Dinner with Friends

This a little late, but darn it, it's getting done!

Last Thursday the Papesh's, the Bojo's, and the Muylle's took some time out of their busy schedules to celebrate the birthdays of Dawn, Dennis, and Jill. We try and get together for the birthday of the month at the restaurant of choice of the birthday person. Since there were 3 birthday's relatively close together we combined the dinner date into a single night.

This would be the first of such dates that were children free! I think we all looked forward to an adult night out. The Muylle's waited intently at the Bojo's for the Papesh's to arrive from dropping off their kids at Dawn's mothers. This will be the first time the restaurant of choice will have to be a consensus pick. Jill was not picky about where to eat but did state a few places she did not want satisfy her hunger. I do not recall Dennis suggesting any places, but Amy had chosen a few places we had not attended yet, one being Jake's in Old Town Saginaw. When Joe and Dawn arrived she volunteered her places of choice and one of them also happened to be Jake's. It was agreed upon that this would be our destination.

We piled into the Papesh's van. Amy was given the duty of giving Joe directions to the fine eatery. Well, it took all of 5 houses before Amy screamed "WAIT!!!". Yes, this was the 1st turn we were supposed to take and Amy missed. Joe applied his brakes and casually drove the van in reverse 3 houses or so in order to make the turn. A few blocks later... "WAIT!". Again, Amy missed telling Joe another turn. I learned that Amy is easy to distract. It is kind of like a child who seems to be paying attention, then says "Oh, look, shinny things!" and you lose them. We agreed to not allow Amy to talk so we could get to our destination before Labor Day.

We arrive and all pile out of the minivan... picture being at the circus and clowns piling out of the car. We approach the front door when someone reads a sign in the foyer. It's a dress code. No hats are to be worn. No sports Jerseys. Dennis firmly states that he will not be taking his hat off while dining.

Our hostess greets us, takes us to our table where we eagerly look over the fine dining menu. Within minutes our server comes to the table, explains the soup of the day and casually leans into Dennis and politely asks him to remove his hat. Dennis was not pleased and was putting up a little fight in hopes of not having to remove his skull cover. Amy, fearing Dennis was overstepping his bounds starts flicking his arm over and over believing this may get his attention to just abide by the rules. After numerous flicks, Dennis raies his voice "If you do not stop flicking me I will throw it at her!". Awkward! Dennis succumbs to the evil tyranny of the restaurants rules and places his hat in his lap. Whew....

When it comes to our time to order, Dawn wanted a glass of wine for dinner. The server informs Dawn they only sell bottles (CHA CHING). Joe tells Dawn to get the bottle of red wine and he would share it with her. Our server then asks Dennis what he would like, he asks for the T-Bone, to which she replies " I am sorry sir, we our out of the T-Bone and Whitefish." Oh crap, more fuel being added to the fire. You would think our server would let us know what they are out of before we order. Dennis glances through the menu and makes his second choice. I can just imagine what he is thinking. The rest of us order our meals, which except for Dawn, came with either a sweet potato or a baked potato. More on the potatoes later. The wine glasses come with many spots even after Amy spotted the server repeatedly trying to clean them before bringing them to us.

Before the appetizers that Joe and Dennis ordered had arrived.... Dawn was beginning to show signs of giddyness. ( if thats a word) The wine was working fast. Slowly she was laughing at everything, her voice was getting louder and Joe was thinking "This could be my night!". Numerous times Joe would have to turn to Dawn and with his hand in the air and motioning it to the floor and say "Tone it down, tone it down". She was becoming flush in the face. She was now telling stories about her and Joe that only a hotel in Florida knew about. Joe and I traded many of fist fives as he was headin down the road to a night of passionate wine sex!

Keep in mind, this is a "Fine Dining" establishment. Joe brought to our attention that the server would not refill their wine glasses. Even after numerous hints from Amy and Dawn. We had to ask to have our water glasses refilled. The plates we were finished with slowly piled up. It was not because they were busy, there wasn't any more than 15 people in there.

Our food came, Joe's sweet potato was half the size of his steak (which was not very big), Amy, Jill, and Mike's baked potatoes were so over done, you could not mash them. They were burnt nearly all the way through. Not even burying them in sour cream and butter could save them. The meats we had chosen were pretty good. Dawn had chosen a Surf and Turf dish. It looked pretty, not sure what was all in it. Dawn had taken a picture of it to show friends. Shortly after our server approached Dawn handed her a card and whispered to her, so we could not hear, that if she was going to post the picture of her meal, to please use the name of the Chef, that it was the Chef's signature dish and to say where she had purchased it. Please... it wasn't anything that special and with how we feel about the experience I do no think the Chef would want to see a public comment.

The dessert tray was brought over. Joe asked about the apple pie, wanting to make sure it did not have a dry crust. Amy and Joe had ordered the apple pie ala mode. Amy's was a perfect looking piece, the same size as the sample that was shown. Joe's, well, it was at least half the size. I think his sweet potato was bigger.

I am sorry to say to any of you planning to patronize this establishment, Jake's , that the service was bad, the food was on the most part below average, a dress code is in effect and since our bills combined for almost $250... I rate it 1/2 stars. Only because the meats were good.

Shoot, before I forget, during our meal, at the table next to us Joe pointed out a gentleman who had his shirt unbuttoned half way down his chest, his napkin firmly stuffed in his shirt. Trying to escape out of his shirt over the napkin was a small wookie. There was so much hair escaping over the napkin. I believe we will try and get a picture up of it.