What is your favorite restaurant?

I love to eat out so to name one favourite restaurant is impossible because I’m always excited to try somewhere new. I have also been frustrated at the out of control tipping culture, so I’ve been eating out a lot less so I often go to the same places where I know the prices which brings me to the shameful affair I’ve been having.

Approximately 2015 or 2016 a wonderful new breakfast place opened where live and I love brunch. I don’t want to wake up early for breakfast but if you wait till lunch then you will snack on the wrong thing and be too hungry so brunch is perfect. The place was Sunset Grill, they had the most beautiful fluffy pancakes I had ever eaten and I was in love.

For about 5-6 years I ate at Sunset Grill (the same location) whenever I could and when I travelled anywhere with a Sunset Grill I would go eat there. I loved this place so much and I told everyone I knew about it. I went there on dates (of course different locations) I didn’t want an awkward encounter. My ex even started taking his mum there when we had broken up.

During the summer months I would head there alone with my iPad or client files to work on the patio. At this point I knew the owner and his wife and during the pandemic my greatest “moment” was when one of the servers said there was no room and the owner said something like “for you we can find something”. I honestly felt like I had made it. I was guaranteed a seat a my favourite restaurant and did I mention that they give lollipops when you pay your bill and put fresh strawberries on your mimosa.

But like all relationships the problems slowly started. Some called it inflation some call it smaller portions and some called it a $7 mimosa that went to $13. Now if you live in a big city I can see how that may not be a big deal but a $13 drink in my town better have 4 types of liquor. As with all relationships you become a little complacent and you hear others talk of a new brunch place in town. You see the “new place” but would never go there because it’s a little further than yours and who know what their pancakes, prices or portions are like. They probably have too much baking powder and they do not even have a patio. Why would you opt for a lesser experience? You put it out of your mind and continue as you always have.

One day you ask yourself “well what would it hurt for me to try it?” and before you know it you are hooked. You are now driving past your old favourite restaurant simply because they put whipped cream on their pancakes not to mention you don’t even need maple syrup on these pancakes. Their pancakes are just as fluffy and the guilt that consumes does not seem to be enough to stop you driving past your old spot. Now you take friends and family members to the new spot thinking how could this happen, how could I be so disloyal.

Ah well my mouth is filled with too much whipped cream to care and as the brunch conversations continues your friend asks if you have heard about the new brunch place by the beach? You quickly respond “No I would never go anywhere else, I love brunch here” but your mind starts to wonder and alas the cycle starts all over again so I really can’t say I have a favourite restaurant.