RETAIL / TOURISM

Privileged Diners: The owner of two Orange County restaurants has come up with an idea to drum up business--a specialty credit card.

The Mezzanine Privilege Card gives patrons a 10% discount on all food and drink at the Mezzanine at the Towers restaurant in Irvine or the Tete-a-Tete of Balboa. It is also good for discounts up to 25% on goods and services from 20 other businesses catering to affluent customers, from limousine services to private health clubs.

But before you say “just charge it,” consider the costs: There is a $25 initiation fee, and members are required to deposit a non-refundable $170 into an account that can be applied against restaurant checks over the course of the year. Members are billed monthly up to a maximum credit limit of $2,000.

Well-heeled fans of the two restaurants, however, may not want to leave home without it.