Refreshing, Yes…But What’s Automatic About It?
Two days, two inappropriately named restaurants. First, the landlocked yacht club. Then,...
Taylor’s Automatic Refresher is refreshing, but WTF is automatic about it? You stand in line. You order at a counter. You pick up your food at another counter. You get your condiments at the condiment bar. Remind me again, where’s the automation???
They are right about the refreshing part.
I had the cheeseburger ($6.79). Good burger. Quality meat, nicely cooked, not greasy. Tasty bun, soft but held up. “Secret sauce” looked like a greenish mayo and enhanced the flavor. Pickles complemented the rest of the flavors – all too often, they clash on burgers. Tomato slices were red and ripe. My only complaint is that, for almost seven bucks, they could have done better than iceberg lettuce.
Mackie went for the patty melt ($6.99). Again, good beef patty, cooked just so, not at all greasy. The sliced pumpernickel was a nice change from rye and the bread held the sandwich together. The grilled onions were soft and sweet. Mackie says two thumbs up.
Sweet potato fries ($3.99) were a nice change from the usual French fries. They lack the crispness you look for in a normal fry but sweet taste is a good variation on the theme and they don’t seem to hold nearly as much oil. They’re best naked…spare the condiments on these babies.
Onion rings ($3.99) were crisp but I didn’t really care for the batter. I prefer crusty onion rings to battered ones.
We ordered iced tea ($2.49). We got room temperature tea. Why can’t counter people get this??? Really, it’s not rocket science!!! Unless the tea itself is chilled (if it’s fresh brewed, it usually isn’t), fill the freakin’ glass up with ice before you pour in the tea!!! Don’t worry; there’ll be plenty of room between the cubes for a sufficient amount of liquid. We had to ask for two extra cups of ice to adequately cool ours.
I was surprised when our modest meal totaled $29 with tax but before tip. That’s a lot for two burgers, fries and onion rings served in paper trays at an order-at-the-counter joint. Every item we ordered struck me as being a buck or so too expensive, all things considered. The sticker shock was somewhat offset by the really pleasant outdoor seating area. And, I’m sure that Ferry Building rents ain’t cheap.
We’ll go back to Taylor’s to be refreshed but, at those prices, it won’t be an automatic stop whenever we get a hankering for a burger.
Taylor's Automatic Refresher
Ferry Building Marketplace
1 Ferry Building, Space #6
between Washington Street and Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
866-328-3663
Web site
Food inspection score: 96
Symbol of Excellence: Yes
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