I had a $150 gift card I got from work, for a high-end steak restaurant in Bellevue. It’s not the kind of place I would normally go, but figured we would make the best of it; it was a nice gift for a project I led.

We got there before our reservation and had to wait while they got the table ready. We stood to the side, trying to look normal. That’s when I saw the case with beef in it: like a jewel case you’d see in a museum, it had plates of beef on it displaying the marbling, with names of each cut etched in silver placards below.

We were seated, surrounded by staff. They all wanted to know if it was a special occasion, and Dawn and I fumbled with what to say. We ordered cocktails and checked out the other tables: Dawn, taking bets on which couples were doomed and which ones would be okay.

I ordered three cuts of 4 oz. beef for $128. It felt ridiculous saying it to the waiter, but he nodded and said something like “good choice” (which is what he said to everything), and I had to wonder what he was really thinking.

We had a bottle of wine my boss gave me and eased into our meal. Surrounded by wealth, soft light, servants…it was hard to get comfortable, but I had to toast to Dawn and all the people we wanted to be there with us, to experience this kind of place. To feel lucky for that moment.

I went to the bathroom, across the marble lobby and the chandeliers. They had a leather recliner outside the door to the men’s room, with a fresh floral arrangement and a basket. The bathroom was so nice, even the sound of men’s urine sounded good, like a warm fire.

We talked about our dads, my grandparents…what they’d think of this place, how we wanted them to be there with us, too. It’s not the restaurant, it’s about being together that makes it special.

Categories: humor

Tags: beef, DPchallenge, family, love, NaNoWriMo, postaday