72 replies to this topic

[miamiblue]

Subway Scoundrel, on Jul 28 2008, 02:09 PM, said:

In talking to my contact who will work there, he said that the tables they are talking of charging table fees are very large booths that sit many people and what I guess, there are not many of them. My guess there might be 2 or 3 of these. I would guess you get selected waitress service and other special perks. I did not read the downtowner article but that is what I was told by the guy who works there and training. So most tables will be come and get them but just a few large booths will have fees.

I also heard that they are hiring around 140 people so could be a big operation.

All the article said was that they were thinking of charging table fees for the second and third floors, it didn't get any more specific. I think it also mentioned private rooms, so maybe that is what they are referring to, and it is usually a given that there is some sort of rental fee in order to use a private room in many restaurants, so that wouldn't be unusual.

But when I think of a "table fee" I think of "you must purchase a min. $200 bottle of something in order to sit down" and to me that just isn't cool. It goes hand in hand with the $12 dixie cups of ice with a little liquor they call "drinks" and the $40 minimum to use a credit card from my experiences. Which in turn brings in partons whose first words when they meet someone are "what kind of car do you drive?" and female patrons who wait for "sponsors" instead of purchasing their own drinks (I am a female; please don't flame).

Gard, on Jul 28 2008, 02:29 PM, said:

that would be 140 more jobs in downtown that we didn't have and will help to continue building demand for housing that fits within the budget of the people who work in this industry in that part of town.

We can only hope, but I'm not holding my breath.

All in all, the building looks like it will be impressive. I'm very interested to see how it all turns out. I live stumbling distance from Solas, so I'm pretty anxious to see what it's like.

[Subway Scoundrel]

Gard, on Jul 28 2008, 02:29 PM, said:

^^^ 140 ppl is a lot for a restaurant/bar.  Must be one heck of an operation to need that many, but hey, that would be 140 more jobs in downtown that we didn't have and will help to continue building demand for housing that fits within the budget of the people who work in this industry in that part of town.

I am sure many of these people are part time like my friend as he will still be serving 2 pints of Guiness to the Scoundrel a couple of nights a week at the local watering hole.   

[miamiblue]

I drove by Solas on my way home from work. The sign is now up and a delivery truck was delivering food. It also looked like some audio equipment of some sort was being delivered or set up on the front patio. According to their website countdown clock, it looks like it will open tonight at midnight.

[pack-man]

that place looks pretty swanky

[RALNATIVE]

Solas was named one of the top 50 restaurants in the US with the most vibrant bar scenes. The only other NC restaurant making the list is meZ-Charlotte in Charlotte.

2009 Diners' Choice Awards for Restaurants with the Most Vibrant Bar Scenes

[Jones133]

Interesting find. Any idea if you have to use Opentable to even be eligible for the contest? What exactly "vibrant" means to the voters too is unknown. There are 20 places just in Raleigh I would go before Solas and I consider them all more "vibrant". I suppose bragging rights do not depend on these sorts of things though...the election goes to those who voted...

[Captain Awesome]

From the looks of that list, it appears that those bars appeal to a certain demographic that enjoys spray-on tanning products and plenty of hair product for the guys.

[RALNATIVE]

Captain Awesome, on 17 January 2010 - 05:51 PM, said:

From the looks of that list, it appears that those bars appeal to a certain demographic that enjoys spray-on tanning products and plenty of hair product for the guys.

Honestly, I couldn't care less what demographic populates the place. I'm just happy whenever I see a Raleigh establishment getting accolades for something relatively positive.

[Captain Awesome]

RALNATIVE, on 17 January 2010 - 11:33 PM, said:

Honestly, I couldn't care less what demographic populates the place. I'm just happy whenever I see a Raleigh establishment getting accolades for something relatively positive.

Absolutely, I was just commenting to try to narrow down what the list creators meant by vibrant - as this definition will be couched in the demographic that the establishment serves.

[DCMetroRaleigh]

Captain Awesome, on 17 January 2010 - 05:51 PM, said:

From the looks of that list, it appears that those bars appeal to a certain demographic that enjoys spray-on tanning products and plenty of hair product for the guys.

Cool. Sounds like my kind of place. If it's swanky and hip, I am there!

[RALNATIVE]

DCMetroRaleigh, on 19 January 2010 - 09:24 PM, said:

Cool. Sounds like my kind of place. If it's swanky and hip, I am there!

I'll go with you!

[RALNATIVE]

Kudos to Solas for gaining some national recognition:

http://www.bizjourna...s-best-for.html

[Jones133]

Thanks for the link. I wish something with less glam would have made it, but maybe that is not Open Table's audience...

Edited by Jones133, 31 August 2011 - 08:14 PM.