My parents were out of town on Father's day so we decided to celebrate with them a week late. We had planned for the entire family to go to Smoke to celebrate father's day and my Nannie's b-day. Smoke is a gourmet BBQ place that is located in the Bellmont hotel and is super busy on Saturday nights. Adam and I were supposed to meet everyone at Shari's condo but were running a little late (actually a little....that was not sarcasm!) so we decided to just go straight the the restaurant.
When we got there, there was a long line for the valet and huge line just to turn into the parking lot for self park. Both are in a very small lot that is kind of on a hill. We patiently waited until someone pulled out of a spot big enough for the Expedition. Adam parked the car in the second row and was told by the valet that was a valet only spot. Adam was super polite and told the guy we would pay for valet when we came out it was just the only spot the car would fit in.
We got inside and it was packed. I told the host we had reservations to which he replied, "Sorry guys I sold your table. We only hold them for 15 minutes." Uh, we were EARLY for our 7:30 reservation (I know fall over dying now that Adam, Maison, and I were any where early). So I told the guy we had reserves at 7:30 to which he argued and said, "No, 7:00". I could not get him to realize it was 7 people for 7:30. Not the 3 of us for 7:00. I didn't make the reservation so I called Shari who was none too happy to find out there was a mix-up. While Adam was trying to work things out I decided I would take Maison to the bathroom. We had driven downtown from Plano and had been in the valet line and talking to the host for 20 mins so I figured she could use a diaper change.
I see the bathrooms back by the pool tables. Yes, I was mortified that everyone was staring at the dressed up lady with a baby, carrying a screaming pink diaper bag, in a trendy restaurant/bar. I got to the bathrooms and it was the 'one man' kind. I went in the first women's...no changing table. I went in the other one..no changing table. Apparently if you don't want people to bring babies to your nice establishment then you don't accommodate their needs...eventually they will wise up and not come anymore. I lined the entire floor with the majority of their paper towels, put down Maison's changing pad, and took care of the diaper sitch. When we returned to Adam I was beyond pissed. I just wanted to leave. We went to get the car and the valet had the audacity to ask us to pay when we were inside less time than we waited in line to park the car. Adam very nicely told him no.
We talked to Shari and collectively we decided to give this place the "F and L" (First and Last time I will be stepping foot in here) and we headed to Patry's. My mother's friend, Joni, and her husband own Patry's and even though it is a super nice french restaurant we knew they would accommodate Maison. Patry's was great, Maison was a perfect angel even though she had to sit in a booster seat ...that's all they had as they too don't have many baby diners. In the end, it was a blessing that Smoke didn't work out and that we ended up at Patry's. At least no one gave us the 'baby stare down' when we walked in!
Maison and G'daddy at Patry's:
After dinner we went to Shari's condo for cake and presents...
No cake for Maison...just milk:
