HERE is an article in the Washington Post about Pineapple and Pearls.
Specifically I want to highlight this section:
Quote
At Pineapple and Pearls, Silverman says there will be no sticker shock. A $250 dinner will cost $250. When diners make a reservation, they will pay half upfront and will be billed the other half automatically on the day of their reservation. If they cancel 72 hours in advance of their reservation, diners will be refunded their initial payment.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. March 14 on the Pineapple and Pearls website for dinner services starting on April 7. (Reservations will be released every Monday for dates a month out.) Customers will be able to select between the eight-seat chef's counter or the 22-seat dining room via a reservation system custom-built by GiftRocker; the seven-seat bar will eventually be added to the system. (In February, Silverman opened a coffee shop of the same name, located in front of his fine-dining operation.)
I"m bringing it up because in planning my new place I was intending to do something very similar. I know its not for everyone, so the "I would never go to a place like this" isn't of concern to me. Its the question of how do folks feel about pre-paying in general. In my case, using preliminary numbers, I'm looking at much much less (maybe $75 for the meal, $40 for booze so a total around $115 plus tax & tip), with wine being optional, but still with a half down, half at cancellation cutoff. I'm also mulling over the folks who say that they should determine the tip...but generally at places like this that aren't packing the house, you're all but guaranteed appropriate service, and if its all lumped into one number then its a mystery amount.
ETA: To my way of thinking this is specific to special occasion restaurants, not your every day place, not even the fine casual.
I'll shut up and listen/read because I know many of you are passionate on both sides of this discussion. All for the greater good amigos!
