We are a steakhouse.

A very good steak house.

An Amazingly good steakhouse.

We are not Longhorn. We are not Sizzler. We are not Outback.

You can get a decent steak at these restaurants.

They are the Toyota Corolla of steaks.

We are the Bentleys of steaks.

Yes, we are expensive, because the quality is reflected in the price.

So when you come to our restaurant, it’s a very good idea to take the recommendation of the server.

For example, don’t order the ribeye if you want a lean steak. They’ll explain the difference between a porterhouse and tbone. And they tell you what cut to get if you want a steak well done.

Tonight, we had a man order a well done NY Strip. The server tried to steer him toward the filet. It can be butterflied, and isn’t shoe leather when it’s finished.

He wouldn’t have it. He ordered the strip.

When it arrived at the table, and he cut into the steak it was a solid medium. The reason: the steak is so thick that to get the center cooked through, you will char the outside.

He sent it back.

It was sent out again. A solid medium well.

He sent it back again.

This time the chef sliced the steak in half, essentially butterflied it, and cooked it more.

His wife was finished eating by the time his steak was finally sent out. And I can’t imagine how tough, and how charred the steak was. He would have enjoyed a filet so much more.

They were very positive when they left. Nothing but great things to say.

But I have to wonder if they’d have not been happier ordering the pork chop or salmon.

The frost heave was worse tonight.

Could barely get the door open.

So tonight, the door had to stay open. Thank god the temperature was about 9* warmer. Also we were slower so the inside needed to be open a lot less.

It was a tad bit more tolerable tonight.

Let’s hope it gets fixed while we are closed tomorrow and Wednesday!

In Maine we have a thing called frost heave. I’ve seen it in the rest of the country. Just never heard the term.

It’s where the pavement gets so cold the pavement buckles.

Our parking lot in the front of our restaurant is asphalt. And tonight the section right in front of the front door developed frost heave.

We discovered this at 4:55 as we were opening for dinner.

The problem.

The front had to be forced open.

And closed.

Like seriously I thought someone would hurt themselves trying to open the door.

And most people gave up trying to close the door.

There is an outer and inner door but with both doors open, the temperature in the lobby was about 40 degrees tonight.

The temperature outside at 6:00 was 12*.

The host and I stood there for the first hour till the first seating was in.

I couldn’t ask her to be there longer, so I acted as host until everyone else was seated. She helped in the dining room etc.

I finally sat down around 8:45. Shivering.

It’s now 1:00 am and I am still cold.

I had my heat in the car on at full for the entire 45 minute drive home. My fingers were numb.

Even a bourbon at work didn’t help.

A bourbon at home hasn’t helped.

Hopefully, the 10 degree warm up tomorrow will help.