The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • 32

0 a 'f' Gage Tollner's Tradition Survives March of Years W.l r- i. ivRk- to -J 5 'i ELI DANTZIG, the borough's famed orchestra leader, (left) ia presented the New York Press Photographers' plaque of honor by Mayor Wagner at City Hall. Dantzig played at the late President F. Roosevelt's first insugnrsl ball This Restaurant Serves New Ideas, Good Food Sunday afternoon Is a time for conviviality according to Leo Edbril and Richard H. Roffman, hosts at unusual cocktail time gatherings.

These entrepreneurs dedioete their gatherings towards spot-lighting new talent At the Nits Beat, 117 West 68th Manhattan the' podium was kept bouncing by variety artists. From British Guiana singing folk songs were- Austin and Al-leyne Hastings. Bruce Anderson, handsome fellow with a charming Hotels Hosts New Arrivals Continental Catering at Bossert Authentic catering In the Continental tradition, featured at the Hotel Bossert, 98 Montague Brooklyn Heights is catching on among the borough's party goers. Be the cuisine Italian, German, Arabian, Kosher or you name it, the resourceful Hotel Bossert caterers are geared to party needs in luxurious banquet rooms capable of providing roomy comfort for groups bo 800. The Gold Room has recently been redecorated and now features crystal chandeliers, excitingly snspended front a decorated panel ceiling.

The wills are covered by a fabric of a rich velvet red pattern with gold certains encasing ntirrorpaned windows te provide an expansive feeling. Other rooms suited for gals weddings and celebrations include tha Georgian Terrace, Rose, Jade and "61" Room. Club 40, once the headquarters of political figures and business executives who moved to the Bossert from the Crescent Club, now houses headquarters for the Kings Conn, ty Multiple Sclerosis Society; The Oak Room is home to the bor-ough'i Elks. The Bossert banquet staff Is under the direction of Emil Blon-dell and James A. Cardello.

The Bossert dining room, fes tnring leather nphelstered al coves for luxurious, nncramped comfort, is open from 11 AM. to 2:00 A.M., with luncheon from noon to 3:00 P.M. and dinner from 5:00 P.M. te PJf. The folks in the know request the "Bottomless Plate Dinner" all you can eat of many, many courses of delicious specialties.

This for the one pries averaging 4-25 i not listed on ths printed menu. You must ask for it The night wa visited there, Don Allen was tinkling away with tunas of yesteryear at the piano, poised ea platform just where a partition divides the dining alcoves from the oval banOne of oar borough's more popular jurists was having a wonderful time singing, with folks Just joining in for a merry time. Ne wonder the rorm hears the name "Cy, Lang's Heewe Strangers are strangers no mors when they ceme te the "House Party" with constant sarprises in feed snd entertaiament filling the evening te the wee hi are. Ths long arm of coincidence Is coupled with Horatio Alger success story in tha two young men who hsad the operation at the Hotel Bossert. Still ia their 20s, these young men, Irwin Koval, 28, and Cy Long, 2d, promise to carve a name fer thernselves in hoteMom and borough history.

Kovil, on June 21, 1958 gated at ths view from step the Hotel Bossert The ships fat the harbor, the magnificent Manhattan skyscraper skyline, backdrop for ths Brooklyn Bridge, he saw. This was his wedding day. His marriage to the then Miss Sandra Becker was the last one te take place aa the Marine Reef. In the shadow ef the Status ef Liberty, ths Inspiration which captured many ef eur newcomers this Und, teeh hold of 'him too. "Seme day I'm gwhmg to operate this hotel," he vowed.

Abeet eia years sge he was werhlag la Seath Fslmbsrg where be met Cy Lang, then eemrtlag Mms GaR Fans, a ssax taml friend. Ksval had previeealy worked fer Gall's father, Mike Fsrak, ss a sasaeger ef a Msn-hattsa heteL By BOB BJORN hen you step through the porticoed doors at 872-4 Fulton St. you are whisked back almost century in time. You're in a room where time geema to have stopped. The decor comes from an era when men made an art of eating out, and there waa nothing Spartan about their diets.

