A good friend of mine referred me to this great Italian restaurant in a city about 3 hours from where I lived. I asked him, "What the hell makes this place so special that I would be willing to drive 3 hours?"
He told me the service was worth the trip alone, and the food was even better. I took some time to think it over and a few days later I called to make a reservation. The person on the phone asked my age, and if I preferred smoking, non-smoking, or the cigar lounge. I wondered what the age question was all about and she said that there was a minimum age limit for their restaurant, which I was able to meet. I then told her I wanted to be seated in the cigar lounge for cocktails, but non-smoking while I ate. She then asked if I would like a private table or a table near the windows, which overlook the city (the restaurant I found out is in the heart of the city, and is on the 10th floor!).
I was amazed at all of this, considering my friend never mentioned any of this. I was beginning to wonder how much this damn food was going to cost me if there was all this fuss about seating arrangements. The lady then began asking me questions about what I would like to eat. Now keep in mind I was making reservations for about 2 weeks or so later, and she is already taking my order! I explained I had never eaten there obviously, and I wasn't sure what there was, let alone what I wanted.
She kind of giggled and told me no problem, that is what she is there for, to get me situated so when I arrive I will have the ultimate dining experience from start to finish. I slowly relaxed and thought wow no wonder he said the service was worth it alone. I went along with her and I ordered an appetizer, which was a bowl of fresh clam chowder, my entrée was the filet mignon with lobster tails, a vegetable, my dessert was a chocolate raspberry tart with fresh raspberries to accent with chocolate drizzled all over it. Not a bad little meal I thought.
Now my next fear was the cost. Fortunately it wasn't too bad, only $150.00 for the meal, cigars, cocktails, and tip all included in the flat rate. I was told it was the same price regardless of steak, or hamburger meat. Glad I ordered the good stuff I told her and we both laughed. I thanked her for her time, asked her name, which she told me, was Olivia, and hung up.
When I hung up the phone I was in a daze over making a 150-dollar dinner reservation, and that I was going alone! "Shit!" I exclaimed. "Now what the hell I am going to do? Cough up another buck-fifty for a date?" I quickly called Olivia back and asked if there was an additional charge for a second guest, which is if I could find one. She sighed kind of sweetly and said no the charge covered parties of up to 4 so bring anyone I desired.
She suggested that if things didn't work out as far as finding a dinner guest that the cigar lounge was usually well "stocked" with ladies as long as I didn't find 40-60-something, cigar-smoking women unattractive. I felt a stirring in my jeans at that moment. I stammered out that no, in fact I would most likely show up alone if that were the case. We both laughed and hung up.
The next morning I went downtown to pick out a new outfit for my night out. I got it all. The shirt, tie, jacket, slacks, shoes, even matching socks that corresponded with the tie and jacket.
It was the morning of my dinner out of town experience and I decided to go all out (especially since I was shooting away 150 bucks for my dinner alone.), and get a fresh haircut, shave, and manicure. Now I am a blue collared kind of guy, and to me this was the most extravagant thing I had ever done. I figured we only live once and try something overzealous and live a little.
"Holy shit!" is all I could say when I arrived in front of this museum-esque building. I got out of my car and gave the keys to the valet and handed him a ten-dollar bill. He thanked me, and said, "Mr. Smith, you will be going in the foyer and turning right and taking the elevator marked C1C."
"Alright," I said and went in and followed his instructions. Now the outside looked like it cost a couple of countries worth of national debts to fix this place up, but inside was very modest and comfortable.
Once I got up to the restaurant I approached the Hostess and asked if she was Olivia, and she told me Olivia was off for the evening. She introduced herself as Natalie and escorted me to the cigar lounge. Natalie told me it would be about 30-45 minutes before my dinner would be ready so to relax and enjoy myself while I waited.
As I was strolling around the lounge checking out the décor I noticed an attractive lady sitting on a leather couch in the back of the room reading a novel of some sort. She was short in stature, probably in her late forties. She had a silver mane like I've never seen before on a woman, which came down and rested on her very full-sized breasts. It shimmered from the soft lilac lighting in the lounge. She wore glasses that I thought made her astounding to look at. She wore a full-length dinner dress that was showing plenty of her attributes in all the right places.
Her neckline was exposed to show off a soft set of pearls, and the slit on her dress went up to almost her hip it seemed. I could see the hemline on her thigh high stockings. Her thick legs looked delicious. For a full-figured woman she was breathtaking. Her makeup was sensual, and those full pouty lips were as crimson as they could be. They had a glisten to them that would blind you if in the light. I approached the bar and asked the waiter to fix me a 7&7 double, and if he could tell me what the lady in the corner was having that I would like one of those, too.
He told me that she was drinking a glass of Chablis from 1972. He served the drinks and I walked over to the couch area, and excused myself and handed her the Chablis. She looked up at me over her glasses and smiled, then thanked me. She was kind of quiet and reserved. I looked over to see a fabulous selection of cigar burning in the ashtray next to her and asked if she cared that I sit and join her. She graciously slid over slightly and I accompanied her. Before I could get settled, I decided to go ahead and make a selection for a cigar. I apologized for my nervousness, and when she giggled I knew who she was instantly.
"Olivia?" I asked.
"Yes, Mr Smith it's me.' I hope you don't find this to be inappropriate, but when you told me you would be coming alone, I called Jack (our mutual friend who told me of the place) and asked a few things about you." My jaw was in the floor at this point. "Um, no why would I find this inappropriate, and if I may ask; what exactly did you two talk about?"
"Oh a little of this and a little of that." She said with a devilish grin in her eyes. I told her to call me James, and that I would be right back, I needed a cigar. Before I got up from the couch she placed her hand on my arm and asked me to stay seated. She reached into a tabletop humidor next to her and removed a cigar already punched and told me it was for me. This lady did her homework. She knew exactly by brand, ring gauge, and style of cigar that would enjoy smoking. She handed me a Bucanero Maduro wrapped Churchill 50-ring stoagie and followed up with a fancy looking torch lighter that resembled a miniature wine bottle.
I told her I was not used to a lady lighting my cigars; it was usually the other way around. Softly she said that maybe later she would let me light her up. Before the two of us realized it she quickly added that she was referring to her cigar, and to forgive her. The wine was playing naughty with her. I told her no need for forgiveness that either way, I wouldn't mind. We both smiled and took a moment of silence. I asked her what she was reading. She told me just some half-porn romance novel. "I was nervous about seeing if you looked as good as you sounded, and Jack described you to me so I figured if anything didn't go right, I always had my trusty "backup plan"." We laughed hysterically.
"Anything Jack tells you about me is a 50-50 deal.' It's usually 50% false, and 50% exaggerated," I told her. Olivia said, "Oh I don't see it that way at all. I think Jack
understated
you." I could feel myself becoming somewhat embarrassed by her flattery. Olivia was a sweet, soft-spoken lady. I found her company soothing. She was a very intelligent lady who seemed to have a vast knowledge of a lot of different topics.