Yeah, I know what I said...

So last night we went to Roots. We intentionally did not make a reservation because in the past we have made reservations and they always kind of act like, "Isn't that cute, they're coming at 6:00 and they're calling ahead. They must not get out much if they think they need a reservation when everyone knows that the real crowds don't show up until 7:30 or 8:00 on Saturday night..." We pulled into the parking lot at 6:01 and went in to what we expected - an empty restaurant. We ask for a table for 2 and are told to follow the girl dressed all in black. She takes us past the dining room and back toward the bathroom and I'm like,... "Um, where are we going?" She turns right into a broom closet - I mean dining room - with no windows and strange artwork. Another couple is sitting in there, and we can immediately hear their entire conversation. We are seated at a corner table in the back and my seat faces the wall. I didn't know such fine ambiance was available! It is dark, which is not romantic, but rather such a stark contrast to the lovely evening that we left outside the door that it is an immediate buzz kill. This could spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E for our night out. I look at the menu which has not changed at all since last time we were there. I think, "Hmm, it's good and all, but you'd think they'd switch things up a little now and then." I quickly follow that thought by, "Hmm. Oddly, I'm kind of not into the idea of spending $25 per entree to sit in a closet."

Luckily, I am married to a very flexible guy who was instantly willing to let go of his dreams of some expertly cooked piece of beef and roll with the idea of walking across the parking lot to the pizzeria. So, we head out. Our server was willing to reseat us, but really, thanks... no. The hostess in black just smiled and opened the door for us... almost like she was expecting us to come back her way after 5 minutes in the cave.

Pizzeria 360 was waaaaaay more in line with what I was looking for. Since Jay had been willing to make the switch with nary a glance back, I was totally fine with going with what he wanted off the menu - the arugula and pear salad with gorgonzola and a sausage and salami pizza with roasted garlic and roasted red bell pepper. We added some grilled prawns to the salad. Bottle of red house wine to go with. Lemon and huckleberry panna cotta for dessert that really didn't do much for us. There's something special about the pizza/wine combination.

The cherry on the sundae of our evening was a stop at the Depot on the way home. All dates are better when we can find a way to walk hand-in-hand under the big orange sign.