As a New York transplant living in Dallas I was thrilled to know the existence of New York Style delis in Dallas. I approached with skepticism. After all, New York is New York and Dallas is...well...Dallas. We're talking apples and oranges here. Right? Much to my surprise four Dallas deli/restaurants come quite close to the real thing. Cindi's Deli, Deli News and Bagelsteins offer delicious, fresh bakery items like bagels, Danish, cakes, cookies and more, plus hamburgers, deli sandwiches, salads, omelets, and waffles at any time of the day. Search no more for your favorite Jewish favorites like Kosher hot dogs, blintzes, latkes, matzo ball soup, smoked salmon, chopped chicken liver, kreplach and beef tongue to name a few. Café Fino offers Italian deli favorites like pizza by the slice, calzones and pasta items. As for décor you'll find New York images abound to add flair. What's missing? The New York Times is no where to be had, the waitstaff lacks bad attitudes and puny portions do not reflect the New York-style best known for its mile high sandwiches. But, for homesick Yankees in need of a hometown taste-fix these 4 delis come as close to the real thing as you can get this far south of the Mason Dixon line. Dine in, take out or catering available.
Café Fino: 7522 Campbell Rd @ Coit/Pavilion West Shopping Center/Dallas, TX75248/Ph: 972 931-9500 Fax: 972-931-9504/ eat@cafefinodallas.com
Bagelsteins: 15757Coit Road @ Arapaho, Dallas TX 75240/972-386-5757/Fax 972-386-6082
Cindis Deli: Multiple Locations www.cindisnydeli.com 7522 Campbell Road, #117 (SW corner of
Campbell and Coit), Dallas, TX 75248/ (972) 248-0608
Deli News:12817 Preston Rd #129, Dallas, TX75230/ (972) 386-0300
Monday, September 10, 2007
Do Dallas Greek Restaurants Measure Up?
Compared to other major cities in America like New York or Chicago, Dallas does not have a large Greek population. Still, there are good Greek restaurants to be had. Here’s a quick review of 5 local Greek restaurants with plenty of Opas! See if any are your favorites. Similar dishes include gyros, souvlaki, lamb dishes, fish, roast chicken, moussaka, spanakopita, and pastitsio plus a variety of dips, spreads, feta, olives, pita and dolmas. How do they differ?
Nikolini: 3028 Hall Street, Suite #177, Dallas, TX 75204/214-953-0330
The food is totally authentic and organically prepared. You won’t get fast service here so bring good conversation, or a newspaper. Be patient. It’s worth the wait.
Kosta’s: 1050 W Park Blvd, Plano, TX 75075/ 972-424-6320
In a hurry for good Greek food this is the go-to place. The dolmas are home made and delicious. Live music on the weekends.
Zorba’s: 1501 Preston Rd, Plano, TX 75093/ (972) 250-0002 / www.zorbasplano.com
So far, my favorite of all Dallas Greek restaurants. Friendly service and a bustling atmosphere make this an exciting place to dine, mingle or people watch. The impressive menu includes grilled octopus deliciously done to perfection and not always found on other Greek restaurant menus. The tsatziki (yogurt sauce) and taramosalata are unquestionably better than other local Greek restaurants. All desserts are made on premises. Authentic wall decorations add nice flair. Live music and dancing on weekends. Call ahead to confirm times.
Greek Isles: 3309 N Central Expy Ste 370, Plano, TX 75023/972-423-7778
Excellent grilled fish, succulent lamb, gyros and more. The atmosphere is casual and the service is friendly. Try the Baklava ice cream for dessert!
Café Greek: 12817 Preston Rd Dallas, TX 75230/ 972-934-9767
I’m always partial to a buffet and so far this is the only Greek buffet in town. If you can’t decide then order from the menu. The dishes are impressive such as dolmas, spanakopita, roast chicken, souvlaki, rack of lamb and much more. Excellent service too.
Nikolini: 3028 Hall Street, Suite #177, Dallas, TX 75204/214-953-0330
The food is totally authentic and organically prepared. You won’t get fast service here so bring good conversation, or a newspaper. Be patient. It’s worth the wait.
Kosta’s: 1050 W Park Blvd, Plano, TX 75075/ 972-424-6320
In a hurry for good Greek food this is the go-to place. The dolmas are home made and delicious. Live music on the weekends.
