With some restaurants around the Baltimore area closing and other 21201 restaurants looking for new ways to increase business during these tough economic times, I offer this...
Take a look at some of the top-tier industry leaders and learn from what those venues are doing. For example, New York's Russian Tea Room.
Some background: The RTR was one of the first New York restaurants of Legend-and-History that I ever visited. And my first visit in 1970 made it one of my forever-favorites. I was 20 years old at the time.
The food - exceptional. The menu - exceptional. The wait-staff even better. Don't even ask about the bartender. When I first sat down at the front bar (Slightly to the Left of Carnegie Hall) and ordered a martini, he said, "Russian vodka, of course. Olives? Twist?"
I said, "Make it your way." (I'd read that phrase in the New Yorker Magazine and thought it sounded smart.)
He did make it his way. Ice cold; frozen cold. One olive. And, slightly dirty. He made me feel so special that I could never again walk down 57th Street and not go in and sit at the bar. It wasn't about the martinis - it was about the service. I could get a plain iced coffee at the bar or a cup of Russian Tea in amazing surroundings, have a wonderful time, leave a decent tip and still go home without breaking my minimal bank.
The Russian Tea Room's latest promotion is an extension of their High Tea. This time, for the younger set. For Children.
When restaurants are in that dead-time between lunch and dinner, does this menu make sense? I think so. I think this concept is worth a million bucks in PR.
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CHILDREN'S TEA
Carousel of Tea Sandwiches and Blini
- PB&J on Blini
- Grilled Trio of Cheeses
- Little Pig-in-a-Blanket
- Miniature BLT
- Cucumber with Chive Cream Cheese
- Classic Tuna Fish
- Chopped Egg Salad
Desserts
- Traditional Warm Scone
- Crisp Apple Slices with Creamy Caramel
- Red Velvet Cupcake with Sprinkles
- Chocolate Mousse Topped with Mixed Berries
Decaffinated Tea Selection
- Raspberry Zinger
- Raspberry with herbal hibiscus
- Lotus Green Tea with subtle essence of lotus blossoms
- Mint Verbena
- Pure peppermint
- Ginger Tea Slightly spicy, fruity-citrus notes
- Rooibos Chai South African red bush with Indian spices
- Chamomile Delicate sweet notes or
- The Russian Tea Room's Signature Hot Chocolate Served with Whipped Cream & Marshmallows
$25 per person
- For A True Russian Tea Room Experience: Add one blini with Paddlefish Caviar for $10
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I'm telling you, it doesn't get much better than that. To bring this concept back to Baltimore, the last time that Jacob and I were at Gertrude's at BMA, we watched some of Baltimore's smartest youngsters order their food, ask questions about it, and critique the offering. Come on, Baltimore. We can do this. We can do more and get the all of the PR that goes with it.
I'm telling you, it doesn't get much better than that. To bring this concept back to Baltimore, the last time that Jacob and I were at Gertrude's at BMA, we watched some of Baltimore's smartest youngsters order their food, ask questions about it, and critique the offering. Come on, Baltimore. We can do this. We can do more and get the all of the PR that goes with it.
Edens Lounge brings out the fun in people. Good fun, Good Food and Drinks at great prices. A must drop-by when you visit this lovely city.
Posted by: Harold EdensLounge Edwards | Monday, October 19, 2009 at 03:39 PM