Today’s prompt is interesting. There are so many good places I’ve eaten, but for me, my favorite place holds my favorite memories. Now, I’m using a pen name, so I’m not going to reveal the place itself, but let me tell you, it’s an amazing all-you-can-eat sushi spot. The only limits are 30 pieces of sashimi per person and a 2-hour sitting time. However, they never seem to enforce these rules with me for some odd reason. Maybe it’s because they adore my service dog.
On our first visit, we had to explain that they couldn’t deny her entry. It was interesting, as most of the staff at the time struggled with English. When we sat down, my girl went under the table and would surprise people when they spotted her. “I didn’t realize there was a dog there,” they would say. My response is always the same, “Then she is doing her job. She should be invisible when not actively working.” Well, as invisible as any dog can be, she is small but still catches the eye because it is not typical to see a dog in a restruant. Now considering big dogs are more common for service work; as the different places service dogs can help you are starting to see more small dogs, so imagine those guys going unseen LOL it will not happen.
At the end of that first visit, they brought me a box filled with sushi ends and other dishes made that night, and they made it clear it was for the service dog. I found it absolutely adorable.
I went there with a friend of mine who has no vision and uses a guide dog. We always have to let our dog’s play when we first meet up, they wait for the vest to be off and then it’s the zoomies. When they get it out of their system gear goes back on. We get to the restaurant and head in. The staff was excited about another dog being there you could see it on their faces. Again we were set up in that booth meant for a large group, you could see the staff trying to get a good peak at the second service dog with me who was for my friend. This time I know we went over the time limit, even though it may have been due to the visual impairment issue so needing a bit more time but I think honestly it was the dogs. This time there was a large to go box and a small one, someone doodled a dog on each in the colours of our dogs. Yes both got to have their treat, my friend thought it was amazing that they did that. I agree even if those bits would normally end up in the trash but the pups deserve a treat to from time to time. All healthy for them but to them it is people food.
I have brought friends, family, and those closest to me to this restaurant. Every time I bring my service dog, we get my favorite spot, one of the biggest booths, no matter how big our group is and it is the manager himself that sees to this one. I suspect the staff likes to sneak a peek at their favorite four-legged customer and this is the only table that even the staff in the back can see her. Who ever we get as our server has a hard time not taking peeks under the table and greeting my service dog every time but manages it. Sometimes I even get a surprise treat. Such as a bottle of plum saki nice and warm soon as I sat down. I was told it was taken care of when I pointed it out that it was not on my receipt. This is the type of place you go back to just for the service. The food, omg it tastes like everything was freshly picked or the freshest catch etc for whatever your eating. I have yet to find a place that compares. Let alone the selection for an all you can eat place in the middle of downtown.
I have many fond memories here, the time I tried a sushi dish with fruit and rice paper stands out… sadly. Now, I have issues with textures, but usually, I can make myself swallow the first bite before saying it’s a big NOPE. This one, however, was the first and only time I had to spit it out into my napkin. So far, it’s the only time I’ve had to do that. I am just glad I learned how to spit food out in public and not have it noticed. Well the kitchen staff noticed and I could see the laughter on their faces and high fives. I may not get to talk to them but I recognize them by face, it was a laugh with not laugh at moment.
I recall taking my biological father and brother here. The amount of food we put away had us waiting to even try to drive for a good hour after we left. I gave my dad some drawing supplies as like me he loves his art and is amazing at it to. Now I met him when I was an adult so our relationship is a bit odd at times. He also has zero filter at all and I mean zero. Every last female waitress got flirted with big time by him, they were amused, by this time I have been going here for years so know most of them if not by name then well enough to read their expressions still. If they had not been amused I would have stopped it.
I could go on with my memories of this place. While the food is amazing, the variety of options you get are way more then any other all you can eat place I have been at, the service is fantastic (I still think the dog is the reason for this one), and the staff remembers people often from the first time they were ever there. You don’t see this often anymore especially in the core of a major city. For me what makes this place is the memories I have with people there, most good, some funny as hell, some not so funny like the rice paper fruit dessert thing. Yet I walk in there and those memories are their at least in the back of my mind making the place feel familiar, warm, inviting, relaxing almost like a home away from home that is crazy busy all the time. This is what makes a place you eat at special and this is what makes this my favorite restraunt.
Every time we leave, they give us a to-go box with treats for the puppy for being so good. This place, with its delicious sushi, friendly staff, and their love for my service dog, also might help me say this is my favorite place. When the rules with a service dog are respected and then there are special treats for them at the end…. There are no words for how warm that makes me feel because my service dog is my life line and is the reason I am still drawing breath. She has saved my life a few times now. So yea it is a factor a big one. Yet that is also a memory as well.
What makes a restaurant special for you?
Who am I? 
I would love to hear from you!