Zorba’s: 1501 Preston Rd, Plano, TX 75093/ (972) 250-0002 / www.zorbasplano.com
So far, my favorite of all Dallas Greek restaurants. Friendly service and a bustling atmosphere make this an exciting place to dine, mingle or people watch. The impressive menu includes grilled octopus deliciously done to perfection and not always found on other Greek restaurant menus. The tsatziki (yogurt sauce) and taramosalata are unquestionably better than other local Greek restaurants. All desserts are made on premises. Authentic wall decorations add nice flair. Live music and dancing on weekends. Call ahead to confirm times.
Greek Isles: 3309 N Central Expy Ste 370, Plano, TX 75023/972-423-7778
Excellent grilled fish, succulent lamb, gyros and more. The atmosphere is casual and the service is friendly. Try the Baklava ice cream for dessert!
Café Greek: 12817 Preston Rd Dallas, TX 75230/ 972-934-9767
I’m always partial to a buffet and so far this is the only Greek buffet in town. If you can’t decide then order from the menu. The dishes are impressive such as dolmas, spanakopita, roast chicken, souvlaki, rack of lamb and much more. Excellent service too.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Lebanese Groov'in in Dallas: Eat, Belly Dance, Hookah!
Al-Amir Restaurant
7402 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX Tel: (214) 739-2647
http://www.alamirdallas.net/
If the Texas heat has made you weary and you can’t fathom mall-walking again just to cool off let Al-Amir Restaurant be your ultimate oasis. This Lebanese themed supper club is by far one of the best ethnic experiences in Dallas combining classic belly dancing entertainment and Middle Eastern dining with foods like shish-kabobs, hummus, babaganoush, tabouli, falafel and many other delectable items. My husband and I shared the shish-kabob, which along with the other side dishes and dips was plenty. For a bird’s eye view close enough to see beads of sweat on belly dancer foreheads I suggest making an advanced reservation. My husband and I were joined by 2 married couples and long time friends. In terms of a night out for the 6 of us Al-Amir exceeded our expectations and was a rare, exotic, affordable treat, vastly different than any place in town. If I didn’t know that I was in Dallas I could have easily been in Beirut. It appeared that Al-Amir is where Dallas Middle Eastern families dine and when the moon comes out where Middle Eastern young people go to shake their groove thang downstairs at the bar’s disco where the DJ mixes modern Arabic dance favorites with a few Salsa tunes for good measure. The result is an ancient primal beat that’ll keep you dancing no matter how left footed you are. And though I’m not an advocate of smoking, some of you might like to try hookah, the Arabic version of a water pipe with four arms to share with your friends and a selection of pleasantly scented tobaccos like apple and mint. Being a native New Yorker I had occasion to frequent many Middle Eastern supper clubs in Manhattan. I never expected to find one in Dallas with all of the cultural nuances. Al-Amir is actually better. Why you ask? For starters, Al-Amir is spacious with several dining rooms. Though the place became more crowded as the evening went on I never felt like a packed sardine being rushed out of my can. Some on-line reviewers of Al-Amir have commented on unfriendly service and improper bills, but I did not find that to be the case. However, word to the wise that your tip might be added on to your bill as it was for us. The drink mixologists were on their game, except for the fact that my chocolate martini was made with Hershey’s syrup instead of Godiva, but honestly that’s my only complaint. If you arrive early parking is free and in plenty otherwise you can valet. The bathrooms were clean whether at 7:00pm or at 11:00pm. Al-Amir gets my top score for being the most unique and ethnically authentic restaurant-entertainment experience in Dallas bar-none. Y=Best of the Best
7402 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX Tel: (214) 739-2647
http://www.alamirdallas.net/
