She was working out the cost of dinner and supper.

NPR: Excerpt: 'Esther's Inheritance'

Supper clubs, privately hosted dinner parties for paying guests, also offer the chance to have a nosy round the homes of real Berliners.

BBC: Ten culinary weekends in Europe

Couples are still welcome, but so are colleagues getting a business lunch, girlfriends catching up over a quick mid-week dinner, families enjoying a relaxed weekend brunch, and diners grabbing supper for one at the bar.

FORBES: You Want To Open A Restaurant; But Do You Have The Stomach For It?