The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-18
THE "NOONDAY REST"
UNIQUE RESTAURANT RECENTLY
OPENED IN NEW YORK.


Only May Lunch There-There Are No
walters. and Customers Must Serve
ThemseIves-Low Prices and Good Fare.
There is no sign out at the door, and
neither a basement nor a store is the
scene of operations. The words "Noon-
day Rest" inscribed on a small, gilt
framed card attached to the balcony of
a nriyate house, just like all the other
rrivate houses in the block, are the only
Indication that outsiders will be well
coined inside. While you are asking
Yourself if it is a club, or a nursery, or
some mission circle, woman comes
down the steps, and, the question being
mt TO her, she answers you that there
is restaurant within where extraordi-
narily good things to eat can be OBJ
tanned at extraordinarily low prices.
EVERYTHING is cents" she says.
cat least nothing is over that price, aud
a good many things are cheaper. have
recently finished an abundant luncheon,
topped off with ice cream and good
chocolate cake, and it cost me just 20
cents. I assure you it is wonder. II
YOU ordered everything that is on the
bill of fare today, it would only come
to 60 cents, and you could not eat one
third Of 1t. !"
You enter, and young woman, who
sits at the little hall table with money
and checks before her, confers upon you
the freedom of the place.
s,,<0 hn fnrfhncf ha ~
she says. "There are no walters. Ev-
erybody waits on herself here"
With doubt and uncertainty you APP
proach the back room, CHANGING in
meanwhile at the small, white draped
tables in the two intervening rooms,
where women in hats and jackets are
seated at luncheon.
There is the menu ON that slate on
the WALL" says one Of the women in
charge of affairs. "Read it over and Sc
lect what you want; then provide your
self with knife, fork and napkin, and
you will be served"
This back room is CHEEKY, well ap-
pointed place. Against the wall stands
a bright new steam table, from which
smell of savory meats proceeds. There
are big plated urns on either side and a
big soup caldron. On white covered
side table are big glass bowls with re-
freshing looking salad leaves showing
through and small plates of bread, each
with stamped pat of butter on it,
ready 70 serve. On another table are set
the desserts, jelly cake, ice cream, pies
etc. Directly under the menu slate is a
stand holding three baskets, one con-
tanning knives, another forks, the third
big and small silver spoons, all bright
and shining. A pile of napkins has the
central place. Everything in the room
is clean, fresh and attractive. and the
proprietress, who serves the portions
from the steam table, is trinity dressed
She has dainty muslin apron and cap
and look of CHEEKY wholesomeness
about her that commend the establish
ment to favorable notice at once.
1--WE have rabbit and lamb stew as
main dishes today" she says pleasantly,
"and 1 can recommend the soup. l
have q good chef, and he understands
soups"
You select what you want and retire
to the first table in the adjoining room
that is available. Looking around you
see other women bearing their food be-
fore them, soup, meats, vegetables, and
you notice neat, deft handed maid
clearing away the dishes from the va
Gated tables and carrying them off to a
closet in the hall, where dumbwaiter
connects with regions below. There is
no confusion, no calling of orders. Each
person receives from an assistant check
setting forth the amount of her indebt-
edness. AS often as she returns to the
back room and gets another cup of CO.
Goa or another plate of ice cream or
mince pie supplementary check is
given, and when she has completed her
repast these checks are deposited with
the cashier and paid for.
The lowest checks ON my docket to-
day are for cents" says the cashier.
The average check is 23 cents. You
see, potatoes are a cents and milk is 3.
Bread and butter together are 3 cents,
and as everybody takes one or the other
OF these things our checks are all un-
even."
How did come to start this lunch
Ing placer said the proprietress
We'll, it was represented to me that
there was need of a cheap place for
woman's lunch in the shopping district
where the word cheap would apply
only 20 the price and not to the char
acter OF the things and the surround
lngs. am the widow of Chicago ply
slcian. had to earn my living, and
nave adapted features from different
eating places that have seen in other
cities and Joined them all together in
THIS one 1t has succeeded WELL
Il am often asked how can afford
10 supply such viands as ! do at the
prices charged The main reason is that
1 know how to buy my provisions. and
then have thoroughly competent help
both in my cook and the little maid who
clears away the dishes. Getting rid OF
the walters does away with much of the
expense and confusion. All who pat