If the Texas heat has made you weary and you can’t fathom mall-walking again just to cool off let Al-Amir Restaurant be your ultimate oasis. This Lebanese themed supper club is by far one of the best ethnic experiences in Dallas combining classic belly dancing entertainment and Middle Eastern dining with foods like shish-kabobs, hummus, babaganoush, tabouli, falafel and many other delectable items. My husband and I shared the shish-kabob, which along with the other side dishes and dips was plenty. For a bird’s eye view close enough to see beads of sweat on belly dancer foreheads I suggest making an advanced reservation. My husband and I were joined by 2 married couples and long time friends. In terms of a night out for the 6 of us Al-Amir exceeded our expectations and was a rare, exotic, affordable treat, vastly different than any place in town. If I didn’t know that I was in Dallas I could have easily been in Beirut. It appeared that Al-Amir is where Dallas Middle Eastern families dine and when the moon comes out where Middle Eastern young people go to shake their groove thang downstairs at the bar’s disco where the DJ mixes modern Arabic dance favorites with a few Salsa tunes for good measure. The result is an ancient primal beat that’ll keep you dancing no matter how left footed you are. And though I’m not an advocate of smoking, some of you might like to try hookah, the Arabic version of a water pipe with four arms to share with your friends and a selection of pleasantly scented tobaccos like apple and mint. Being a native New Yorker I had occasion to frequent many Middle Eastern supper clubs in Manhattan. I never expected to find one in Dallas with all of the cultural nuances. Al-Amir is actually better. Why you ask? For starters, Al-Amir is spacious with several dining rooms. Though the place became more crowded as the evening went on I never felt like a packed sardine being rushed out of my can. Some on-line reviewers of Al-Amir have commented on unfriendly service and improper bills, but I did not find that to be the case. However, word to the wise that your tip might be added on to your bill as it was for us. The drink mixologists were on their game, except for the fact that my chocolate martini was made with Hershey’s syrup instead of Godiva, but honestly that’s my only complaint. If you arrive early parking is free and in plenty otherwise you can valet. The bathrooms were clean whether at 7:00pm or at 11:00pm. Al-Amir gets my top score for being the most unique and ethnically authentic restaurant-entertainment experience in Dallas bar-none. Y=Best of the Best
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Will the Real Tzatziki Please Stand Up?
If you've ever had a Greek Gyro (prounounced Yee-ro) then you know about the creamy yogurt sauce that's traditionally served with it called tzatziki (pronounced dza-DZEE-kee). Judging from the Greek restaurants in our Dallas and Collin County area my guess is: 1) True Greeks are not making the tzatziki, 2) They've lost the recipe or 3) They have intentially pulled a fast one on us in order to save time and cut costs. No matter where you live the result of an improperly made tzatziki means that restaurant goers are paying for a diluted cultural experience.
I know about tzatziki. For about a decade in the late 80's and 90's I was submersed in Greek culture. I lived in Astoria, Queens New York. For those in the know, Astoria has the largest population of Greeks anywhere in the world outside of Athens…Greece that is, not Texas. Half the people I knew were Greeks and I mean the real deal. They spoke Greek, read Greek newspapers, listened to Greek radio, went to Greek churches, bought their bread and pastries at Greek bakeries, drank only Greek coffee, and ate only at traditional Greek restaurants, which were owned and operated by Greeks. After 20 years in the U.S. some of them still couldn't speak English but with all those Greeks around they didn't have to. So, I eventually learned to speak, write, dance, sing and cook the Greek way as taught to me not by books but by...you guessed it, Greeks. I made several trips to Greece too staying at least 2-3 months at a time and in all my days and nights, not even in the most remote island-mountain villages where goats outnumbered people, was I ever served the horrendously watery, flavorless slop versions of tzatziki that's being served up with an Opa! in our neighborhood Greek restaurants.
Tzatziki is traditionally served as an appetizer and can accompany foods throughout the meal. The key to great tzatziki is its thick, I mean very thick, creamy texture that allows it to be eaten alone, as a dip, as a spread, or a condiment. True tzatziki should be as thick as cream cheese. The best way to know if yours is thick enough is the spoon test. Stick a spoon straight-up in your tzatziki. If it stands vertically all by itself--bingo you're on your way to having the real thing. Years ago I learned to make this deliciously healthy, easy to make appetizer and love to eat it with vegetables, pita bread, or meats. Instead of the usual tomato sauce with pasta, try tzatziki. By the end of this article you will know how to make it and will love it too. Moms, as a nutritional dip it’s a great way to get your kiddos to eat more calcium and munch those veggies.