You're in Gage ft Tollner's world famous restaurant in the heart of downtown Brooklyn. Originally an oyster and chop-house, the diner has only to read the menu to see that the establishment has fsr anrpassed these narrow confines. Seafood, steaks and chops, however, for at the nucleue juf the bill of fare. Ten" choices of soup are offered the diner, on the a la carte menu. Large oysters are prepared in ways, while Blue Points are offered the diner with a discriminating: palate in 24 various ways.

Little neck and cherry stone clams are served in 25 forms, and soft clams in 23 ways. The menu lists 26 entrees under ranging from saassges te sir. loin steak "Steaks, Chops, Chicken), IS vegetables, and 17 varieties of potatoes. There are 19 salad and a fall liquor list on the menu. The cosmopolitan diner, however, must read the full win list for a complete description of what Gage Tollner'a has in its cellar.

Ask your grandfather about Gage ft Tollner's. He waa Just a young fellow when they were starting out in 1879. In fact it is not an uncommon sight today to see three generations of the aam family dining there. The decor and traditions of the establishment have been passed down from father te son, Presently operating the restaurant are two genial brothers, Edward S. and Thomas T.

Dewey. They re-atated the aims of the establishment last year, when Gage and Tollner's was celebrating its 80th year. "Af we celebrate our 80th year, pledge ourselves to maintain, now and in the years ahead, tha aam high standards that have prevailed since eur doors first pened. "We intend to preserve, as far a possible, the nostalgic atmosphere that serves to bring back fond recollections of the gas light era, known affectionately as "The Gay la the aatoma ef 1871, Charles M. Gage opened an eating heems at 303 Fulton St In 1880 Eugene ToUner became associated with Csge.

and in 1882 the estabiiah-saent became known as Gage A Tellaer'a. The restaurant snored to Its present location tn 1892. Shortly after the close of Werld War in April, 1919, 8eth Bradford Dewey, in association with kii father, Hiram 8. Dewey, and a friend, Alexander Graham, purchased the business. It wa agreed that the new owners would preserve the customs and trsditions of the pelt, and eewtinoe the firm under the name of Cage Tollner's.

Prior to purchasing Gsg Tollner'a, Set Bradford Dewey had managed the restaurant of H. T. Dewsy and Sons in Manhattan for 18 years. Control ef the establishment has remained la the Dewey family eiace 1919. The heathers, Themes sad Edward, bsve been actively a rioted with the maaagmaeot of the restaurant for npproxl-mately IS years each.

Gage ft Tollner's primarily is Interested in the pleasure of its customers. The meals are unhurried snd done to perfection. If yon order a meat entree your waiter will bring it over to the tabid for your inspection. There are no trays, all service is done from the arm. Youll find no frilly tablecloths on the tables, good-sized white linen napkins are placed in front of each of the 144 diners.

The waiters like a great many of the customers have been with the establishment for years. 8enior man is the headwaiter, Leon Gaskill, whs has been with the establishment 55 years. On his left aleeve, embroidered in gold thread, la his first name, two eaglea and a star. Each eagle denotes 25 years service and the star, five years. Gold service bars stand for one year of service.

All the waiters wear their names and length of service on their jackets. The food is purchased in small amounts to assure the control of quality that Gage ft Tollner's has become famous for. Hard coal is used instead of charcoal for broiling. Hard coal has no fumes when ft burns, and it leaves no taste in the meat. The establishment has its own traditions.

There have always been two cats on the premises. "Just when the practice started I don't know," explained Edward, "but I would assume that Mr. Tollner brought the first cats into ths restaurant. He was an animal lover. "The two cats, the male, named and the female, called for lack of a better name, are the best fed in Brooklyn.

Their fancy diet Includes snch delicacies as liver, crabmeat, shrimp and fieh, he concluded. The restaurant is open aiz days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed Sundays. Assisting the 14 waiters there are eight members of ths kitchen staff.

Some of the waiters remember the famous names of yesteryear. Diamond Jim Brady was a frequent diner here. So was Lillian Russell. 8traage Celebrity A nameless celebrity was a well-dressed man who came In every day to examine the lunch menu. After checking on the availability of varioui disheg and remarking that it was a nice thing, he left.

