They get that safe feeling here, knowing what to expect. Even the smaller players cultivate this feeling. He wonders if he might bring more tea, remove the soup bowls, do anything at all in the name of dining pleasure. Throughout the meal, while guests enjoy an unobstructed view of Elliott Bay, this waiter and others like him hover delicately around the tables, ready to serve the slightest need. The Harbor Club is the kind of place where that old-boys' feeling remains strong.
Music plays faintly, as men lean in close and discuss business.
However, what the club lacks in color it makes up for in service and accessibility. The new dining areas are casual and inexpensive. It's practically like having a hot lunch. The club conducts aggressive membership drives and offers innovative membership packages. The establishment at once represents everything hopeful and disruptive about survival.