Monday after New Year’s was predictably quiet at both restaurants. Tuesday the same, but Cobblestones still haD a (post) Holiday function. But, then, what the hell was up with Wednesday?! I walked into moonstones to reservations for 14, 14, 10, 9, 8, 8, 8, 8, 7…and we ultimately did over 100 dinners, as always, groups show up without reservations.
That said, I had a laugh a couple of hours later, with Dennis the bartender at Ricardo’s. On the way from moon to Cobblestones, on the way to home, I some times get waylayed. (there’s a joke there somewhere..if you’re sophmoric…like me)
Last night (and most regularly) I hit the end of the Connect’ah, to Ricardo’s, and got to a quiet bar, but before they were closing. A great move! I asked Dennis (who has yet still to change his name to an Italian version!) for a glass of red, “something with dirt”. Without hesitation he poured me a Malbec. As he walked away, I took a sip, and for not the 1st time I said to myself “This sucks. I should have asked for a taste”. (somewhere I have a brother in law who is grumbling “Malbecs are crap. Taste like dirt. Peasant wine. Grumble grumble”)
Dennis returned, I restrained from saying “The wine you chose sucks dude”, and we chatted about Mussels from bar harbor (a-mazing!), seafood vendors who bring more fish than you order (Um, “Bill”), and wondered what the hell a sea trout is. I sipped the wine again and thought “eh, it’s ok”.
We then laughed about how the Colonial Skaters will come to town this weekend, and, inevitably, a group of 25 will walk through the door (A third of them, in sequins and eye liner, barely tall enough for a roller coaster)And, the group leader (A mom) will say; “We would like a table for 25. Altogether please. And those guys on one check, and those guys on a separate check, and these people here…oh, and those 4 over there, are with us four right here.” Reservations? “Oh, no, do we need reservations”?
Of course, we love the business, and MOST of these folks are great, but we got a laugh at Cobblestones last year at the guy who said “If you don’t seat us right away, we will take our business elsewhere.” HA! Good one Mr. Bossy guy…WHERE!? Go ahead, be impatient and demanding…round up your 30 unreserved friends, and head to…what, Mambo Grill? La Boniche? Sangria/Mickeys/wasn’t there long enough to remember the name/Espressos/Ole?? If you’re going, just go fast, cuz there’s 25 people right behind you trying to get in the door. (and, THEY made reservations!)
As we laughed about customers (in a nice way of course), and not for the 1st time, I took yet another sip of the wine and it was…Freakin’ great. No, I am serious. 10 minutes later, GREAT! Fruit evident, but not too much, earthy, but not too much, balanced, smooth. Great. And, that is one of the amazing things I just love about wine. And, Dennis.
FYI, it was Argentinian. Graffigna. Reserve. Have it with the Mussels.
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