‘Automat’ at Grand Central

Commuters trudging through Grand Central Terminal today were treated to some free food and ads (there’s always a catch) for NBC’s new reality series, America’s Next Great Restaurant. A mock automat was set up in Vanderbilt Hall and menu items inspired by the show were available for the taking–though the mechanical element that defined the classic cafeterias was sorely lacking. The show will pit contestants against each other to see who has the best idea for a new national chain restaurant in an Apprentice/Hells’ Kitchen mash-up. The ‘automat’ will be open tomorrow as well from 9AM-7PM and Bobby Flay and Curtis Stone will drop by to pass out some of the freebies.