I've tried to look through Google to see if this kind of restaurant already exists or not... but couldn't really find anything in the first 5 pages I clicked.
Imagine if you can, a cafe/restaurant where the first thing you do when you get there is, you are requested to take off your shoes and done a pair of curling shoes. The waiter will assist you with finding the right size of shoe, what style/color you want...etc.
Next you are taken to a table that's actually on the ice. The waiter pulls out a chair for you and politely hands you a menu and goes through the whole procedure we all know and love from regular wine and dine restaurants. He or she after taking your order will then proceed to provide you with some more information about the establishment.
There's an area on one side of the restaurant where you can rent skates and just skate, and on the opposite side, there's an area you can play ice hockey, a third side will be designated as an area for curling. You will be informed that occasionally these locations are rented out by people for either athletic practice, professional performances...etc, but not that frequently, maybe like once or twice a week. You would be informed of what days they are currently being rented out. While you are waiting for your food and/or drink, you have some options. You could go to one of the areas and enjoy yourself for a bit, watch other people doing things in the different areas, or just sit there and relax. The waiter skates away with your order.
The areas for the various activities are separated by walls with glass, sort of like the ones at hockey games. If your table is located near one of the areas and there's a professional performance, or athletes practicing you get to watch from your seat. Or you might just enjoy watching normal people skate around, families, friends... etc. Maybe even your own family and friends?
Your waiter will come back with your food and drinks while skating. The menu should include popular food items of the locale, entrées, appetizers, deserts... etc. This might vary depending on location or the feedback of customers.
After you have finished your meal you will be given mints and a brochure for other things the restaurant/ice rink has to offer. Such things might include various types of lessons, for things like skating, ice hockey, curling... etc. Maybe at some point, if the establishment makes enough money to do this, offer you the opportunity to buy some of the equipment. If you like your skates, curling shoes, hockey sticks... etc, you could buy them from the restaurant. The brochure that informs you of all this will also include a detachable survey form that allows the customer to provide feedback on their experience, suggestions on how to improve, website, manager contact information... etc.
The reason I'm putting this under a Cafe, instead of just a restaurant is because the idea of a Cafe is you aren't necessarily expected to order food. You could just go there for the ice skating, curling, ice hockey, performances... etc, and not even eat anything. You could just get a cup of coffee, tea, whatever beverage, sit there and watch people, relax, read, go on the internet, chat... etc.
Oh, Wi-Fi access would be a good idea. Having that come with purchasing anything at all might encourage people to buy stuff.
I'm not sure whether it would be a better idea to have the different areas be regular fee, nominal fee, or free for all customers except for during rentals.
I don't want to scare the customers away from using them because they don't want to pay. But having some sort of fee might make more money if people are willing to pay. There's also the option of making the skates used for these areas rentable for some sort of price. If so, then there would have to be a requirement to done fancier/more fashionable curling shoes for the curling rink. Or just a different pair of curling shoes.
Anyway... that's about all for now.-- Auxunauxia, Jan 13 2011 http://www.life.com/image/50654782 [2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jan 13 2011] Bocce ball meets Italian food http://www.palazzodibocce.com/Similar concept, different sport. I always liked this place. [RayfordSteele, Jan 13 2011] Minus5 Ice Lounge http://www.destinat...s/minus5-ice-loungeIn Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, visitors are stopping by for one of the coolest experiences in one of the hottest places in America at the Minus5 Ice Lounge. [CwP, Jan 14 2011] Don't know about real life but something like this was in a movie once. [link]-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jan 13 2011 Welcome to the Halfbakery Ice Cafe. Cold, cold croissants. +-- blissmiss, Jan 13 2011 Could I curl with the bread rolls?-- RayfordSteele, Jan 13 2011 If the café served alcoholic drinks, those that overindulged would suffer from a lack of coordination and be forced to dilute their libations with food.-- CwP, Jan 14 2011 Just don't spill any hot food on the floor.-- xenzag, Jan 14 2011 Welcome to the HB, [Auxunauxia].
I can't help thinking, though, that the beginning and end of this idea could be brought much closer together.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jan 14 2011 [Ian] is that read or read?-- xandram, Jan 14 2011 I didn’t know ideas could read.-- pocmloc, Jan 14 2011 random, halfbakery