Don't miss the exciting "Lips" Pictorial next Monday!
A spy at the Imperial Court of New York intimated that Lips is a "she-she" new New York restaurant with a tongue-in-cheek twist: Wait staff in drag who spontaneously perform with their lips! To music.
Located at Two Bank Street in Greenwich village it was suggested that Lips is an intimate Hard Rock Cafe in High Drag with the royal tradition of the Imperial Courts as its theme. Thus it was divulged that Lips also houses a hall-of-fame of emperors and empresses, and a museum of their priceless drag treasures. What grand intrigues awaited? Last night TGF got the dish...
From the street a single, bold, neon smacker betrays this 90's speakeasy where the notorious contraband is gender bending at its best and the password is girls, girls? girls! Standing outside with the media hounds teaming to get a sniff and supermodels of the world lined up as far as the eye could see - I wondered what lurked behind the thick, royal blue velvet drapery that shields our mundane metropolis from Lips? Dark and inviting like a womb (honey I was terrified!) Lips sucked us in promptly at eight P.M. for a sneak peek...
Inside, Lips is a delicious melange of sensuous fabrics, sequined mirrors and rich paneling. Animal print umbrellas hang riotously from the ceiling as if to protect patrons from the purple rain of light streaming down from the whirling disco ball. Counterpoint to the whimsical ceiling (replete with theatrical grade lighting) are two classically dark and discreet bars which grace the rear of both levels of Lips. Think of a notions store gone drag - way drag - flaming honey but with taste! And you're there. After all, good taste is what fine drag dining is all about, right?
The astute reader may well ask, hysteria or haute cuisine? While those in need of a dilemma can ponder whether Lips is dinner theater for the Liberace set or refuge for the true libertine - these pressing matters remain mute as existential angst was NOT on everyone's Lips opening night!
Clever cocktails, sumptuous fare, and million-dollar smiles were! Imagine your highball arriving neat on a tray sashayed by a Mr. Clean who sidles-up to you stabbing the floor with six inch spike heels. Still thirsty? Order "Wigged-Out Drink."
"Anita Cocktail" but you may observe "Glennda Orgasm!"
Yes this was heard at the bar because menu items are named after famous lip-sync performers, notorious drag queens and Imperial Courtiers. So compelling is the menu that I had to return to Lips with an accomplice to sample the fare. Fair maiden Sabrina (by day, a member of the cloth!) and I dined discreetly following the Lips meal plan (as seen in Cosmo):
1. "Start with a Great Foundation"
Noticing that Sabrina was wearing enough foundation for the both of us, we made the difficult decision to pass on the appetizers ($4.00 to $7.50) and respect our waistlines. Had we taken our cue from opening night, we would have partaken of the vogue performance artist Tabboo in the form of "An erotic melange a trois!... Tabboo introduces buffalo mozzarella to tomatoes and basil and lightly bathes them in extra virgin olive oil." If you saw Tabboo vogue, all this would come together for you.
Lip-synching is what Lips is all about so you may prefer to nosh with the venerable Lypsinka: "Mushrooms stuffed with salmon, pancetta and Gorgonzola cheese, the Lypsinka always guarantees a standing ovation." And rightly so.
2. Add "Blushing Salads to Shape and Contour"
Sabrina and I shared "Lahoma Van Zant," who "ain't nothing little" and "comes off in a big way." Lobster, avocado, and greens in a champagne vinaigrette. After devouring her while getting splashed, we gave her two thumbs up right at the table (sorry Lahoma)! We gave Lips $8.00.
3. Eat "Eye-Catching Pasta"
Inspired by the red headed siren, I selected the dish named for the famous lip-synching drag performer Charles Busch who graced Lips with her searing presence at the opening party [PHOTO SUGGESTION]. "Charles Busch gives spaghetti pescatora a great interpretation." Absolutely true, and a generous girl she is: I took home enough pasta, scallops, clams, mussels and shrimp to feed myself and P.B.B. dinner the next day (DQ budget/diet hint), all for $9.50!
4. Or slam down some "Lip Smacking Sandwiches and Burgers"
Eat all your faves: Dolores, Candis Cayne, Lee Chappell, Jessica Foxx, Hattie Hathaway, Sweetie and Girlina. From $7.50 to $10.50.
5. Enjoy Lips classic "Entree Collection"
Be you partial to poultry, begging for bistro, mostly meat and potatoes, or firmly into fish, Lips has you covered: Dine with RuPaul, Kevin Aviance, Glorya Whole, Varla Jean Merman, Sybil Bruncheon, Miss "Lady" Bunny and Flotilla DeBarge. $11.50 to 17.50.
6. And Accessorize with "D'va Rober's Drag Accessories"
Side order standards to round out your banquet, all $3.50.
7. "A Perfect Matte-finish for Dessert"
A girl should have some secrets left so the reader will be left to guess about Lips's most intimate treats namely Flan (!), Baby Jane Doe, Sherry Vine, Richie Rich, Kenny Kenny, and Jem Jender. $4.50 to $5.50.
Dear reader, if you can still fit into your dress the next morning, Lips offers a classic Saturday & Sunday brunch for just $9.95 (including a breakfast cocktail). Imagine what your morning can be like if "Melissa Thunderpussy serves it up with spinach!" Still not convinced? Let "Cashetta Breaks 'em, Beats 'em, Heats 'em and Eats 'em!" for you! And there is always Yvon Lame, who "does it the Lips way!" Shirley, this is the last word in fine drag dining? Oh my, lips are sealed!