Posted on 11/23/2005 4:24:10 PM PST by ncountylee
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- A 119-year-old Italian restaurant in San Francisco, reopening after a disastrous fire, treated its customers to an afternoon of food at 1886 prices.
Word of the bargain spread quickly, and a long line soon formed outside Fior d'Italia, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. For a nickel, customers could get a plate of tortellini, chicken was 20 cents and steak the most expensive item on the menu at 30 cents.
Fior d'Italia claims to be the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States. But the restaurant was forced to shut down temporarily in February when a fire began in the basement of its North Beach building.
Owner Bob Larive told the newspaper he could have pocketed the insurance money and gone out of business. Instead, he renovated an old hotel, the San Remo, and reopened Tuesday.
"I believe it would have been an absolute crime to close down," he said. "San Francisco is losing too many of its old places. This restaurant is a labor of love."
That's what I call a wonderful 'Grand Reopening'. Great marketing idea too!
not just too many of its old places SF is losing ... it's lost so much of the quality that made a visit there such a joy not that long ago
A 119-year-old Italian restaurant in San Francisco, reopening after a disastrous fire, treated its customers to an afternoon of food at 1886 prices.
----That's nice. Wonderful little story. :)
I bet tips were lousy that day.
When I lived in San Francisco, this was one of my favorite places.
Know the old San Remo well also. Good luck to him and his customers.
I wouldn't be sure of that... I know that when I get a favorable deal at a restaurant (or bar) I end up kicking back most or all of the difference to the service staff. Then again, I've waited tables before so I know what it's like.
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