Victorian Restaurants- St. Gauden’s

A block away from prestigious banks, firms, and theaters, St. Gauden’s Restaurant is a busy hive of deal making, celebration, and romance every evening. A casual diner hoping for a meal has little chance of a seat after 6, unless Henri Lyons, the maitre d’hôtel, likes them enough to add a new table. At its busiest, St. Gauden’s can seat over 200 people. A glance across the restaurant reveals an ex-Lord Mayor, a popular music hall comedian, two Cabinet members, and a scandalous actress.
The wait staff are all respectable men well trained in their duties, ready to provide newspapers, cigars, recommendations, or any other small service to those in their charge. A few ex-military men, serving as doormen and head waiters, help keep customer relations smooth should trouble arise.

Alec Canary (Human waiter with a military past)
Initiative: 5
Physical: 6
Mental: 3
Social: 5
Health: 4
Traits: Prepared for violence +2)
Combat: Punch (4)

Henri Lyons (Constantly busy, but genteel, foxfolk maitre d’hôtel)
Initiative: 6
Physical: 5
Mental: 7
Social: 8
Health: 8
Traits: Knows everyone +3, Hard to fool +2,
Combat: “Stop that or I shall be forced to call for a Policeman!”  

Layout
A short entry way under a red awning leads past Henri Lyons welcoming customers into the beautiful two-story dining room. The ground floor is ringed with white clothed covered tables and booths upholstered in red leather. In the center is a dance floor clear of furniture with a floral tile design, which can only be truly appreciated from the balcony on the first floor. The entire room is well lit by unobtrusive gas lamps and a few sparkling chandlers. Panels of a light wood, and red cloth brocades tastefully embellish the restaurant’s walls.

Two carpeted spiral staircases lead up to the first floor, where a three sided balcony dividing the north, west and east walls, looks over the restaurant below. More tables and a small orchestra stand fill much of the carpeted floor leaving only thin lanes for waiters in short green jackets to push polished carts. From 6pm-9pm a seven piece ensemble plays tasteful music, loud enough for dancing, quiet enough for nearby conversations. Hinged wooden panels conceal pulley operated dumbwaiters.

Unobtrusive doors lead to a warren of private dining rooms, banquet halls, and closed booths. A private booth can be had with a small tip, but the banquet halls and dining rooms require a reservation.

Two wide doorways on the ground floor open to St. Gauden’s kitchens, full of cooks, and waiters franticly moving around open flames, empty trays, and shouting chefs. Two stone stairwells lead down to the underground pantries, and the wine cellar. A third door opens to the alleyway behind the restaurant.

Menu (The dinners for St. Gauden’s are based on a menu found in “London at Dinner, or Where to Dine”, published in 1858.)

Three Shilling Dinner (served 3 to 9)
Consommé served plain
White-bait
Cabbage and Potatoes
Veal Chops with Tomato Sauce
Pudding a la D’Orsay

Five Shilling Dinner (served from 4 to 9)
Tapioca Consommé a la Mussarde
Soles a la Maître d’Hôtel
Macaroni Timbales a la Milanais, served with Peas
Madeira Mushroom Brioche Sauteed Potatoes with Navy Beans
An assortment of Apples, Oranges, Nuts

Eight Shilling Dinner (served 6 to 9)
Consommé a la Crécy,
Salmon a l’Italienne and White-bait
Peppered Fillets of Beef in Chicken Jelly
Goslings
Potatoes and Peas
Lobster with Mayonnaise
Savarin Cake with Almond Jelly and Fresh Strawberries
An assortment of Apples, Oranges, Nuts

Absinthe (1 pint) 1s
Ale (1 pint) 6d
Brandy (1 pint) 6s
Fine wine (bottle) 7s
Iced Champagne (bottle) 7s
Iced Punch (1 pint) 6d
Lemonade (1 pint) 6d
Seltzer water (bottle) 6d
Stout (1 pint) 6d

Encounters 
The private dining rooms on the first floor are often used by the Guild for retirement parties, graduation banquets and other official functions. Sometimes magicians get up to mischief when they’ve had too much to drink.

A well respected theater critic, a famous stage director and a beloved actress all hate each other vehemently and frequently dine at St Gauden’s after a show. The scathing witticisms passed across the restaurant are the source of gossip all over town.

At lunchtime, a group of businessmen gather to gamble over news stories. Whether a bit of legislation will pass, how soon a murderer will be caught, and the identity of a woman caught in a love nest with a member of government have all been speculated on in the past.