Helium balloons in restaurants
Helium balloons in restaurants
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Discussion

LooneyTunes

Original Poster:

9,492 posts

189 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
I've just encountered something quite unexpected.

Very much accustomed to, when booking hotels, seeing a range of add-ons suggested: flowers, chocolates, champagne etc. Nothing unusual there.

However, in the process of booking a restaurant and was a bit surprised to see a range of add-ons also offered. Glass of champagne, celebration cake*... all OK so far, but then we get to the helium balloon, described thus "add personal wording to suit any occasion to a single helium navy balloon", and at a very accessible price (cheaper than the aforementioned glass of champagne).

The reason for the surprise? This is a Michelin starred restaurant.

Options:
1) Run the risk that it might be like walking into TGIFridays
2) Go elsewhere to avoid the TGI risk
3) Embrace it and order one to see the look on my guest's face (it is not a special occasion and the wording would need to be quite random).

What would you do?

*I have not clarified whether delivery of this involves the staff singing/strippers/a Mariachi band

sherman

15,326 posts

246 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
A foil balloon with a hand written note on it written in gold chalk pen will not be a big outlay. The balloon will be on the table for your arrival.
A canister of helium is easy to get from the same people who supply the CO2 for the bar.

Just make up an occssion and order it.

Sheepshanks

41,300 posts

150 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
That does seem odd. I'm sure a helium balloon would be out-of-place in our village bistro.

MattsCar

2,497 posts

136 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
So, what you are asking is...are helium balloons council?

I think you are safe given it is just a single balloon, however, if they offered the option to have someone's name lit up, in 4ft LED letters, I'd run a mile.

T697JVS

253 posts

23 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
I would book somewhere else

Mr Penguin

5,075 posts

70 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
Do they also give you sparklers in the ice cream?

Mark V GTD

3,187 posts

155 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
You said they supply a Navy balloon?

butchstewie

68,282 posts

241 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
Depends on the restaurant surely?

I've seen a few Michelin star places on Gary Eats and most of them have some kind of novelty/quirk or aren't anything like as serious or stuffy as you might expect.

Venisonpie

4,917 posts

113 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
Michelin starred restaurants are becoming less formal which on the whole I think is a good thing. Helium balloons maybe a step too far for my liking.

LooneyTunes

Original Poster:

9,492 posts

189 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
It does seem like a very strange thing to offer but, as it's not in London, other nearby options are limited and most have already been tried by at least one of the party - we want somewhere new, and it has a much better wine list than the alternatives, so are going to risk it. I just need to decide what message best goes with a balloon...

If it's terrible then I'll console myself with the knowledge that I only have a couple of weeks to wait before a booking at somewhere reliably excellent comes around...

Tighnamara

2,866 posts

184 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
LooneyTunes said:
I've just encountered something quite unexpected.

Very much accustomed to, when booking hotels, seeing a range of add-ons suggested: flowers, chocolates, champagne etc. Nothing unusual there.

However, in the process of booking a restaurant and was a bit surprised to see a range of add-ons also offered. Glass of champagne, celebration cake*... all OK so far, but then we get to the helium balloon, described thus "add personal wording to suit any occasion to a single helium navy balloon", and at a very accessible price (cheaper than the aforementioned glass of champagne).

The reason for the surprise? This is a Michelin starred restaurant.

Options:
1) Run the risk that it might be like walking into TGIFridays
2) Go elsewhere to avoid the TGI risk
3) Embrace it and order one to see the look on my guest's face (it is not a special occasion and the wording would need to be quite random).

What would you do?

*I have not clarified whether delivery of this involves the staff singing/strippers/a Mariachi band
Michelin star or Michelin guide, sure there is no issue with you naming the restaurant……………

CHLEMCBC

1,975 posts

48 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
Mark V GTD said:
You said they supply a Navy balloon?
Beat me to it!

I look forward to the video/news report/RAF being scrambled to deal with a Foo Fighter!

snuffy

13,432 posts

315 months

Saturday 17th October
quotequote all
T697JVS said:
I would book somewhere else
Exactly.

Unless you want to book a kids party at McDonald's .

LooneyTunes

Original Poster:

9,492 posts

189 months

Sunday 18th October
quotequote all
Tighnamara said:
Michelin star or Michelin guide, sure there is no issue with you naming the restaurant
Would prefer not to: anyone booking will see the message and be able to decide what they want to do.

CHLEMCBC said:
Mark V GTD said:
You said they supply a Navy balloon?
Beat me to it!

I look forward to the video/news report/RAF being scrambled to deal with a Foo Fighter!
I am hoping that the celebration cake is also Navy themed... ideally like the one in Under Siege (that I suspect I am not alone in remembering).

unzippy

476 posts

269 months

Monday 19th October
quotequote all
Maybe it's code for nitrous ballons?

FilH

1,180 posts

175 months

Monday 19th October
quotequote all
Just make sure once the meals finished, you inhale as much as possible before asking the waiter for the bill hehe