What Happens When You Go To Your Favorite Restaurant On A Holiday

I have a bunch of restaurants that I really love.  You know the ones--the ones you love to use for special occasions and recommend to everyone on the planet.  These restaurants are my gold standards--the ones that I consistently receive good service and good food from.  You would think that you would be safe choosing one of these restaurants for a holiday meal, right?  Why wouldn't I choose one of my favorite restaurants for Valentine's Day?

Let me tell you--because you will not leave with a good impression if the restaurant is swamped.  My entire family loves this restaurant.  It is family-friendly, yet serves upscale Italian food.  Thus, adults can pamper themselves with a great meal without having to find a babysitter for the little one.  We have always had delicious food and good service at this restaurant in the past--except on holidays.



A couple of years ago, we went to this restaurant for Mother's Day.  The meal was marred with flaws culminating with a chair being lifted up over my head to be moved to another table (couldn't I have been asked to move?).  You would think that I would have learned.  But, alas, I love this restaurant so much that I wanted to go last night.

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The evening started off fine enough.  We were seated right away and were immediately handed menus.  Our drink orders were filled quickly.  Then, the waiting began.  We waited, and waited, and waited for our food orders to be taken.  Then, after our orders were taken, we had some more waiting.  Finally, half an hour after the order was taken, food arrived---someone else's food!  After an additional ten minutes, our meals finally arrived!   After finishing our meals, my husband and I looked at each other and sighed---we knew that we would have to wait yet again for the gelato that my daughter just had to have.   At this point, my husband and I were pulling out every trick to keep our increasingly rambunctious daughter entertained.  You would think that the waiter would have noticed this and would have brought the check with gelato.  But, no, we would have to wait for that, too.  Once we paid the check, we hastily left.  My daughter was bursting with pent up energy, my husband was disappointed, and I was starved (my stomach did not react well to all of the waiting).  Not the way you want to feel on a special day!

I really love this restaurant and would be sad to see it go.  After last night, though, I do not have the desire to rush back.   But, the food is so good and I normally have a great time there, so, inevitably, I will end up back.  However, I have learned my lesson---beware going to your favorite restaurant on a busy holiday.  You may not leave very impressed!