Kernel is a new restaurant chain from Chipotle founder Steve Ells and Peloton’s Tom Cortese. The “gimmick” is that it’s highly robotized — a couple chefs are necessary to “finish” some products, but overall its quite Futurama.

I ate at one last spring, thought the faux chicken sandwich was a bummer, but the sides were quite good. Since then they’ve expanded into dairy and real chicken. The prices are in the Chipotle “fast-casual” tier.

Their business plan calls for 15 locations by the end of 2025. They missed their goal of opening a third “spoke” in Manhattan in 2024, however.

https://ny.eater.com/2023/11/14/23960928/kernel-restaurant-robots-nyc-opening-steve-ells

https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/emerging-brands/steve-ells-new-kernel-takes-major-pivot-adding-meat

Boroughs of NYC (Brooklyn, Queens) will not be counted as separate cities.