180 feet up, 'dinner amongst the clouds' is served
Revere man to launch first US branch of Belgian firm
High-end dining is rising to new heights. A local entrepreneur says he is launching the first United States branch of Dinner in the Sky, a Belgium-based company that offers above-ground dining events at lofty prices.
Dinner in the Sky features seating for 22 from a unique perspective - diners eat at a table hoisted up to 180 feet into the air by a crane.
Guests are strapped into leather seats, while waiters and waitresses can stand in an aisle at the center of the table. The table and crane are currently housed in an 18-wheeler in Las Vegas, but for prices starting at $35,000, co-owner Michael Gallant says dinner can be served anywhere in the United States.
"Some people have compared it to eating on the top floor of a skyscraper with no walls and no floors," said Gallant, 31, who lives in Revere. "The best way to describe it is dinner amongst the clouds."
Gallant and co-owner Taj Jordan were attracted to Dinner in the Sky after finding out about the concept at an amusement park and attractions trade show in Orlando, Fla., last November. Gallant also owns Perfect Parties USA, an interactive game rental company based in Peabody.
Dangling while dining may not appeal to some people, but it is "extremely" safe, according to Gallant.
It was built to German safety specifications that "supersede some of the safety standards we have in the States," he said. Still, the company carries a $10 million insurance policy.
The basic package does not include food or a catering staff. Guests can opt for their own catering service or pay Dinner in the Sky additional money to arrange the meal. Gallant said prices vary depending on party size and type of service. Most of the food is prepared on the ground with finishing touches added in the air, he said.
Diners who need to use a restroom are instructed to raise their hand, a signal for the crane to be lowered, which takes one minute. The company arranges for access to on-ground restroom facilities. It also handles any necessary permitting for the event.
Boston public safety regulations for such offbeat operations are among the most stringent in the United States, according to Patricia Malone, the city's commissioner of consumer affairs and licensing.
"There'd be extensive permitting and extensive public safety issues that the city would have to look into before we could determine whether or not Boston would be someplace [Dinner in the Sky] could do business," Malone said.
Despite its name, Dinner in the Sky offers more than food-focused parties. Gallant said it is also available for meetings, which can be customized with special lighting, heating, sound, plasma television screens, branding, and sponsorship opportunities.
Forbes Magazine named the company among the world's top 10 most unusual restaurants. Developed in Brussels in 2006, Dinner in the Sky has tables in about 20 countries including Italy, Turkey, Dubai, and South Africa.
Elizabeth Campbell can be reached at ecampbell@globe.com. 