A lovely and extremely rare piece of New York City restaurant history, an antique circa 1902 silver plated tip or bill tray from the Cafe des Beaux Arts in New York City. Marked on one end of the top with the café logo and name, and on the other end with the Bustonoby’s iconic Forbidden Fruit liqueur, a blend of grapefruit and cognac in a distinctive grapefruit shaped bottle.

The Cafe des Beaux Arts was opened by the Bustonoby Brothers in 1902, it was one of the original grand lobster palaces of New York City. Almost immediately it became one of the most important restaurants in the city, it was one of the first to offer dancing between courses, not just after dinner, and also was the first in New York City to open a ladies bar where unaccompanied women could drink. The restaurant was so popular that it led to two more restaurants, Bustonoby’s and Taverne Louis. Unfortunately prohibition began in 1920 and the brother’s restaurant empire did not survive the year.

The tray is in excellent condition, no dents or damage. It has polished beautifully. Measures approximately 6.25 inches long by 3.5 inches across. The final few images are pieces of ephemera I came across while researching this restaurant, they’re included for historical interest only and do not come with your purchase of the tray.

You can read more about this restaurant and it’s interesting history colon:
https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/how-the-volstead-act-ruined-new-yorks-french-pleasure-palaces