He never ordered ltmch. Only two coacesalons hsve been made te the present day. Electricity replaced the gas ramps, and the establishment is air eea-ditlened la the eammer. There Is ne cssh register. However, starting Tuesday, ths gas lamps will be relit every Men-day and Taesday evening.

The tradition ef decorum asd eoneideratioa for the customers has been well instilled late the two brothers. In 1949. when a temporary dish-washer stabbed the chief pantry -man, the niaitwi refeeed te Wt the police walk threat the din-lag room, laaisting that they aae the service entrsatee. New Floor Show Jack Strauss, eweer the Polka Dot supper club en West 72nd 8t, Manhattan, feature a contrnerrtal fleer shew te pram lore hat eisth a la the Lines Sftaare area. A truly cosmopolitan restaurant and hotel and for many internationals traveling to the U.S.

their first American eating place is tha Travelers Hotel, 9400 Dianas Queens, near the entrance of LaGuardia Airport Only 15 minutes away from Brooklyn's downtown area one should take the Long Island Expressway en te the Grand Central Parkway the Travelers Hotel has housed such fingers at President Eisenhower, Doris Day, Roy Rogers, Esther Williams and Gov, Rockefeller. The Atmosphere Counts rich voice, sang opera tunes. Headlining the attraction was towering Ed Carmel whose father, Isaac Carmel, is associated with Metropolitan Life on Court St Ed, who is an eight-footer, is featured in a movie "Head That Wouldn't Die" to be released next month. Nits Beat is a charming hideaway for intimate dining and listening. Featured ara conversation alcoves for those who wish to be alone in a crowd.

It's a convenient place to drop in for quick drink or a lingering It is not unusual to aee a Hollander with wooden shoes eating along aide a pretty American stewardess. According to manager Cy Fromkin, there are 23 different Continental menus and sows favorites are weioer. schnitxel, prims ribs, motzoball soup snd Hungarian goulish. Diners are entertained by an excellent piano player. There is dancing.

There are banquet facilities for up to 300 persons, and the hotel has 127 rooms with 100 more going up. And, adda. Sconrby, there Is nothing like an eld-time waiter fer finesse. Nicholas Scourby opened ths restaurant 43 years sgo. His son, William, stresses that the kitchen is still under his expert eyas.

Few knew that 100 of Brooklyn's leading businessman meet every Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. at tha Rivoli. The club is limited to 100 snd never goei beyond thst Dumber. William Sconrby was raised and educated Brooklyn, ha viae; attended Brooklyn Technical High School. He also studied management at Nsw York University.

Kosher Food meet private parties are held. Fer theee looking fer entertainment, Areles caa fill the bill Appearing presently are Bernie Barns. June Aster sad Midge and Bill Haggert There te an eight-piece dance band too. Ths Areles opens at 6 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Seinrday and Sanday.

Its cocktail leemg Is also open dur-hag theee beers. Specialties ef the keese are mushroom steak, chapped ttver. staffed derma asm prime ribe ef beef. There Mat minimum. Ne overcharge.

The club has its own parking lot From Borough President Cash-more down, political and civle leaders in Brooklyn dine at the Rivoli, 1095 Flathush Ave. Owner William Sconrby said they enjoy the "home atmosphere" of the restaurant "We dont have a steak house or might club atmosphere," said Scourby yesterdsy. MWs serve full-course dinners steaks, prime ribs and the vary best of all foods. And we are caterers. We offer excellent service and good value." On service, Scourby explained tha five Rivoli waiters started working there ever 90 years age.

Club Features A comfortable night club where both young end old caa have a good time. This describe, the Areles ef Qneeas, Horses Harding Blvd. St 162nd 8t The ebb, which serves keeker food only, hss a policy of gearing itself to individual needs whether theee needs ere of teen-sgsrs having a high erbee! party or press ec for a "Golden Age" dab. Amies ame handles weddings (it has its ewi temple), Bar Mhavaha, Sweet fixUea part and aagegssssate. The Areles Delaaey lis la one ad the prettiest In tha state.

This Is where.