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Tar Heel file photo
These students drove 45 miles to The Rat 'just to eat manicotti
From staff reports
It's a tradition.
It's a UNC tradition.
It's a Chapel Hill tradition.
It's the Rams Head Rathskellar,
more commonly referred to as "The
Rat."
The Rat, a restaurant with a dark,
earthy atmosphere, opens at a heavy
wooden door in Amber Alley off
Franklin Street. The restaurant is as
much a part of Chapel Hill as the Old
Well or Silent Sam.
"We've been here since 1948,"
said manager Charles Smith, who's
been there for nine years. "We're part
of the history of Chapel Hill and tra
dition. "I've got waiters here who've been
here for 20 years. I've got one waiter
who's been here for 40 years. On the
average, people are here for 20 to 25
years."
The Rat has a special relationship
with the community, Smith said.
"It's just a unique place to work
with different clientele," he said. "We
also do a lot of repeat business, and
that allows you to build a personal
relationship with all your customers.
"During lunches, I'd say that it's
75 percent residents and 25 percent
students and then at night, it's 75
percent students and 25 percent other."
Since 1948, people have been
coming to The Rat to leave their ini-
tials in the solid wooden picnic-type
tables, see "their" waiter and to sink
their teeth into The Rat's specialty,
the "Double Gambler," a tender, siz
zling steak served on a skillet at 500
degrees.
"We give quick service, and it's a
unique restaurant," Smith said. "Our
best sellers are the spaghetti, the
Gambler and the lasagna by far."
With its famous Carolina blue
bordered paper menu, The Rat also
offers a patron anything from a bowl
of soup to a double roast beef dinner,
ranging in price from $2.75 to $8.75.
Rxibs and barbeque chicken are also
popular items. The Rat's iced tea is a
delightful thirst quencher, and each
table gets its own pitcher, so waiting
for a refill is never a concern.
The most expensive item on the
menu is an around-the-world pizza
at $14.75, containing hamburger,
sausage, onions and several other
toppings.
"This is not just any pizza, though,"
Smith said. "This is the same pizza
served whenThe Rat first introduced
pizza to the people of North Caro
lina." Although Smith admitted there has
been some question as to whether
The Rat did serve pizza first, he said,
"As far as we know, it was first, but
if anyone knows another restaurant
that served pizza earlier, let us know,
THE ULTIMATE APTITUDE EXAM: Part 1
INSTRUCTIONS:
Read each question carefully. Answer all questions. Time limit 4
hours. Besin immediately. Work in numerical order (equipment
remainins from Question 1 may be useful with Questions 3 and 6).
1. MEDICINE
You have been provided with a razor blade, a piece of sauze and a bottle
of Scotch. Remove your appendix. Do not suture until your work has been
inspected. You have 1 5 minutes.
2. HISTORY
Describe the history of the papacy from its origins to the present day
concentrating especially but not exclusively, on its social, political,
economic, religious, and philosophical impact on Europe, Asia, America
and Africa. Be brief, concise and specific.
3. PUBLIC SPEAKING
Two thousand drug crazed aborigines are storming the classroom. Calm
them.You may use any ancient language except Latin and Greek.
4. BIOLOGY
Create life. Estimate the difference in subsequent human culture if this form
of life has been created 500 million years earlier, with special attention to
its probable effect on the English Parliamentary system.
5. MUSIC
Write a piano concerto. Orchestrate and perform it with flute and drum.
You will find a piano under your seat
6. ENGINEERING
The disassembled parts of a high powered rifle have been placed in a box
on your desk. You will also find an instruction manual printed in Swahili. In
10 minutes, a hungry Bengal tiger will be admitted to the room. Take
whatever action you feel is appropriate. Be prepared to justify your
decision.
7. SOCIOLOGY
What sociological problems might accompany the end of the world?
Conduct an experiment to test your theory.
8. MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
Define Management Define Science. How do they relate? Create a
generalized algorithm to optimize all management decisions. Assuming a
7600 CPU supporting 50 terminals, each terminal to activate your algorithm,
design the communications interface and all necessary control problems.
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An impressive group of people to
visit The Rat, besides the regulars,
includes Andy Griffith, Ron How
ard, James Worthy and Michael Jor
dan just a few of the famous people
who frequent The Rat, Smith said.
"It's the regulars, though, who
carve grafitti all over the tables and
walls," he said. "There's not a nook
or cranny where a knife or key hasn't
made its imprint. Every accessible
piece of wood in the restaurant pro
claims someone was here and was in
love with someone else who was also
here."
The Rat is not without its own
creativity. The backs of each table
have words of wisdom inscribed on
them. "The more things a man is
ashamed of, the more respectable he
is," says one booth. "That's the na
ture of women... not to love when we
love them, and to love when we love
them not," says another.
All the tables are placed uniformly
throughout the dimly-lit restaurant,
so that there is an emphasis on at
mosphere. Art adorning the old-fashioned
walls is hard to figure out, but
adds greatly to the overall feeling
received from a visit to The Rat.
Memories of yesteryear, including
autographed footballs and basketballs,
also add to the atmosphere, not to
mention the tradition. Pictures of for
mer UNC superstars give way to re
flections about past seasons and
numerous championships.
Other than the main dining room,
there are four "special" rooms scat
tered about the place, each with its
own unique personality.
The "Circus Room" is a good spot
for the kids. Mirrors are everywhere,
and brightly painted animals cover
the walls. The "Train Room" is the
home of The Rat's most popular table,
which gives a clear view of the Fran
klin Street sidewalk above. Next
comes the "Lautrec Room" (as in
Toulouse), which was painted in imi-
See RAT, page 17
9
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Dinner 5:00-9:30
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1813 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd ff V"7 l-80(34-ChapelHill
8448, then 1519 after tone for
heated next to Brendte's more intormauon
933-5565
.JUI Major Credit Cards Accepted
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