My second visit to Automat was a definite disappointment. Out for an early lunch we popped into Automat about midday. As we didn't booked we were seated in the front area which is nice though lacks the warmth of the booths in the middle section and buzz of the open kitchen at the back - booked ahead to experience those.
A previous dinner experience was good - I remember we were pretty pleased with our steaks. But lunch this time was a big disappointment. Wanting something relatively light I ordered onion soup and a ceasar salad, my husband had the Automat burger. Both meals were below standard, especially for Mayfair. My soup was topped with a huge slice of bread covered in cheese - at this stage I was ok with the fact I could scoop it onto the side plate, but thought a slice of bread was OTT and perhaps gratinated croutons might have been more delicate. However worse still the bottom quarter of the bowl was filled further with grated cheese. The flavour of the soup itself was great but the cheese was waaaaaaaaay too much. My ceasar salad also failed to please. The lettuce was fresh but shredded into bite size pieces which I felt spoilt the 'crispness' that I expect from my ceasar salad. Too much dressing and soggy bacon did not add to the experience. A poached egg might have lifted the dish but was absent. My husband described his burger as dry and fries overcooked. So maybe the regular chef was away during this visit, but despite good wines and ok service I won't be giving Automat another chance.