When's the last time you saw an 'honor bar'?

 

Years ago, all over Europe and the Caribean, in almost every country 

and on virtually every island, there were 'Honor Bars'. Usually in an alleyway in a town or a roadside stand,  the little bars were - for the most part - unattended little businesses where you helped yourself to whatever you wanted and paid based on a posted price sheet. Sadly, these have all but dissappeared over the years because people can't be trusted anymore...

There is a little restaurant in Italy where they take this concept in a different direction. There are no waiters. No menu. Just a fridge full of whatever's there that day. There are no servers of any kind and no bill at the end of your meal. You pay (if you want) what you feel your meal was worth. The owners are local vintners, cheesemakers, farmers and butchers crafting unique and exquisite dried hams. They designed it that way. What a GRAND concept. 

 

When I lived on St. John back in the 80's and 90's, there were three or four on the island, the most famous of which was 'The Kite' on North Shore Road owned by a really nice guy named Victor Hall. 

There was hardly ever a bartender. You pulled up, and if he wasn't there (which was often) you grabbed a beer or made a drink, and put your money in a cigar box under the counter. To my knowledge, no one ever dared steal that cigar box. The consequences would have been too severe. Victor and The Kite are long gone, but man - what great memories...

 

His T-shirt design tells you everything you need to know about the place...