Harry's Bar in Venice Giving Discount to Americans Hit by Weak Dollar

April 8, 2008 -- ROME (AP) -- Ernest Hemingway didn't have to worry about a strong euro, but Americans in Venice these days do, so the novelist's old haunt is giving U.S. tourists 20 percent off.

The classy, pricey restaurant near St. Mark's Square now sports a sign telling Americans they'll get the discount on all the items on the menu. The notice cites Americans' economic woes linked to the subprime loan crisis and was posted a few days ago.

But proprietor Arrigo Cipriani said the weak dollar is mainly what caused a sharp drop in the number of American diners, who normally make up some 40 percent of the clientele in Harry's Bar.

No need to show a passport, Cipriani said in a phone interview as dinner was being served and drinks being poured Monday night.

"All we need to hear is their accent," he said.

Cipriani said he didn't know how long the offer will last but, he joked, "I hope not too long."

"I decided to play off Americans' sense of humor," Cipriani said.

So far, the offer hasn't brought too much of an increase in Americans, he said. "But those we have had have been very happy."

The sign, in English, reads: "Harry's Bar of Venice in an effort to make the American victims of subprime loans happier, has decided to give them a special 20 percent discount on all the items of the menu during the short term of their recovery."

Hemingway schooled Harry's Bar bartenders in the fine art of achieving an extra dry martini, but the discount doesn't apply to drinks.