Since it opened in May, 1958, the Dal Rae’s warm and friendly private-club-like atmosphere and classic menu have continued to attract loyal customers. In November,1999, a renovation revitalized the restaurant’s retro look, added state of the art communication and multimedia facilities to its private dining room, added two patios, and expanded its seating to 320. But no renovation could ever change the Dal Rae tradition of treating all of its customers like royalty.

Lorin (left) and Kevin Smith, second
generation owners of the Dal Rae.

“Where everyone knows your name.” Although that phrase gained special meaning in a television sitcom, the ever-popular Cheers, it describes a Dal Rae tradition that began in another era – before television – when people gathered around radios for news and entertainment. The history of the Dal Rae explains why that spirit lives on.

Kevin and Lorin's father, Ben Smith, and his brother Bill, opened the Dal Rae's doors in 1958. This second generation of Smiths virtually grew up in the family business, learning its ins and outs by doing just about every job in the restaurant while going to school, and eventually, taking over the management from their father and uncle.

As well as gaining all the practical skills, they learned the family secret of success: making guests feel less like customers and more like extended family, while serving classic 1950s dishes that never go out of style. Lobster Thermidor, Pepper Steak, Chateaubriand, Prime Rib, Fresh Fish, Rack of Lamb and Steak Diane prepared tableside are among the favorites on the Dal Rae menu, which offers more than 100 choices.

"My father and my uncle knew most of the customers by name," says Lorin. "They knew that people not only appreciate being pampered, but also, that they deserve it." And for Lorin, it isn’t difficult to carry on that tradition. “I love people, and I like the idea of making them happy with a good meal.”

Personalized service is also second nature to Kevin. “I love the business,” he says, “It’s like throwing a party at my house, and I like to make our guests feel like they’re guests in my home.” He remembers: “My dad and uncle, in their business suits, used to pour coffee for the customers, and today, either my brother or I are always here to oversee the operation on a personal basis."

Kevin and Lorin are not the only ones who have shared much of their lives with the Dal Rae. Many of the servers and chefs have worked at the restaurant for more than 30 years. That, along with many loyal customers, has created an atmosphere of a club that knows no strangers; where guests are still greeted by their first names, and where they still hang around the piano bar, just like they used to in the days of the “rat pack.”

"A lot of customers have said they've never had a bad meal here in 40 years," Kevin says. "That's a testament to us, our staff, my father and my uncle."