Last Supper

There's a restaurant in my hometown.  Pretty good place, at least by reputation -- and for years, people have come from all over to eat there.

It's always been a source of pride to those of us in the community.  Sure, there are better, more successful restaurants -- but this one's ours, and we love it.

Over the years, we've had many, many memorable meals at our little restaurant.  Some forgettable ones, too, but that's what happens in a place that serves real food made by real people.  Sometimes, you get magic, and sometimes there's a little something lacking.  Maybe the chef had an off day.  Maybe the waiter had a fight with his wife just before coming in, and wasn't in the mood for the usual niceties.  But hey, you want perfection in your mediocrity, go to Olive Garden.  As for me, I'll roll the dice and suffer the inconsistencies in order to occasionally have a great meal.

But for a while, now, my little hometown restaurant has been slipping.  For years now, EVERY meal has been off -- sometimes just by a little, but more and more, by a whole lot.  And the service...well, it's slipped too.

Strangely enough, while the quality of my little place has gone down, it's popularity seems to have held steady.  They knocked down the ugly old building a few years back.  Put up fancy new digs, and that seems to keep people streaming in through the door.  Every time I see the crowds lined up, I want to go over and tell the lemmings about the glory days, before the pretty new building, when every now and then, you'd get a plate full of magic.

I kept going to my little neighborhood restaurant for years -- partly out of nostalgia, and partly out of a desire to help them through the tough times.  See, I KNEW there was still magic to be had out of that kitchen.  All we needed to do was keep the faith, keep the place propped up, and they'd turn it around.

Year after year, meal after increasingly lousy meal, I kept going.  Until finally, one day, I realized that I no longer went there thinking that I was going to get a great dinner -- no, I was simply going to support something that, quite obviously, didn't care whether I supported it or not.  Others of less discriminating tastes kept the coffers full and were quite content with the swill they were being served.  Profits had won out over magic, as they always do.

And that's why I stopped going to Pirate games.

Comments

[Mountain Mama]

So just what is wrong with the Pirates this year? I thought trying to follow the Pens was depressing enough.

But it's only April 11th, for God's sake, and the Bucs are already eliminated from the playoffs!

What's happening??

[Joe]

You had me there. Good stuff.

Gotta admit though...your restaurant has some nice views. And pierogie races. And one-off Primantis.

Daryle Ward hit a homer yesterday. But he was in a Nats uniform when he did it.

[pointy stick]

If everyone would just give in to the fact that the Pirates suck BEFORE the season even starts, just think of how much aggravation we'd be saving.

It's easy to do kids.

Just stop caring. I did about 18 years ago, which was the last time I was ever at a ball game.

[Culli]

Just remember - if/when Adam or Kate inexplicibly become fans, let them gush about THEIR Pirates (who just might be winners by then). Don't pass your boycott onto them.

My Pop gave up on the club in the 50's, and it took me until 1989 (at my dying mom's request) to get him to go to a ballgame with me. We go together several times a year now. It's quite an unexpected bond.

What I missed with him until then....

[Sarah]

And here I was, searching what's left of my brains for such a restaurant in Monroeville. (always looking for a new lunch spot other than the ethnic joints my coworkers have hooked me on)