funny | documentary | sushi

The weather is still kind of chilly after sunset. Though it’s already June 1st.

I went to the Izakaya at St. Mark street. Instead of draft beer, I ordered a hot sake.

Grilled cubed beef. Grilled squid. To-fu skined dumpling.

The waitress was very nice. She reminded me of a friend of mine.

The place was packed. As noisy as usual. On a Wednesday night, it was a little too much. I know it’s always packed during the weekend. But on a Wednesday night around 10:30pm, this is way out there.

The food took a while to arrive. The waitress greeted me and told me she asked about my food, they’ll be ready soon.

It’s just like every Japanese Izakaya, you can have nice and fair priced food here. I become a usual customer.

I finished my food. Asked for a cup of tea and the check. She took a while to bring me the tea but after the tea, she brought the check right away.

I said to her when she delivered me the check, "This is lovely."

She smiled.

I went out at 11pm, walking with an entertainment weekly tucked under my arm and wondering what I should eat for my dinner.

I had dinner last night at that Japanese Izakaya at St. Mark street. I don’t want to go there 2 nights in a row. So I am out of choices for dinner. I don’t know what I can eat at this hour.

It’s a much better situation now than 8 years ago. 8 years ago, there’s nothing open around where I live after 11pm. And I live in downtown manhattan around union square, can you believe that? Things had changed a lot. Lots of restaurants open till 2am now. Mostly Japanese. Some french, and a polish dinner ‘Veselka’ was there forever.

Anyways. I walked toward 3rd avenue, thinking I might go to the burritto place near by. I was not sure. Then I remembered the store called ’Chick pea’ on St. Mark street and 3rd avenue. I’ve never been there, but I think I can use a shawarma.

I used to eat them when I was living in Paris. There was this famous falafel place near by. All day long people are lineing up and eating right outside in the street. I was lazy and desperate. I’d have no idea what I want to eat for dinner and ended up going there to get a shawarma and wash it down with a beer.

And that’s exactly what I did tonight, 11pm. I walked 4 blocks in the drizzle to get me a shawarma and a Heineken. The beer was not even quite cold. The lamb shawarma tasted quite gamy. The lukewarm beer was disgusting. While eating, I read the story about Ridley Scott’s new movie —’Kingdom of Heaven’. Nothing was very inspiring.

However, to sit right at the head of St. Mark street in a rainy night was quite an experience.

Things are different when it rains, I suppose.