A Coveted Banquette Near Belinda Carlisle

No one realized just how exclusive the Waverly Inn is:

“Graydon is the only person who has a fixed table,” reveals one of the handsome waitstaff members (all of whom are men), who is neatly decked out in white shirt, black tie and big dreams outside the restaurant.

“But the banquettes are all considered the priority seats, and that’s where we put the biggest names.”

. . .

Waverly Lesson No.4: If you do somehow manage to score a main dining-room seat, just sit back and prepare to learn from the masters.

Parties of three, four, five and six are hustled in and out quickly. When you really crunch the numbers, the average patron can end up spending about $1 to $2 a minute at the restaurant (a $14 glass of wine here, an $85 seasonal fruits-of-the-sea plate there).

Meanwhile, it really is a view that’s priceless. While sitting near Banquette Row one night, we see Belinda Carlisle and Sandra Bernhard sweep into a table behind us to talk about whether certain friends do or do not have money.