jmcquown wrote:
> Margaret Suran wrote:
>


> One night my
> (then) boyfriend and I went there for dinner; this was around 1985. It was
> the (I think) 25th or 30th anniversary of the restaurant opening.
>
> All the prices were set to what they were 25-30 years prior (around 1955 or
> 1960). What a neat idea! although how they could afford to do it was beyond
> me. Or maybe it just proved things didn't have to be as expensive as they
> would have us believe!
>
> We each had a slice of rare prime rib with a broiled lobster tail. The food
> was delicious; the service was very good. IIRC the meal for the two of us,
> which included a baked potato, some steamed mixed vegetables, freshly baked
> rolls and a bottle of wine cost about $11.
>
> I suppose this was sort of a last ditch effort to continue to draw in
> customers. Co-workers and I often went there for lunch, but sadly, within
> months after this anniversary promotion the restaurant closed. A shame,
> since it wasn't a "chain" or fast food and the food was really good even at
> full price.
>
> Jill
>

Jill, how is the weather? I saw some pictures of terrible storms on
TV in parts of Tennessee.

Several New York City restaurants used to have this kind of promotion
for a special anniversary and the 2nd Avenue Deli used to do it once a
year. Customers would start lining up hours before the opening and
there would be a line all day long, until almost closing time.

Prices were the same as they were on the day that was being
commemorated (opening day?), such as a Pastrami Sandwich for 25 cents
or so at the deli and a steak dinner for $1.00 in some other fine
restaurant. I am guessing at the prices, I never went. No place that
was doing badly could afford to do it, the ones that did were
successful. Since the 2nd Avenue Deli closed, I have not heard of
such a promotion and it would be very expensive to do it now.

My husband once asked a waiter at the 2nd Ave. Deli how the guests
tipped on such a day and he was told that most of them left good tips,
like a couple of dollars for a 50 cents bill. )