In these financially challenged times, it is rare that we get a night out...a date night...let someone else cook...relax away from the TV, and the dogs.Our fourteenth wedding anniversary was celebrated with a pleasant hour or so at (by default) one of our favorite restaurants here in Modesto: The Elephant Bar. We've always had fun going there, with other couples and by ourselves. The menu is diverse and used to be relatively inexpensive. However, in the year or so since our last visit, The EB has "adjusted" their fair a bit, mostly in price...UP! Not a surprise, just very noticeable. By the way, I use the word "default" since this is one of the only places that hasn't totally disappointed us on more than one outing, ie, Tahoe Joe's (joke), Outback (simply went downhill), or The Olive Garden (lost interest after working for them for 3 years). We've tried some of the locally-owned bistros without much fanfare (or return visit). Most of them have gone out of business (for good reason).
Me: Man, I wish we could find a nice, small, local joint we can call our own.
Loretta: Haven't we had this conversation many times?
Me: Yeah...so?
Loretta: You mean a few steps up from In N Out?
Me: Hmmm...come to think of it, when was the last time I had a Double Double? But, they're not locally-owned.
Loretta: Oh, that's right.
Me: Sure wish we could find a nice, small local joint we can call our own.
