Distinctive Dining

FIND IT

ENTERTAINMENT

IN THE

BEST OF EVERYTHING

L

Indulge yourself with an exceptional dining
experience at the Benchmark.
The elegant decor serves as a dramatic
backdrop for superb continental cuisine, fine
wines, soft music, tempting desserts and
impeccable service.
Cocktail and dinner service available
Monday through Saturday,
beginning at 6 p.m.
Call 559-6500 for
reservations.

AMT

••THE FAm Ly
SUGGESTS THAT
MEMORIAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
BE MADE
TO
AMERICAN
CANCER
SOCIETY..

the
Benchmark

— words that mean people
want to honor a loved one
and want to help conquer
cancer. Send a Memorial
Gift to your local
ACS Unit.

16400 J.L. Hudson Drive, Southfield, Michigan 313/559-6500

GRAND OPENING

66

STEAK HOUSE EAST

FRIDAY, JUNE 12

AND

SATURDAY, JUNE 13

Specializing In
Steaks and Seafood

Appearing Friday and Saturday For The Opening

SINNAMON

Banquet Facilities Available

Call 772-1155

23722 East Jefferson, corner 9 Mile
St.Clair Shores

66

Friday, June 12, 1987

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Your Hosts:
Nick Parris
and Tony DiMarco

DANNY RASKIN

"SERVING SINGLE
DINERS" article in Market
Watch . . . sent by Ruben Isaacs
of Reuben Advertising . . . is
most interesting . . . In it,
writer Mort Hochstein says
that with growing numbers of
single people, particularly with
more women traveling and din-
ing alone, restaurants are pay-
ing closer attention to the
single diner.
"Meeting the needs of those
who dine alone presents pro-
blems, of course," writes Hochs-
tein, for proprietors who prefer
to see deuces, fours and better
at their tables. Some feel the
presence of solitary diners
tends to be depressing.
"But a growing number of
restaurateurs are establishing
policies that serve this segment
of the market, a large part of
which is the business traveler.
Hostesses are strictly forbidden
to ask "Only one?" and
newspapers or magazines are
available for single diners who
wish to read.
"Physical solutions stand out
because they are the exception
to the rule," writes Hochstein.
"Few restaurateurs have gone
beyond the 'separate tables'
concept, other than to serve
food at the bar.
He tells of a veteran
restaurateur who has brought
back what he calls the "com-
munal table." It is a replica of
a 15th Century monk's table,
set aside for singles who prefer
not to eat alone.
According to Hochstein, the
restaurateur calls it a
throwback to the old tradition
of a roadside inn where
travelers would eat together, all
at the same table.
Another spot has a plush din-
ing bar with special menu so
that someone can eat in 45
minutes or less rather than an
hour and a half. Meals are pass-
ed along through the same win-
dow the bartender uses for ser-
vicing drink orders to table
waiters.
"Some restaurants, by their
very nature," writes Hochstein,
make things easy for the solo
diner. The sushi bar, now a fix-
' ture of the restaurant lineup, is
tailor-made for the person
alone. Communality comes
easily where single guests and
parties are routinely grouped
together at large tables with
grills. They get a show as well
as food from their table chef,
whose magician-like perfor-
mance inspires conversation
and friendliness among
strangers.
"Women seem to be more
troubled by the experience of
dining alone than men," says
Hochstein. "Writer and consul-
tant Tania Grossinger notes a
survey which showed that a
majority of women rated eating
alone in a restaurant more
unpleasant than asking for a
loan or undergoing a gyneco-
logical examination.
"Grossinger, echoing a com-
plaint heard from many

women, says it is because of the
negative treatment they receive
in some restaurants." She says
that management's attitude is
transmitted in subtle as well as
obvious ways. "Women are
seated in the worst locations,
are made to wait excessively
long even when they have reser-
vations, may never be offered a
wine list, have their orders
taken by a waiter rather than
a captain or maitre d, and often
receive the check at the same
time their order is delivered.
"Some restaurateur's at-
titudes towards single women
diners seem downright
primitive," writes Hochstein.
Washington Post restaurant
reviewer Phyllis Richman is
fond of dining at a Chinese
restaurant in the Capitol's red
light district. "The proprietor
gives me a book to read," she
says. "He doesn't want some of
his male customers to think I'm
sitting there for purposes other
than dining."
In an informal survey of
Washington, D.C. restaurants
most operators reported that
they gave the same service to
all customers, but several went
beyond. One tries to seat single
diners next to a window . . . At
another, single diners get a
table with a view and enough
"space" so they do not have to
listen to other tables'
conversations.
In Chicago, a small
neighborhood restaurant is
favored by many business-
women dining on their own .. .
Partner Peter Steinberg says
he's established a few simple
procedures to put singles at
ease . . . "When a hostess seats
someone, she is forbidden to
ask, 'only one?' or 'how many
will there be?' Servers don't
rush to remove the extra place
settings at a table. We don't try
to attract them, but we don't
embarrass them. We have men
and women who eat alone here
two or more times a week
because they feel comfortable
and unthreatened."
THEY PARKED EVERY-
WHERE . . . on the grass, fire
lanes, even spots reserved for
the handicapped . . . as about
500 women swarmed into Cong.
Shaarey Zedek for Woman's
World 1987 by its Sisterhood
. . . the Blossom Into Spring
Fashion Extravaganza, silent
auction and luncheon was a
joyful day for most.
Women who previously at-
tended Leah Marks' fashion
productions have come to look
for something different each
time . . . and weren't disap-
pointed . . . Beautiful high
lighting was at both the front
and end of a runway that ex-
tended from the Shaarey Zedek
stage . . . The runway was like
a Ziegfeld Follies walkalong .. .
as real light bulbs glittered .. .
It was very impressive . . . The
models included very cute
children wearing clothes from
We're For Kids . . . which got
the show off on a happy note .. .

