FIOLLO'S GUIDES: Restaurants and Bars

First in a series

by Glen Rockhill


The purpose of this text is to offer a little bit more depth to your cities and starports and provide some different environments for our players to explore and take advantage of. This will be the first in a three-part offering and will concentrate on giving generic examples of bars and restaurants that may be found in the cities and starports player characters frequent. Feel free to modify this information to better fit the setting of your campaign universe.

Sure you can pick up the same burger cooked the same way at any McBernies anywhere in the galaxy, but where can you go to try something new? Take a taste of the local cuisine?

Ever wonder how many drinks were offered at your favorite Spacer Bar?

Have you ever had a problem figuring out the charge for a nightly round of binge drinking?

Are you tired of greasy spacer bar food, smoky rooms and languid entertainment?

Want to know where to go to get a good bite to eat and some quality entertainment?

Well perhaps the answer to these questions can be found in this supplement.

Restaurants are common throughout the cities and starports from galactic fast food chains to five star dining; from elaborate restaurants to back alley mom and pop bistros and cafés. Restaurants are a great place to meet and be seen. They are run by the mildest of individuals right on up to the local crime syndicate covering all the spectrums in between. They can offer a place truly worthy of a celebration or a place to get the latest gossip and news. These are the places where adventures begin.

I have listed the bars and restaurants and rated them using stars (*). A percentage is given to estimate the frequency of finding a particular class of restaurant/bar in a medium sized city. Information about each class of restaurant/bar is broken down into the following categories:

    • Cost range for menu items and drinks available.
    • Description of the content of the menu, cleanliness of the establishment and other information pertinent to the restaurant.
    • Type of Service.
    • Quality of Service.
    • Entertainment offered.

Typical restaurants and charges are as follows:

* - Fast Food (McBernies, Starport Grills, Comets, Chuck's Fil A, Transports Subs) 50%

Cost: Meals with drink vary between 3 and 5 IC per person

Description: Food is prepared and tastes the same galaxy wide. Restaurants are mostly clean. Service: None

Quality of Service: questionable

Entertainment?: Collector Toys, Costumed Characters

** - Greasy Spoon (Covers most typical Spacer hang-outs) 15%

Cost: Meals vary between 5 and 10 IC. Non-alcoholic drinks: 1-2 IC. Alcoholic drinks (on-tap 2-5 selections, domestic only): 2-4 IC. Alcoholic drinks (mixed): 3-6 IC

Description: One or two short order cooks prepare the food. Taste varies and menus contain similar dishes throughout galaxy with some local cuisine items thrown in for color. Restaurants are fairly clean. Gratuities are expected regardless of service.

Service: Waitress

Quality of Service: fair to good

Entertainment?: Always. (Local bands, Comics, Shows)

*** - Casual Dining (Higher quality Spacer Restaurant/Bars and any restaurant which fits the title.) 20%

Cost: Meals 7 to 20 IC. Some specialty dishes may be higher. Non-alcoholic drinks: 1-2 IC. Alcoholic Drinks (on tap, 4-8 selections, domestic): 2-4 IC. Alcoholic Drinks (bottled, import, 4-10 selections): 3-5 IC Alcoholic drinks (mixed): 3-8 IC.

Description: Food prepared by short order cooks overseen by one or more schooled chefs. Taste varies but overall is very palatable. Menus contain a few popular dishes from throughout the galaxy, however most of menu is based on local and/or sector cuisines. Restaurants are clean and orderly. Gratuities are expected based on service and satisfaction.

Service: Hostess and Waitress/Waiter.

Quality of Service: good to excellent.

Entertainment?: Yes (Well known Local or Sector Bands, Stand-up Comedy Acts, Shows)

**** - Fine Dining (Any High Quality restaurant) 10%

Cost: Meals 12 to 25 IC with some specialty dishes slightly higher. Salad and dinner rolls included. Non-alcoholic drinks: 2-3 IC. Alcoholic drinks (on tap, 3-6 selections, domestic) 3-5 IC. Alcoholic Drinks (on tap, 1-3 selections, imported): 4-6 IC. Alcoholic Drinks (bottled, all, 4-25 selections): 5-10 IC. Alcoholic drinks (wines): bottle 12-25 IC; Carafe 6-12 IC, glass 3-6 IC. Alcoholic drinks (mixed): 4-10 IC.

Description: Food prepared by schooled chefs. Taste varies but overall is extremely palatable. Menus contain two or three popular dishes from throughout the sector or immediate galactic vicinity. Majority of menu is made up of local cuisines and many of these restaurants may specialize in one specific type of cuisine. Restaurants are very clean and orderly. Higher than normal gratuities are expected based on service and satisfaction.

Service: Host/Hostess, Waiter/Waitress.

Quality of Service: excellent.

