was seasoned well and so inventive. You have to get the buffalo sauce plantains, a little bit life changing. Hot dog was high quality. Drinks were on point.

A bit pricy but our server (Audrey?) was fantastic and the food was genuinely interesting. We ordered the fries that come with a big marrow bone on top for dipping. Interesting concept and a definite first for me. I also loved the cider that I ordered there. They pour samples so you're sure you like what you're ordering, which makes the slightly higher process easier to take.

I had a great time at this place! I shared the braised duck nachos and then had the underappreciated blacked whitefish sandwich. They were both good and the cocktails made the meal. Update: they don't serve the Colt 45 in the ice bucket any more, unfortunately. But They still serve great cocktails and you can still get a beer in a can with a shot.

Can't wait to go back. We found our way into The Automatic late one night, and were delighted to find a mature cocktail list and a kitchen that was open late (Hellloooooo bone marrow fries!). At first, we started out with just a drink and a snack, but when a friend let us try his Doner Kebab, we stopped everything and flagged our server down, praying that it wouldn't be too late to order a plate to split. She was kind, and put our order in (apparently they have a section of their kitchen devoted to kebab meat? Must be one of those coal troughs). The Donor Kebab plate was as delicious as it was beautiful. Balanced between chewy, crunchy, soft, sweet, sour, savory, spicy, salty, fresh, it just had everything. We hope it's still there when we go back.

We arrived at the Automatic after a long day of walking around Cambridge and found a distinctly pleasant outdoor sitting area to relax. The waitress was very kind and always refilled our waters. We put in orders for food, sandwiches and no drinks, and waited for around half an hour. Not too long as we were enjoying the atmosphere. The food was okay. My sandwich was charred on the outside and dry. My friends said that the burgers were good though. I think that the fun, different kind of vibe is worth checking out if you are in the area.