happy birthday mchau

raos, on 114 and 1st, isn't all about the food.  "the reviews said to park your car near the restaurant...or cab it."..."how long do you think it would take to wait for a cab up there?"  10 tables with the walls covered with autographed portraits of stars.  it's a scene out of goodfellas.  italians with slicked back hair in oversized short sleeve button downs or suits.  it's italian american.  not italian.  it's pamigiana, it's mozzeralla, it's roasted peppers and carbs.  and it's oversized for family style only.  the wines are well paired with the food and the service sits next to you and talks to you as one of their own believing in their product, their service and their company.  it's nothing outside of what you would get out of an overly done pizzeria in your local arcade, but the prices don't reflect that year long wait list.  and it's not even a waitlist that's long due to hype, it's just long due to history, family, and obligation of supportive patrons that come for that heavy meal once a month or more.  i could live without it, i'd trade it for a monthly reservations in ktown if i really needed it.  i'd trade it for chinese food delivery from chinatown.  it's cheaper and it'd probably keep the figure a bit better.

how she got the reservations.  no idea.  who cares.  meatballs were good but how can you really tell the difference between the nuances of grounded balls of meat doused in tomato sauce?  we chat.  we ate. we sang happy birthday. and we ended up @ karaoke.  cuz that's what we do.