four friends, two restaurants, one meal

Every couple of months or so, I have dinner with some women who were, and some still are, mothers of Horace Mann students.  We all have sons who were friends in high school and who graduated last year.  Over the years, we have become friends as well.

I’ve chosen the restaurant for tonight, and none of us have been before.  It’s called Jones Wood Foundry and I feel responsible for it being good.

I always agonize over what to wear.  Despite my proclivity for shopping, I prefer to wear no makeup, jeans, a white T, and comfortable shoes.  Tonight I wear none of the above.  Instead, I choose a black Wolford skirt I bought last June at half price, a white striped Wolford top I bought this June at half price, and red shoes (that are semi-comfortable AND stylish).  I ask poor Alexander to take a picture, which is an old habit from a couple of years ago when I was documenting my weight loss.  I look at the picture and see only ugly knees and big hips.

 I get to the restaurant at 8 and Zelia is already there.  Pam arrives soon after.  Shari, who was a maybe, texts us and cannot come.  Janice, a doctor, is in surgery and will be late. 

Our first impression of the restaurant is a positive one.  Nice ambiance.  Overflowing with young, good-looking people.  A friendly and attentive waitress.  Nice menu.  We order drinks and Pam gets a grilled corn soup.  We all taste it and agree it’s amazing.  We are liking this new restaurant.  We order, and the food arrives pretty quickly.  As we begin to eat, a couple of large groups arrive and sit near us.  Our food is excellent, but we barely notice.  What we do notice is the increasingly high noise level and an increasingly high temperature.  We are uncomfortable from the heat and frustrated in our inability to communicate across a small table.  Zelia totally shuts down and makes no attempt at socializing.  “I need to get out of here.  Now.”  We hurriedly get our check, and are gone from the restaurant a mere 75 minutes after arriving.

We meet Janice and go to Atlantic Grill, a popular seafood place we know and love.  It is busy, cool, and quiet.  Janice gets dinner; we get wine, and then we all split a chocolate fondue of “sweet bites and fresh fruit.”  We are among the last to leave.

I'm sure someone else will be choosing the restaurant next time.