So how are divergent Dallas cooks spoiling the tzatziki? There are several things to avoid when making your own. Impatience. It will not help you make a true tzatziki or any Greek dish for that matter. The yogurt (puhleeze not sour cream) must be completely drained of its water. Do this by letting the yogurt sit refrigerated in a strainer either with a cheesecloth, a clean towel, or paper towels. No place other than Dallas, Texas was I ever served tzatziki made with sour cream. Gimme a break. No Greek person that I ever knew used sour cream in their cooking, or butter, or mayonaise, which some pathetic Americanized tzatziki recipes on the Inter-net have spouted. The next important thing to remember when making tzatziki is to thoroughly drain your cucumbers to remove as much of the excess water as possible. This takes time so go rent a movie while you allow your preferably shredded cucumbers to drain through a colander. Now that you've drained your yogurt and cucumbers you can be sure that your tzatziki will have a proper thickness however the remaining ingredients can not be excluded or else you'll lose authentic flavor. Garlic. Raw. Not powdered. Yes, Greek tzatziki is packed with healthy garlic. Olive oil. Not canola, or safflower or vegetable. Use only good olive oil from the first cold pressing, dark in color and rich in taste. Lemon juice. Greeks love lemons and you'll find them in many recipes. Here is a recipe for tzatziki. It's so easy you won't believe that you haven't made this before! And now that you know better you'll thumb your nose at anything less.
INGREDIENTS:
16 ounces (2 cups) of well-drained yogurt (full fat, low fat, or fat free)
4 to 10 cloves of garlic, diced
1/2 cup of peeled, diced or shredded cucumber
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
PREPARATION:
Prepare all ingredients in advance. Fold in the oil and lemon juice into the yogurt slowly so that its thickness is not broken down. Add the garlic and the cucumber incorporating slowly. Do not mix in a blender or food processor. Add oregano, mint or dill: Variations include 1 tablespoon finely chopped. Oregano is most commonly used.
OPA! ENJOY!
I know about tzatziki. For about a decade in the late 80's and 90's I was submersed in Greek culture. I lived in Astoria, Queens New York. For those in the know, Astoria has the largest population of Greeks anywhere in the world outside of Athens…Greece that is, not Texas. Half the people I knew were Greeks and I mean the real deal. They spoke Greek, read Greek newspapers, listened to Greek radio, went to Greek churches, bought their bread and pastries at Greek bakeries, drank only Greek coffee, and ate only at traditional Greek restaurants, which were owned and operated by Greeks. After 20 years in the U.S. some of them still couldn't speak English but with all those Greeks around they didn't have to. So, I eventually learned to speak, write, dance, sing and cook the Greek way as taught to me not by books but by...you guessed it, Greeks. I made several trips to Greece too staying at least 2-3 months at a time and in all my days and nights, not even in the most remote island-mountain villages where goats outnumbered people, was I ever served the horrendously watery, flavorless slop versions of tzatziki that's being served up with an Opa! in our neighborhood Greek restaurants.
Tzatziki is traditionally served as an appetizer and can accompany foods throughout the meal. The key to great tzatziki is its thick, I mean very thick, creamy texture that allows it to be eaten alone, as a dip, as a spread, or a condiment. True tzatziki should be as thick as cream cheese. The best way to know if yours is thick enough is the spoon test. Stick a spoon straight-up in your tzatziki. If it stands vertically all by itself--bingo you're on your way to having the real thing. Years ago I learned to make this deliciously healthy, easy to make appetizer and love to eat it with vegetables, pita bread, or meats. Instead of the usual tomato sauce with pasta, try tzatziki. By the end of this article you will know how to make it and will love it too. Moms, as a nutritional dip it’s a great way to get your kiddos to eat more calcium and munch those veggies.
So how are divergent Dallas cooks spoiling the tzatziki? There are several things to avoid when making your own. Impatience. It will not help you make a true tzatziki or any Greek dish for that matter. The yogurt (puhleeze not sour cream) must be completely drained of its water. Do this by letting the yogurt sit refrigerated in a strainer either with a cheesecloth, a clean towel, or paper towels. No place other than Dallas, Texas was I ever served tzatziki made with sour cream. Gimme a break. No Greek person that I ever knew used sour cream in their cooking, or butter, or mayonaise, which some pathetic Americanized tzatziki recipes on the Inter-net have spouted. The next important thing to remember when making tzatziki is to thoroughly drain your cucumbers to remove as much of the excess water as possible. This takes time so go rent a movie while you allow your preferably shredded cucumbers to drain through a colander. Now that you've drained your yogurt and cucumbers you can be sure that your tzatziki will have a proper thickness however the remaining ingredients can not be excluded or else you'll lose authentic flavor. Garlic. Raw. Not powdered. Yes, Greek tzatziki is packed with healthy garlic. Olive oil. Not canola, or safflower or vegetable. Use only good olive oil from the first cold pressing, dark in color and rich in taste. Lemon juice. Greeks love lemons and you'll find them in many recipes. Here is a recipe for tzatziki. It's so easy you won't believe that you haven't made this before! And now that you know better you'll thumb your nose at anything less.
