New quick-service restaurant Brooklyn Dumpling Shop utilizes locker system

Hannah Ortega, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop uses 20 temperature-controlled lockers to serve food.
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop uses 20 temperature-controlled lockers to serve food.

A new restaurant is looking to give Austinites a dumpling dining destination unlike any other.

Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, which opened Tuesday at 1401 E. Sixth St., is a quick-serve concept using a type of automat system for serving food.

Here's what you need to know:

What's an automat?

An automat is when a restaurant uses vending machines to serve food and drinks. The first automat opened in Germany in 1895. Ticket machine automats are also utilized in Japan, where customers purchase a food ticket from the machine and then take that ticket to the counter for preparation by staff.

Brooklyn Dumpling Shop is not a vending machine automat but instead utilizes "a take on the early 20th century automat locker system," according to a press release. With 20 temperature-controlled lockers, customers can come for dine-in or grab-and-go service using smart phones and bar codes to operate the automat system.

The approximately 1,600 square foot space has seating for 30 people.

“In the early 1900’s, dining by automat was a popular experience wherein the guest would grab their chosen items from the lockers and find a seat in the dining room," said Alex Liebert, owner and operator of Brooklyn Dumpling Shop. “The idea is we draw inspiration from the past but have made it high-tech."

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Owner and operator Alex Liebert, an Austin resident, poses with Brooklyn Dumpling Shop's locker system.
Owner and operator Alex Liebert, an Austin resident, poses with Brooklyn Dumpling Shop's locker system.

Who's behind the business?

The restaurant is locally owned by Liebert, who is an Austin resident. But there are other Brooklyn Dumpling Shop locations in Dallas, New York, Queens and more. Shops will soon spring up in cities such as Miami, Philadelphia and Atlanta.

What's on the menu?

Customers can enjoy traditional dumplings and potstickers filled with vegetables, pork and vegetable, Kung Pao chicken and chicken teriyaki. There are also specialty dumplings in the flavors buffalo chicken, Korean barbecue, Reuben, Philly cheesesteak, mac and cheese, chicken parmesan and lamb gyro.

In addition to dumplings, the restaurant offers bowls, desserts and signature drinks such as Lychee Frosé.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Brooklyn Dumpling Shop utilizes new quick-service locker system