Familiar Places

J's favorite restaurant in town is a tiny hole in the wall place on a side street with a ton of pot-holes. The place is always full but the owners know us well and try to get us our favorite table located behind a glass wall. They also know her order which has not changed in the last several years. The food is fresh and consistent in quality - no surprises ever. I like the place but I would much rather try new things, places we have not been and unfamiliar cuisine. The joy of being a regular is deeply tied to comfort and predictability. Every bit of the experience is about the familiar rituals. Even the smallest deviations take away from it and leave the person feeling robbed of what they most value. 

Such was our experience the last time we had dinner here. Under new management, they have made several improvements but the quality of the food remains just as good as before. The service is more efficient but J missed seeing the faces she has grown familiar with and not having to name her order. There was something amateur yet very homely about the way they ran this place before - definitely part of the charm. While we enjoyed the food and even got our favorite table, I could tell it was not the same for J. She likes coming here for comfort and sometimes that includes some quirks, imperfections and even mild discomfort. A better managed operation took some of that away for her so I am not sure how eager she will be to return there soon.