Entertainment?: Yes (Dinner Shows, "Big Band" or Chamber Orchestra)

***** - Formal Dining (The Highest Quality Available) 05%

Cost: Meals 20-35 IC, five course meal. Non-alcoholic drinks: 2-3 IC. Alcoholic drinks (on tap, 3-6 selections, domestic) 3-5 IC. Alcoholic Drinks (on tap, 1-3 selections, imported): 4-7 IC. Alcoholic Drinks (bottled, all, 4-25 selections): 5-10 IC. Alcoholic drinks (wines): bottle 15-50 IC; Carafe 7-25 IC, glass 3-12 IC. Alcoholic drinks (mixed): 4-10 IC.

Description: Food is prepared by schooled chefs over seen by one or more master chefs. Taste is un-compared in entire system, perhaps sector. Menus vary daily and are made up of three to five 'specials' of local cuisine. Many of these restaurants specialize in one specific type of cuisine. Restaurants are extremely clean and orderly. Higher than normal gratuities are expected based on service and satisfaction.

Service: Host/Hostess, Waiter/Waitress.

Quality of Service: extraordinary.

Entertainment?: Sometimes (Dinner shows or musical productions, "Big Band" or Chamber Orchestra)

 

Now on to bars. As you can see many of the restaurants are a combination, restaurant/bar. But there will still be a time where you may encounter a straight bar, lounge, saloon, cantina, etc. So I will list three using the same categorization and descriptive manner I used for the restaurant/bars above. I have added a line called "Chance of Trouble" to cover bar fights, shoot outs or local/Imperial authorities making a surprise raid.

Typical bars and charges are as follows:

* - The Dive or Cantina 35%

Cost: Non-alcoholic drinks: 1-2 IC. Alcoholic drinks (on-tap 2-5 selections, domestic only): 2-4 IC. Alcoholic drinks (mixed): 3-6 IC. Pre-packaged snack items (4-6 oz. Bags) 1-2 IC

Description: This is your typical outer rim, small spaceport, Spacer bar. It's a dive. A good place to pick up a prostitute, deal or use illegal substances, gambling or other kinds of trouble. It's reputation most often precedes itself. Most of the time these places only have a long bar with stools. Some may have a few tables or booth seating as well. These are often placed in the shadows and are reasonably safe for players who don't want to be seen or overheard.

Service: Bartender and 1 Assistant

Quality of Service: fair to good

Entertainment?: Jukebox (Works 30% of the time)

Chance of Trouble: 50%

** - The Pub or Lounge 50%

Cost: Non-alcoholic drinks: 1-2 IC. Alcoholic Drinks (on tap, 4-8 selections, domestic): 2-4 IC. Alcoholic Drinks (bottled, import, 4-10 selections): 3-5 IC Alcoholic drinks (mixed): 3-8 IC. Appetizer type foods: 3-5 IC. Pre-packaged Snack Foods (4-6 oz.): 1-2 IC

Description: This would constitute the majority of the bars across the galaxy. This is the other spectrum of Spacer hangouts. They are large and carry a good variety of drinks and some food items. These places will have a bar and a seating area or two. The lighting will be just dark enough to allow for clandestine meetings. This is also a good place to pick up a prostitute, deal or use illegal substances, gambling, or other kinds of trouble. Food is often prepared by a droid and in all cases is fried.

Service: Bartender and 2+ Assistants, 1-2 Waitresses, 1-2 Bouncers.

Quality of Service: fair to good.

Entertainment?: Yes (Local Bands, Stand-up Comedy)

Chance of Trouble: 35%

*** - The Club 15%

Cost: Non-alcoholic drinks: 1-2 IC. Alcoholic drinks (on tap, 3-6 selections, domestic) 2-4 IC. Alcoholic Drinks (on tap, 1-3 selections, imported): 3-5 IC. Alcoholic Drinks (bottled, all, 4-25 selections): 5-10 IC. Alcoholic drinks (wines): bottle 12-25 IC; Carafe 6-12 IC, glass 3-6 IC. Alcoholic drinks (mixed): 3-10 IC. Food selections consist of 2-5 sandwich baskets 3-7 IC. Appetizers 3-7 IC. One or two types of snack food are provided free to patrons.

Description: This category includes the high-end smoker clubs, private lounges, and nightclubs. These places may be run by organized crime syndicates and in that case could involve passwords or invitations. These places will be clean and safe. Any trouble will be dealt with quickly and efficiently. Most of these places will be fairly well lit with an extensive stage and dance floor lighting system. Seating will be in tiers circling a dance floor and stage. Short order cooks assisted by droids prepare the food items.

Service: Bartender and 3+ Assistants, 2-5 Waiters/Waitresses, 2-4 Bouncers.

Quality of Service: excellent.

Entertainment?: Yes (Dancing, Well known Local or Sector Bands, Stand-up Comedy Acts, Shows)

Chance of Trouble: 15%



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