This Valentine’s day is special for us, as I just started my new job about 2 weeks ago, and are thrilled to have some money coming in again. We decided to splurge this week and go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day. My girlfriend told me not to get her flowers (she does every year) because they are just so over priced on that day. I buy her flowers various times throughout the rest of the year, but I digress.
Anyway, this year while I was at work, I watched as another manager struggled to find a restaurant that could take a reservation for him and his girlfriend. He called a few of the big-box restaurants, Kelsey’s, Caseys, and even told me his fall back restaurant was East Side Marios. I felt bad, for the both of them. To spend Valentine’s Day (or any day for that matter) in a sterile, boring, corporately designed big-box style restaurant.
The idea behind these places was kind of neat 15 years ago, but now, there are so many, and they are all so bland. Each of them with their bizarre mix of weird crap and old movie posters plastered to the walls. A decorating idea that I never ever understood. I remembered thinking Jack Astors was hilarious with all of their comics and funny posters stuck to the wall… when I was seven. Now it just strikes me as lame.
This other person’s girlfriend lived in Kitchener, which is near where we used to live. I suggested to him “why not try something different” of course I already had something in mind. Lexxie and I have eaten at many places around Kitchener, so I recommended a place called Crossroads. Crossroads is a Mennonite run country style buffet. Not to be confused with the American Company ‘Old Country Buffet’ This food is ACTUALLY home made, and prepared with natural, and whole ingredients. You can really taste the difference, especially on your fourth trip up. Don’t get me started on the deserts. I would probably walk over hot coals to get my hands on one of them. Not like the traditional corporately prepared deserts with their hydrogenated corn oil substituting for whipped cream, no, these are honest to god (fattening) delicious, cream based deserts.
My friend, booked a reservation there, and him and his girlfriend tried something new for Valentine’s day, while Lexxie and I headed over to a place we love here in Hamilton called the Eden Thai. Normally, they are quite empty, which is sad. The food there is so good, and the portions reasonable. We arrived and there were only two other couples there, but by the time we left, it was nearly full. We were so happy to see it full of people like that. I hope business improves for him, we just loved the place.
So… what are your thoughts on the take-over of the big box restaurant?
I wasn’t going to do off-topic blog posts, but then I read THIS over at Wayne D’s blog about his Valentine’s Day, and just had to write something.
Technorati Tags: restaurants, hamilton, crossroads, eden thai, thai food, thai food hamilton, casey’s, kelsey’s, east side marios, jack astors, valentine’s day, valentines day
