In any case, it's all very appetizing!

Are you old enough to remember Ratner's on Delancey? My most vivid memory of that (dairy) restaurant was the fight that ensued between my aunt and one of the cranky old waiters when he saw her stuff the onions rolls from the bread basket into her handbag. She claimed that all the bread in the basket belonged to her since it had been placed on our table. He disagreed.
Both were quite vocal. I was mortified.

eks, you bring back memories. As a kid in Philadelphia, my parents took me to Bain's, a dairy restaurant on Chestnut Street. (Googling, I find that there's currently a Bain's Deli on South Broad Street, but I doubt it's really related to the original except for the name.) In any case, I never really liked dairy restaurants.

But your comment about your aunt vs. the Ratner's waiter brings to mind my mother, who, in much different circumstances, had the same opinion about bread on the table. In the august confines of The Four Seasons in Manhattan, my mom used to secrete the mini-croissants into a carefully folded napkin in her handbag. The waiters and captains undoubtedly noticed, but kept their bemused, I'm sure, silence.

We didn't call her "klepto-Claire" for nothing!

Adu, thanks for posting the link to basingstoke2's wonderful thread. Missed it first time around.

And therein lies the difference between Ratner's and the Four Seasons!

Yes, the waiters at Ratner and most Jewish delis were unionized and they treated every body poorly. It was part of the ambience. As kids, six of us, would go to a local deli where we really hated the waiter and order six waters and one order of french fries. Of course, they throw us out.

The classic joke at Ratner's:

"Waiter, your thumb is in my soup!"
"Don't worry, I did not burn it."

I have two vivid memories of Ratner's - one, their potato blitzes, and two, being there with my parents, brother and great aunt and uncle playing with a set of pop-up colored pencils my aunt had bought for me. You pushed a button and out popped the pencil of the same color!

Warren: What? No natatorious fly?

<i>"but the one who keeps kosher is also orthodox so we have to walk anywhere we go Saturday."</i>

... at end-February, just pray the weather is favorable - not too cold, snow or rain.

Ditto on the 2nd ave deli - a wonderful place but no longer on 2nd ave. It is on East 33 between 3rd and Lexington.

For your orthodox friend, Chabad Lubavitch Midtown does a Shabbat dinner by reservation (212) 972-0770

2nd Ave Deli, is still wonderful and the pastrami is melts in your delicious. The main difference between 2nd Ave and Katz's, is the side dishes at 2nd Ave are far superior.
____

This is for Burt:

"Waiter, what is that fly doing in my soup?"
"The backstroke," said the waiter.

Thank you!

Oh, and ba-rump-bump.

A Ratner's memory: A cranky old waiter arriving at our table having sloshed a good part of the cup of coffee into its saucer. He promptly poured the saucer of coffee back into the cup, placed the cup in the saucer, and set it on the table. Standard service.

Sandi - I know the weather for walking around could be dreadful. We might be stuck in the hotel room doing mani/pedis all day! Oh well.

Basingstoke - might be fun for all of us to go to the Shabbat dinner! That would be something different for the rest of us!

Adu, I was trying to remember that joke (always think of Groucho Marx when I hear it), so thanks!

If you go to the Shabbat dinner remember the dress code. Long sleeves, no low neckline and skirt below knees, not pants.

TTT