Let's face it. In the business world, despite every terrific tweet, luminous LinkedIn recommendation and fantastic Facebook post, sometimes a little quality time and face-to-face action is just what it takes to really connect with your clients and get the job done. With this week's Pulse, we step away from our usual online and social media focus in order to highlight offline hot spots -- specifically, some of the best-recommended restaurants from around the world for hosting agency clients. We know that online presence and audience engagement across the social sphere are critical for public relations and marketing professionals today, but we also recognize that offline “real life” is where some really great stuff happens. After all, contracts aren’t signed on Twitter, and most new business pitches are still sealed with a handshake and a smile. Here’s a list of ten sit-down social hot spots.

1. Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take
Agency Clients Worldwide

2. Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take
Agency Clients Worldwide
We depart this week from our usual online focus to highlight some offline hot spots
—specifically, the most recommended restaurants to take agency clients worldwide.
We started our research by asking you—our readers—for nominations. The best of
the many submissions we received are featured here.
While we aggressively promote online social media engagement and adoption, we
also recognize that offline “real-life” is where some really good stuff happens. After
all, client signings don’t happen on Twitter. They usually happen in person—and
preferably, over a good meal!
You might notice that not all of these spots are rocking their virtual presence. Give it
time. The rest of the world will catch up with you trailblazers soon enough. Until
then, bon appétit.

3. 1. Pershing Square
Big Apple Bistro Bustle
Conveniently located in New York City
across from Grand Central Station, this is a
popular place to hang out for a business
lunch with PR and advertising pros. Times
Square, the Theater District, the Empire
State Building, the shops on Fifth Avenue,
and the United Nations are all close by.
This favorite spot sports a bistro vibe with all
the hustle-and-bustle of the city. Comments
we received about it included: “This is a hot
spot for PR and media. It has a convenient
location and is a place to see and be seen.
Great food and service.” If you want the
flavor and flair of NYC and love homemade
food with a big city feel, Pershing Square
will do the trick.
Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take Agency Clients Worldwide

4. 2. Michael’s New York
Advertising Haven
We said we weren’t going to lead with social
media requirements, but we can’t resist. We
confess a social media crush for Michael’s.
The hot spot’s Facebook, Twitter, and
YouTube presence all make us smile.
What you said about it in your nominations
was that Michael’s is a “must-do with
industry advertising execs.” Located at 24
West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019
(between 5th & 6th Avenues), it’s a place to
“mingle with the greats.” You can certainly
see the star-powered hobnobbing that goes
on via its social media channels. Beyond
that, you must check out the eatery’s blog.
Some would call it foodie porn, some would
call it great advertising. We call it heaven.
Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take Agency Clients Worldwide

5. 3. The Palm
Old School Hollywood, New School Yummy
Yes, another social media crush. What we
like so much about the Palm’s approach is
that it has been rocking the spirit of social
media since the 1920s. Check out the
cartoon and caricature work of King Features
artist Jolly Bill Steinke! What started as an
economic décor option has grown into a
veritable who’s who of Hollywood greats. The
Palm was crowdsourcing before
crowdsourcing was cool! Little surprise then
that it’s a favorite among entertainment
publicists and even local social media
digerati.
The West Hollywood location of The Palm
has been a staple with celebrities since it
opened in 1975, when the Palm had only
three other restaurants. Many of you
nominated it and we can see why!
Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take Agency Clients Worldwide

6. 4. Hub 51
Windy City Hip
Here’s what you said about this hot spot:
“River North restaurant Hub 51 boasts a
hip, laid-back vibe and is the perfect spot
for those afternoon power lunches. Serving
up an eclectic menu of inclusive American
cuisine, the food ranges from homemade
tacos and seafood to signature
sandwiches, salads and sushi, offering
something for everyone. Its great service
and bustling atmosphere make this place
guaranteed-to-please.”
We like its strong social presence,
conversational interactive tone, fun website
personality that is both modern and
engaging, and the restaurant’s level of
interaction on its social channels. Oh, and
the weekend brunch: Yum!
Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take Agency Clients Worldwide

7. 5. Bambara
High-End Salt Lake City Surprise
We don’t think we can improve on the
recommendation that was submitted for
this venue, which is adjacent to the Hotel
Monaco: “Menu is consistently excellent
and upscale imaginative. My favorites are
the crab bisque soup, Ahi tuna and the
blue-plate luncheon specials that are
three courses and very good.”
In addition, “Business discussions are
easy, because it’s a quiet, rather
confidential restaurant. Waiters treat my
guests with the utmost respect, especially
if I let them know it’s a business or client
lunch. When I make reservations, the host
will even ask if I have any special needs
or requests, and "Is this a business
lunch?” The people have spoken—
enough said.
Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take Agency Clients Worldwide

