A fast food restaurant where you get good food really fast? That’s what a restaurant called Bamn in New York City is. It is designed as an automat, which we don’t see too often nowadays. But make no mistake, just because Bamn provides convenience food doesn’t mean it’s like any other convenience store. It’s a very popular restaurant because the food, though inexpensive, is good. Plus, the hot-pink-dominated design is a pleasing combination of both high-tech and nostalgia.

This is the way it works: customers view the many dishes that are kept warm (or cold) in the food machines. They make their choice by dropping the right amount of coins, and voila. Instant satisfaction through very affordable dishes made with restaurant-quality ingredients. Since it’s a convenience food store concept, you won’t find any commercial bar chairs at Bamn, just a few free standing tables. It seems a bit strange that videos like this one featuring the restaurant say that it has neither. In any case, seeing people grouped around a small table eating their food (Bamn also offers some Asian food, probably the idea of founders David Leong and Nobu Nugyen) is a regular sight.

Small commercial spaces like Bamn, which is just 55 square meters big, understandably can’t accommodate large numbers of people, that’s why the furniture they use is compact and easy to clean and maintain. There are many types of modern bistro furniture that are suitable for tiny eateries. One example is the La Sevilla Alta 4 table, which has a tabletop diameter of 60 or 70 centimeters. Such a table would be sufficient for a restaurant like Bamn, where customers wouldn’t be needing much tabletop space at all since they won’t be eating seven-course meals. Just like the food, it’s quick and easy – in terms of maintenance, that is.