Scenes from a restaurant

There are many pleasures in discovering Paris seule. First and foremost, you don't miss anything happening around you because you're chattering with your partner in crime. Secondly, you get the attention from the locals, that probably feel bad for you thinking you have no friends. Well, not the worst case scenario, if you ask me.

Spending a week in Paris, more or less alone, I made it into a sport trying to find restaurants with the right atmosphere. Succeeded every now and then, but not every time.

One clear success was a restaurant, at the corner of Rue de Tilsitt and Avenue de Wagram, that was founded in the beginning of the last century, with illustrations of other important events that took place the same year. The restaurant in it self was very nice, but the prize must be given to the waiters that should have an Oscar for the scenes they played to amuse a lonely traveller.

Scene 1:
Waiter no. 1: “One or two menus?”
Traverller: “One.”
Waiter no. 1: “Are you eating alone?”
Traveller: “Yes.”
Waiter no. 1: “What if I join you?”
Traveller: “Please do.”
Waiter no. 1: Kisses Traveller on the cheek. “Welcome to Paris!”

Scene 2:
Waiter no. 2: “Are you eating alone?”
Traveller: “Yes.”
Waiter no. 2: Kisses Traveller on the cheek. “Welcome to Paris!”

Scene 3:
Waiter no. 2: Kisses Traveller on the cheek. “Welcome to Paris!”
Waiter no 1: Signs 'He's crazy' to Traveller.

Scene 4:
Waiter no. 2: Kisses Traveller on the cheek. “Welcome to Paris! I love you.”
Traveller: “I really start to feel welcome.”

Scene 5:
Waiter no. 2: Kisses Traveller on the cheek. “Is the food good?”
Traveller: “Excellent.”
Waiter no. 2: “Just like you – the food and you are alike, just excellent!”

Well, no need to write no more scenes. The whole dinner was a big “welcome to Paris.”

It was most interesting to follow these two hard-working guys at their best. Running a marathon, I believe, during the busy Friday evening. Not showing any reaction when one customer after another left their table, giving up on getting fast service. Well, I guess I got the best service there was to get that evening. Always a plus eating alone. And then the marathon continued, hips hitting into chairs, bread falling out of baskets, tableware hitting against each other. I bought no ticket to the evening show at the theater, but I got the show, alright.