Our Place

There’s a Chinese Restaurant in south Austin that we’ve been frequenting since 1996, and it is our place. I call it “our place” because it’s the one place that has stayed consistent over the years. Devil had been going there for lunch about a year before I joined him. He worked right next door and he quickly became known by the owners, who are from Hong Kong. He was always in the kitchen, she in the front of the house, and their boys running around trying to behave. They grew up in the restaurant, right before our eyes.

I remember  my first time there. Their oldest was running around with a big smile on his face and she was pregnant with their second child. When we walked in, she talked to Devil as though she’d known him for years. Then we moved out of state, and only ate there once a year, or so, when we were visiting home. No matter how long in it had been since we dined with them, they always remembered our names and what we were doing. When we moved back, it was our first place we went to when we had dinner out, and could afford it. Over the years we took many friends and business clients there, and with each career change, she always remembered where we were and what new things were going on in our lives. No, I didn’t share with her my latest change, but she did know that I was now able to stay home…

Several years ago I was sick with a cold that I just couldn’t get rid of, and I seemed to be getting worse, instead of better, and instead of going to the doctor, Devil stopped by “Our Place” and picked up dinner. It was unusual for us not to be together, so they had tons of questions as to where I was and whatnot. The husband told Devil to sit tight and he’d be back in a few minutes. When he came back out, he had a huge cup of some Chinese concoction and told him to make me drink it all. No matter how bad it tastes. I’d be better in the morning. No doctor needed. It was some nasty herbs all infused together, and not completely liquefied, but I forced myself to swallow it and then went to bed. The next morning I felt better than I had in two weeks!

We always ordered off of their Chinese menu, instead of their Americanized options, and we never had to tell her what we wanted. She was already putting the order in before we sat down.

Last weekend I met one of our friends there, while we waited on Devil to get a break for dinner. As soon as I walked in, I could tell something was different. Once I saw the menu, which was completely new, along with the name, I realized I wasn’t greeted by either one of the owners. I looked around and there were new people standing at the cash register, and a new wait staff, except for one waitress, who was always Devil’s favorite. She told us that they were bought out a few weeks ago, and nothing was the same.

We were so sad, but also happy for them. They worked 7-days a week, with hardly a day off. I hope that they’re able to make time for each other now, and that they’ll take it to enjoy and not work themselves to death. Both of the boys are in college and doing great, and it’s their time now. It’s bittersweet.