6+ years of work in restaurants, and subsequent years of dining, have taught me some important things:
- waitstaff are people and deserve politeness from me.
- problems in the kitchen should not be blamed on the front of the house, and the reverse is true.
- complaining about a problem a week later does not give the restaurant an opportunity to address it.
- a good attitude on my part goes a long way to making a meal good.
But the most important thing I've learned is this:
Avoid restaurants on Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. The two worst days of the year for dining out. All the cheap you-know-whats show up and want everything at the lowest price possible. Restaurants, apprising the opportunities at making money, usually produce uninspired food designed at getting as much table turnover as possible. Our dinner at Bin 36 last Valentine's - when we were living in a downtown hotel because of the fire in our building - that left us disinclined to return there for a meal; we've been back only once since then.
We spent yesterday shopping in Evanston and then came home to do laundry and have a quiet night in. I made up thin cut pork chops, we ate quickly and simply. We were content, however, in having had an exceptional night on Friday the 13th, dining at Yoshi's. Picture it: the two of us at a back table instead of the bar. Looking pretty. A bit of champagne, then a bottle of a Minervois. Oysters, a starter course each, steak au poivre each, then a shared dessert. Another glass of red wine each. We left the camera at home because you can't hold hands while fiddling with camera settings. A fine night, a leisurely dinner of terrific food and wine, and we're ever so glad we missed the Saturday Valentine's crush.
As for photos, our friend Gil, dining at the bar with his wife Rakhael, kindly snapped some shots and sent them our way. See? We look hot! And happy. Because, you know, we are (yes, I'm a smug married). Valentine's Day came early for us, but over 7 years after we started dating, we think we're doing a good job of keeping the Valentine's spirit constant.
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