8. 6. POV Rooftop Terrace
A Capital Idea
The recommendation for this spot came in
short and sweet: “How many restaurants
have a bird’s eye view of the White House?”
We like it when people get to the point. We
also like it when a restaurant leverages its
historical and cultural vantage points to
deliver a great experience.
The lounge and restaurant within the W
Hotel in D.C, the POV Rooftop Terrace
offers a seasonal cocktail selection,
signature ice selections (one of our faves is
the Maison Blache), and a generous
selection of wines and champagnes. Its
social presence is emerging, but it leads
with a personable and friendly, non-
corporate vibe. We asked and you answered
—so we shared the love.
Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take Agency Clients Worldwide

9. 7. Keens
New York’s 126 Year-Old House of Mutton
Of all the entries, Keens won hands down for
best back story. Here are some highlights:
“Keens Steakhouse’s Pipe Club membership
roster contains over 90,000 names, including
Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, Will Rogers,
Albert Einstein and more. Opened in 1885,
by the time Keens celebrated its 20th
anniversary, you could glance into the Pipe
Room and see the many producers,
playwrights, publishers and newspapermen
who frequented Keens.
Today, Keens is the only survivor of the
Herald Square Theatre District in New York.
In an age which tears down so much of the
past, it is comforting to find one landmark
which survives.” We agree!
Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take Agency Clients Worldwide

10. 8. Judie’s Restaurant
Boston Area’s “Greasy Spoon” Guilty Pleasure
The reasons you gave to visit Judie’s
certainly were enthusiastic: “1. Location—
Judie’s is in Amherst, about an hour from
Boston. 2. “Judie”—she’s always there.
She studied under world-famous Alice
Waters (Chez Panisse) and takes no
reservations. It’s worth the wait. 3. Décor—
unique/mesmerizing art. 4. Gigantic
popovers and margaritas—they’re like
nowhere else. Everything on the menu is
superb, all invented by Judie, and
attentively served by bright, young men
and women. If you can't cement a client
relationship here, you might consider
taking up slinging hash at this local greasy
spoon!”
The hot spot offers little in the way of a
social media presence, but who are we to
argue? Besides, we love popovers!
Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take Agency Clients Worldwide

11. 9. The Ivy
London’s Classic Power Lunch for Over Two Decades
The Ivy is situated in the heart of London’s
West End, close to Leicester Square,
Shaftesbury Avenue and the vibrant
quarters of Covent Garden and Soho. It
may be hard to get a reservation (and you
will be competing with celebrities to get a
table), but it’s worth the effort to plan
ahead. The dining room doesn’t open until
noon, so expect to start a little later for
lunch.
If you want to enjoy gourmet comfort food
like bangers-n-mash at a historic restaurant
that has been in business since 1917,
complete with impeccable service and
classic styling, then The Ivy hits all the high
points. Oh, yeah—the Beatles ate here!
Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take Agency Clients Worldwide

12. 10. Blue Water Café
Vancouver’s Upscale Catch
If you need to take an influential client to
a luxurious destination, Blue Water Café
in Vancouver will do the trick. Sprinkle in
the many celebrity sightings and you’ve
got the making of an impressive business
dinner.
Located in the trendy heart of historic
Yaletown in a brick-and-beam heritage
warehouse conversion, this is the go-to
spot for top-notch seafood. Whether
you’d like to sample sushi and sashimi
from its raw bar or would prefer
Dungeness crab and oysters, you’re sure
to find something to please your palate.
Regardless of your choice, it will likely be
seasonal, fresh, and wild (or at least
sustainably raised). Here’s to closing
your deal!
Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take Agency Clients Worldwide

13. Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take
Agency Clients Worldwide
Is Your Favorite Listed?
We stuck to our crowdsourced polling in choosing these featured hot spots. We received
many more responses among the cities we listed, but nixed too many multiple mentions per
city in favor of variety. We really wanted to present a broader selection—a smorgasbord of
stellar hotspots, if you will!
On that note, your favorites could be here—if you had joined the conversation. We can
opine endlessly about “being social,” but the truth is that the conversation goes both ways.
So sign up to get our updates, get involved when these surveys ping your email inbox—and
maybe next time, your go-to spot can be featured. We’d love to have you join us. There’s
plenty of room at the table!

14. Wine, Dine & Sign!
10 Top Hot Spots to Take
Agency Clients Worldwide
Next on “The Pulse”:
10 Most Engaged Companies on Twitter
THE PULSE:
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