INGREDIENTS:
16 ounces (2 cups) of well-drained yogurt (full fat, low fat, or fat free)
4 to 10 cloves of garlic, diced
1/2 cup of peeled, diced or shredded cucumber
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
PREPARATION:
Prepare all ingredients in advance. Fold in the oil and lemon juice into the yogurt slowly so that its thickness is not broken down. Add the garlic and the cucumber incorporating slowly. Do not mix in a blender or food processor. Add oregano, mint or dill: Variations include 1 tablespoon finely chopped. Oregano is most commonly used.
OPA! ENJOY!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Taste Galilee but Leave Your Passport at Home
Taste of Galilee/2301 N. Central Expway between Park and Parker/Plano, Texas
Ignite your taste buds, we’re off to Galilee but leave your passport at home. Whether by car, camel or donkey, if you love Mediterranean favorites like lamb, falafel, hummus and Baba Ganoush then drop everything and head to Taste of Galilee restaurant in Plano. The Biblically referenced land of Galilee is part of today’s northern Israel and a long time area of conflict between Jews and Arabs. Galilee is also a popular vacation spot for its natives, well-known for its gastronomic cuisine. Now, we too can have a taste of Galilee! Only a few weeks young the restaurant’s owner and staff are gracious and informative about the more than 28 items featured on the all-u-can eat buffet, which includes many traditional Mediterranean dishes that you’d find at just about any Lebanese, Turkish or even Greek restaurant for that matter. They even make their own yogurt! However, the owner who still has family in Galilee and visits every year has included several special family recipes strait from his Mama’s kitchen. Bravo! Thank you Mama! You can’t beat the lunch buffet at under $10. Though I am a fan of Fadi’s restaurant which has locations in Frisco and Dallas, they can’t hold a candle to the all-u-can eat concept for the same price at Taste of Galilee. Sorry Fadi’s, still love ya but Taste of Galilee has a slight edge. Being such healthy, authentic ethnic food for the price and only a few miles away, by car that is, I will certainly return to Taste of Galilee. The dinner buffet is around $14 and includes more items than the lunch menu such as shish-kabob and other succulent meat dishes. Taste of Galilee is a laid back atmosphere so come as you are. I strolled in wearing my work-out gear. The chandeliers give an ambiance of elegance and the piped-in Mediterranean music adds another layer to a fine cultural experience in our own community. Yankees Eat Rating/ 4=Very Good
Ignite your taste buds, we’re off to Galilee but leave your passport at home. Whether by car, camel or donkey, if you love Mediterranean favorites like lamb, falafel, hummus and Baba Ganoush then drop everything and head to Taste of Galilee restaurant in Plano. The Biblically referenced land of Galilee is part of today’s northern Israel and a long time area of conflict between Jews and Arabs. Galilee is also a popular vacation spot for its natives, well-known for its gastronomic cuisine. Now, we too can have a taste of Galilee! Only a few weeks young the restaurant’s owner and staff are gracious and informative about the more than 28 items featured on the all-u-can eat buffet, which includes many traditional Mediterranean dishes that you’d find at just about any Lebanese, Turkish or even Greek restaurant for that matter. They even make their own yogurt! However, the owner who still has family in Galilee and visits every year has included several special family recipes strait from his Mama’s kitchen. Bravo! Thank you Mama! You can’t beat the lunch buffet at under $10. Though I am a fan of Fadi’s restaurant which has locations in Frisco and Dallas, they can’t hold a candle to the all-u-can eat concept for the same price at Taste of Galilee. Sorry Fadi’s, still love ya but Taste of Galilee has a slight edge. Being such healthy, authentic ethnic food for the price and only a few miles away, by car that is, I will certainly return to Taste of Galilee. The dinner buffet is around $14 and includes more items than the lunch menu such as shish-kabob and other succulent meat dishes. Taste of Galilee is a laid back atmosphere so come as you are. I strolled in wearing my work-out gear. The chandeliers give an ambiance of elegance and the piped-in Mediterranean music adds another layer to a fine cultural experience in our own community. Yankees Eat Rating/ 4=Very Good
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Vietnamese: Zander's House Restaurant
2300 N. Central Expway at Park Road/ Plano, TX 75074/Phone: 972 943-9199
