An evening on the town

M. and I started our Saturday evening at a downtown coffeehouse. It was simply amazing — we found the perfect table. I should note that this past weekend was also graduation time for the college students. The academic year is of course thrilling, but little things like finding a great table at the cafe or finding a choice parking spot on a Saturday night means a lot too.

We headed over to the Atlas for dinner. That’s my new favorite spot for dinner. All of the outdoor tables were taken, but we were seated indoors (our preference) with little fuss. The food at Atlas is great. As much as I love going to the downtown Mondo’s for lunch, the Atlas has taken that place for evening fare. I had blackened catfish, and M. opted for a Thai satay salad. We took a long walk and looked at the freshly christened gold dome on the Capitol.

And yet when it comes to picking restaurants, I’m usually more concerned about the service and the atmosphere — in my experience, those are key for a successful lunch or evening. To me it doesn’t really matter if its Thai, Indian, or American — I look for a place where you can have a great conversation.

I like them on the cozy side and definitely on the busy side. My theory is that it’s much easier to have a private conversation at a busy, bustling restaurant where everyone is talking than some quiet place where the couple at the next table can’t help but overhear what you’re saying.

And I always patronize local establishments — they pay a lot more attention to details like acoustics and atmosphere. Ever been in a chain restaurant? Busy and lots of people talking, yes, but the acoustics are deafening. The music is too loud and everything echoes. And besides, they serve lizard heads with their salads. True story. The wife of a professor here was none too happy about that.

So if there’s a moral to the story: dine local.