Conspicuous among the refectories of this type were the Auction Hotel, on Water Street, near Wall; the dining room of Clark and Brown, on Maiden Lane, near Liberty Street, one of the first of the so-called English chop-houses; the United States Hotel, which stood, until a few years ago, at the corner of Water and Fulton Streets, and which was the chosen home of the captains of the whaling ships from New London, Nantucket, New Bedford, and Sag Harbor; Downing's, on Broad Street, famed for its Saddle Rocks and Blue Points, and its political patrons; and the basement on Park Row, a few doors from the old Park Theatre, presided over by one Edward Windust.

This last was a _rendezvous_ for actors, artists, musicians, newspaper-men--in short, the Bohemian set of that day--and its walls were covered with old play-bills, newspaper clippings, and portraits of tragedians and comedians of the past.
But already a demand had been felt for viands of another nature; hospitality of another sort.

The womankind of the day was looking for an occasional chance to break away from the monotonous if wholesome and substantial table of the home.

Those stiff Knickerbockers knew it not; but the modern dining-out New York was already in the making.

At first the movement was ascribed to the European Continental element.