I have put off going to Zander’s House Restaurant for months. I remember the previous horrid August Moon Chinese restaurant that was there. The scarcity of cars in Zander’s parking lot made me timid, too. When their sign looked as though it had been hit by lightening I thought that the place might be cursed. I recently had lunch there and am happy to report that my mojo is intact and I’m still sufficiently quirky enough to write these reviews. I had the beef over vermicelli with fresh vegetables which was delicious and satisfied for the entire day. Though I’m not a big fan of beef (and I moved to Texas?) I was feeling a little risqué and gave it a whirl. I expected dry and tough but was pleased to get piled high, tender and thinly sliced. Lunch specials range around $7 and include popular noodle bowls and other Vietnamese specialties. A nutritious value; I don’t know how they can afford to be so generous with their portions, which includes salad too. The lime and chili sauce was a perfect compliment. The place bustled with an Asian crowd whether business types or families with youngsters. The owners, the Bui family, hail from New York where they successfully operated a Vietnamese style restaurant for many years--- no small feat! As to the authenticity, freshness and presentation of the food I must give sufficient props. Service is friendly and prompt however the voluminous space can make it somewhat loud. As spacious as it is many tables are stacked and waiters insist upon scrunching customers. I was practically elbow to elbow with two guys who slurped rather loudly which made it difficult to read the newspaper, eat and decompress for an hour. Next time I will be more insistant about choosing my own table. Yankees Eat Rating = 4 Very Good
I have put off going to Zander’s House Restaurant for months. I remember the previous horrid August Moon Chinese restaurant that was there. The scarcity of cars in Zander’s parking lot made me timid, too. When their sign looked as though it had been hit by lightening I thought that the place might be cursed. I recently had lunch there and am happy to report that my mojo is intact and I’m still sufficiently quirky enough to write these reviews. I had the beef over vermicelli with fresh vegetables which was delicious and satisfied for the entire day. Though I’m not a big fan of beef (and I moved to Texas?) I was feeling a little risqué and gave it a whirl. I expected dry and tough but was pleased to get piled high, tender and thinly sliced. Lunch specials range around $7 and include popular noodle bowls and other Vietnamese specialties. A nutritious value; I don’t know how they can afford to be so generous with their portions, which includes salad too. The lime and chili sauce was a perfect compliment. The place bustled with an Asian crowd whether business types or families with youngsters. The owners, the Bui family, hail from New York where they successfully operated a Vietnamese style restaurant for many years--- no small feat! As to the authenticity, freshness and presentation of the food I must give sufficient props. Service is friendly and prompt however the voluminous space can make it somewhat loud. As spacious as it is many tables are stacked and waiters insist upon scrunching customers. I was practically elbow to elbow with two guys who slurped rather loudly which made it difficult to read the newspaper, eat and decompress for an hour. Next time I will be more insistant about choosing my own table. Yankees Eat Rating = 4 Very Good
Thursday, June 28, 2007
5 Rules For Eating Out: Case of the Bicker Sisters
Recently, my husband and I had lunch at our usual weekend haunt known for its New Orleans flair. When we arrived some of the lunch crowd had subsided but it was still busy enough that we had to wait a few minutes to be seated in one of three dining rooms. No sooner had we ordered our food when two women were seated in an adjacent booth behind my husband. We couldn’t see them. We could hear them plenty…and therein lay the point of this story. Now, I am not so unreasonable that I don’t expect to hear a laugh, a word, or sentence, or two from a nearby table. However, I don’t expect to hear the entire conversation and in this case, the entire feud.
One woman spoke loudly and at a fast, almost nervous rate. Her tone and pitch suggested a friction between them that was about to explode. For the first few minutes they made general chit-chat about their kids, their husbands and a possible trip to New York. Then, everything changed and out came the emotionally loaded pistols. Turns out ,these two women were sisters…bickering 20-something sisters. They bickered about this and that, about how one never phoned the other enough, how she felt shut-out, what their mother had said, and about things that had happened years ago.
