Back To The Future beginning shot

I thought immediately of the first opening shot of BTTF when I saw the first scene here, which has the camera panning across all the densely packed TV's. Did Robert Zemekis get the idea for the first shot of BTTF, with all the cuckoo clocks, and even for Doc's 1-watch, 2-watch "D@mn. D@mn-D@mn!" line before the lightning strikes the clock tower? This movie has a similar wink-wink-nudge-nudge, but knowingly-all-in-good-fun quality to me (but more so than BTTF).

Also, what was the restaurant where Alice Cooper had dinner with MeatLoaf and kaki? I think its an ultra-famous/fancy place in NYC, that might now be closed?