HALF-GUINEA TABLE D'HOTE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 137, 16 July 1914, Page 10

HALF-GUINEA TABLE D'HOTE.

' 1 The French and the Americans are the only people who really . have the habit of dining a la sarte. The Englishman, in spite of many attempts t» change him, will never desert the set dinner. Even when -he settles dow& to,study a menu and pick out dishes it is mostly the maitre d 'hotel who doe* the actual choosing." This is the verdict of the manager of cue of London's leading restaurants after a recent tour abroad.

But this racial characteristic haa its compensations. It has led to a gallant experiment at a bijou restaurant just off Regent, Street that is making much headway among people who know & good dinner but don't want to pay to® much for it. It is a kind of double table d 'bote experiment. The dinner is a set the appetisers, the wines, and the cigars are according to the same plan. The half-guinea charged includes, besides a short but excellently-selected meal,, a cocktail, half a bottle of vintage-cham-pagne, coffee, a glass of '65 brandy, and a Corona Corona cigar. Soho has made many attempts at the quite cheap dinner and the inclusive half-bottle of vin ordinaire. But the point about this latest experiment ia that the wine may be chosen from the wine list and that the champagne offered is one of the beat-known brands. The diner who does not want champagne has a choice of any other wine sold at the restaurant. "It doesn't look it, but it is pureljr a commercial enterprise," explained the proprietor a Press representative^. '' I give you - the prioes of the items they were to go oa the bill separately:—? s. d. Dinner . ........ 3 ® Cocktail ....... 0 • Half-bottle champagne .. 7 • '65 Liqueur brandy .. .. 1 • Cigar (Corona Corona) ..1 9 Coffee O S Total 14 9 "My profit will come from the in+ creased turnover. The increased turaoa er can be exp'ected because for the first time people can go to a public restaurant and give a champagne dinner, knowing exactly what it will cost, witkeut previous arrangement. In that knowledge of human nature lies the secret of the experiment. "If the diner selects a different liqueur, a smaller cigar, or a cheaper wine than champagne, the better for me.''