“Oh, this is gonna go south real fast,” I said to my husband.
“It had the tell-tale signs from the start when they told the waiter, we’re going to be here for about 2 hours and we don’t plan to order anything.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I whispered.
And sure enough things got worse and stayed loud. Said the one sister to the other,
“….and I don’t know if it’s because of your immaturity and lack of experience but…”
“You are so hurtful,” retorted the other sister.
My eyes bulged and I mouthed, ‘Oh my gosh,’ to my husband. He nodded his head in disbelief at such an embarrassing public display.
Our food arrived.
“Is there anything else I can get you,” asked our waiter.
“No, but I have to say….we’re enjoying the show.”
“The show?”
“Yes, the people in the next booth are quite loud,” I pointed.
The waiter asked if we wanted him to tell the squabbling sisters to keep it down, but we said no. Honestly, a part of me was agitated at the extreme rudeness and the other part was curious to hear how far things would go. The feud became so loud that we could scarcely hear the conversation at our own table. I looked around the dining room and others were agitated as well. Even fussy children weren’t as loud as these two grown-ups. We were further shocked when overhearing that one of the sisters was a teacher for the past seven years. I expect better public behavior from a teacher than that! Forty-five minutes later, the bicker sisters were still at it and in my opinion had made no progress to resolve their dispute. My head hurt. Before we left and purely from curiosity, I walked to the back of the dining room to find out if I could still hear their every word. Somewhere around four tables back from our booth I could no longer hear verbatim, but I could distinguish their voices from the others in the dining room.
And now some general rules to remember when dining out:
1. A restaurant makes money when you order food
2. The bulk of a waiter/waitress’s income is based on tips which is relative to the bill
3. People go out to eat to have fun, relax and enjoy time together
4. Leave your unresolved personal and family arguments at home or save it for the therapist’s
office
5. If the entirety of your table conversation can be heard by others then you are speaking to
loud.
Cheers!
One woman spoke loudly and at a fast, almost nervous rate. Her tone and pitch suggested a friction between them that was about to explode. For the first few minutes they made general chit-chat about their kids, their husbands and a possible trip to New York. Then, everything changed and out came the emotionally loaded pistols. Turns out ,these two women were sisters…bickering 20-something sisters. They bickered about this and that, about how one never phoned the other enough, how she felt shut-out, what their mother had said, and about things that had happened years ago.
“Oh, this is gonna go south real fast,” I said to my husband.
“It had the tell-tale signs from the start when they told the waiter, we’re going to be here for about 2 hours and we don’t plan to order anything.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I whispered.
And sure enough things got worse and stayed loud. Said the one sister to the other,
“….and I don’t know if it’s because of your immaturity and lack of experience but…”
“You are so hurtful,” retorted the other sister.
My eyes bulged and I mouthed, ‘Oh my gosh,’ to my husband. He nodded his head in disbelief at such an embarrassing public display.
Our food arrived.
“Is there anything else I can get you,” asked our waiter.
“No, but I have to say….we’re enjoying the show.”
“The show?”
“Yes, the people in the next booth are quite loud,” I pointed.
The waiter asked if we wanted him to tell the squabbling sisters to keep it down, but we said no. Honestly, a part of me was agitated at the extreme rudeness and the other part was curious to hear how far things would go. The feud became so loud that we could scarcely hear the conversation at our own table. I looked around the dining room and others were agitated as well. Even fussy children weren’t as loud as these two grown-ups. We were further shocked when overhearing that one of the sisters was a teacher for the past seven years. I expect better public behavior from a teacher than that! Forty-five minutes later, the bicker sisters were still at it and in my opinion had made no progress to resolve their dispute. My head hurt. Before we left and purely from curiosity, I walked to the back of the dining room to find out if I could still hear their every word. Somewhere around four tables back from our booth I could no longer hear verbatim, but I could distinguish their voices from the others in the dining room.
And now some general rules to remember when dining out:
1. A restaurant makes money when you order food
2. The bulk of a waiter/waitress’s income is based on tips which is relative to the bill
3. People go out to eat to have fun, relax and enjoy time together
4. Leave your unresolved personal and family arguments at home or save it for the therapist’s
office
5. If the entirety of your table conversation can be heard by others then you are speaking to
loud.
Cheers!
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