Strange Discovery

Isn't it strange that a restaurant would have this when said restaurant does not accept the discover card?  How is this legal?  Your thoughts?

Half Full or Half Empty?

So the other night, on one of my most recent dating excursions, I was at an upscale sushi restaurant downtown.  I went to order a glass of wine - a $10 glass of wine, if you will.

They brought it to me in a very large wine glass.  It looked as though there was 1 inch deep of liquid in said glass.  This did not seem adequate to me for a 'glass of wine' (please don't try to send me to AA).  

I commented on this to my date.  He agreed that the height of it didn't seem that great, but to consider the width.  I worried that this line came too easily to him.

Now, at the end of the day, I'm going to give said restaurant the benefit of the doubt that they gave me a full glass of wine and that this was just an optical illusion (my date treated so I'm not gonna lose sleep over this).  However, is this a good idea on restaurant's parts?  Shouldn't they be buying small wine glasses, where it actually might look like the patrons are getting a full glass?  Maybe the small glasses would create a better optical illusion?  Or, is there something hoity-toity about large wine glasses and that's why expensive restaurants choose them?   Which kind of wine glasses do you prefer?  Which kind should I buy for my apartment?  Your thoughts?

Mambo Grill

Ok, I am upset.

One of my all time favorite restaurants in Chicago, Mambo Grill, appears to have closed.

Actually, this may have happened a while ago.  They pulled one of those 'closed to relocate' deals, but then never relocated.

Well, I am inconsolable.  This was one of the best restaurants in Chicago.  Nutritious and delicious - or at least the latter.  The one thing I didn't like about it was there were some great things on the lunch menu that couldn't be ordered for dinner.  Otherwise - spectacular.

Does anyone out there know more about Mambo Grill and it's fate?  Am I wrong?  Will it reopen?  Please help?!

Did You Ever Notice....

I happened to be at a local Chicago Mexican restaurant the other day and, well, en route to the washroom, it look me a couple seconds to stop and figure out which was the ladies room. Sure, take a moment to insert some form of a joke, but it was largely due to a) the writing in said restaurant's native language b) the fancy, cursive, almost hard to read font and c) the non-standard man/woman logo (in this instance - it was a fancy, old-fashioned painting on each door - discernible, but one would have to take a moment to examine it, as opposed to with the basic graphic).

The more that I think about, quite a few restaurants I've been to have instated the same practice. Now, say what you will about Spanish being a commonplace language - Italian, Latin, etc., are not. Is this supposed to be cute/quirky/stylistic/creating an atmosphere? Granted, yes, it's a nice detail. However, I find it could cause more harm than good - these signs are confusing enough SOBER - and with many of these restaurants either being BYOB or having the alcohol flowing, well, I think you see where I'm going with this....

Actually, now that I think about this - are restaurants trying to dupe people? Is there someone sitting behind a hidden camera, laughing every time someone walks into the wrong one? Does anyone else not like this trend? Anyone get walked in on by a confused person? Your thoughts?

Another Pet Peeve

Tapas Restaurants.  The WHOLE concept of them.  

Maybe it's not that they exist.  Maybe it's that I know too many people who like them and want to go to them.  In fact, I think there's a conspiracy amongst men - EVERY man I've been asked out by over the past three years has suggested "tapas".  

Yes, it's true, I DON'T like sharing food.  (Insert comment about only children here.)  Actually, it's not that I don't like sharing food - it's more that when I go out to eat, I want to pick the specific meal that I want and enjoy THAT meal (not a teeny tiny part of it).  

At tapas, you kind of have to think of what everyone wants to eat, not just yourself.  I have obscure tastes (I like spicy food, which not everyone enjoys).  Also, I like to doctor my food.   At tapas restaurants, it seems like you have to pick something generic as opposed to what you really want so it's something everyone likes.  I kind of feel like this is like when one person wants the red couch and the other wants the blue couch, so they compromise with the green couch and no one is happy.  Also, if there's something really good, you can only take a little bit of it.  

I guess I don't understand everyone else's love of these style restaurants.  I guess I don't really like 'family style' restaurants, in general.  I just want to pick what I want and have that.   Am I alone in this?

More Restaurant Annoyances

Ok, so lately I've noticed almost every time I've gone out to dinner, sometimes with small parties, sometimes with large parties, the servers no longer write down orders but rather have taken to awing us with magic of memorization.

Let me just say one thing:  I'm not.  (Awed, that is.)

Two things.  1)  I was a server for four years.  2)  I have a phenomenal memory.  I realize this line sounds somewhat conceited, but pretty much EVERYONE I know will vouch for this.  I will forget small silly things like someone telling me what he or she is doing over the weekend, but I can remember some absurd minor details for years.  

That being said....I was never comfortable with the 'memorizing the order' notion.  I do not feel confident that I could perform said skill with 100% accuracy.  There are too many customers, too many modifications (no onions, fries instead, etc.).   And although there might be some out there who, you could say, are possibly better servers with better memories - I find it hard to believe that, generally speaking, every other server could do this with a very high level of accuracy.  

Anyhow, I think this just annoys me because it's meant to be impressive, but quite frankly, for me, it has the adverse effect.  I like my food the way I order it.  When I see someone write my order down, I feel confident.  

However, seeing these servers try to show off their memory is kind of like watching someone juggling balls of fire and arm's length away - regardless of it being a 'cool trick', it makes me nervous.   The whole time period between placing my order and getting my food is twenty to thirty minutes of anxiety for me.  If tipping is performance based - this merits a deduction in my book.  

Pet Peeves

Ok, random thing that annoys me - when people get a kick out of stealing shit from restaurants (or similar places).  I'm talking forks, knives, glasses, drink menus, etc.  

What's the point?

I've had many friends who have engaged in such activities.  In fact, almost everyone I know in my age bracket has done it at some point?  Again, I must ask.

What's the f*&$ing point?

Let me tell you, first off, this is an uber-low risk activity - I was a server for several years.  I noticed, at many points, people seeming to be doing this activity at my tables.  Did I care?  No.  I cared about my tip.  I could have gone over and said something to them and had them get pissed off and stiff me, or I could have turned a blind eye and watch their guilty consciences give me upwards of 20% for their lifting .o5 cents of company property - which do you think I chose?  (I hope my fellow chiliheads don't read this blog, although I'm sure they're agreeing with me if they do.)

Is it just for the thrill?  It HAS to be - is there really much joy in owning a TGIFridays fork?  I feel like I'm constantly throwing out chachkies much more exciting than hot restaurant utensils for the sake of space in my apartment and life.  It CAN'T be for the need to have the actual product.  

Since almost EVERYONE I know has been involved in this activity at some point - please clue me in.  What's the draw?