Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Mistrial
Quick/funny story. Karen and I have decided to have a scheduled 'date night' once per week. Not that it limits it to only one night out per week, but moreso that it forces us to carve out a specific night each week where we say no to other demands for our time. We hadn't chosen a location yet, so I asked Karen to just look at the list of top Seattle restaurants and pick one that she always wanted to go to. I got home, and she said that she chose 'Mistral' (we were pronouncing it like Minstrel, without the 'n'... we found out later it is pronounced like Mee-strahl... ah well).
We head to the restaurant, and the alarms go off when I glance at the menu while walking in... no prices apparent.
The alarms go full volume after we've sat down. 3 Choices. Lowest priced choice is $90, without beverages. And, it sort of makes you feel guilty not going with a choice with a 'wine flight' -- is looking like a $350-$450 night, easy... my stomach starts to churn... blood pressure up... definitely not going to be able to enjoy the food.
So, at this point, we have two choices (1) stay, enjoy the food, and learn a lesson or (2) leave, laugh, and learn a lesson. We were literally, and figuratively, on two sides of the table. I ended up winning. I just couldn't stomach that. Not that I'd never do it... say, for an anniversary, or a special celebration... sure... but for a Tuesday night out, wearing jeans, coming from work, and having to be in the office at 8am the next day... no way.
We left... Karen was absolutely horrified... and I was laughing a bit uncontrollably. I mean... I could buy a functional scooter/motorcycle that would propel me around the city for years for less than $400!
After the fact, I found out that this restaurant/chef is the best location, bar none, in Seattle -- so, the price may be justified... just not by smalltown boys like myself.
Check out Mistral. Just make sure to pronounce it correctly :)
We head to the restaurant, and the alarms go off when I glance at the menu while walking in... no prices apparent.
The alarms go full volume after we've sat down. 3 Choices. Lowest priced choice is $90, without beverages. And, it sort of makes you feel guilty not going with a choice with a 'wine flight' -- is looking like a $350-$450 night, easy... my stomach starts to churn... blood pressure up... definitely not going to be able to enjoy the food.
So, at this point, we have two choices (1) stay, enjoy the food, and learn a lesson or (2) leave, laugh, and learn a lesson. We were literally, and figuratively, on two sides of the table. I ended up winning. I just couldn't stomach that. Not that I'd never do it... say, for an anniversary, or a special celebration... sure... but for a Tuesday night out, wearing jeans, coming from work, and having to be in the office at 8am the next day... no way.
We left... Karen was absolutely horrified... and I was laughing a bit uncontrollably. I mean... I could buy a functional scooter/motorcycle that would propel me around the city for years for less than $400!
After the fact, I found out that this restaurant/chef is the best location, bar none, in Seattle -- so, the price may be justified... just not by smalltown boys like myself.
Check out Mistral. Just make sure to pronounce it correctly :)
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