A first encounter with Meet & Spuds

It's 6 o'clock on a Tuesday night and I'm ready to leave the office for a long commute home.  Work, work, work... that's all that's been on my mind all day long.  Even at the water cooler, chatter has been about trying to hit sales objectives or the Monday Night Football game and my team wasn't even playing.  No one has had the time or inclination to talk about the coming "fiscal cliff" and how this could realistically impact our business.  I know it pertains to work, but it is going to impact so much more, so many people and companies, and no one seems to care.  Conversations are so shallow these days that I'd do better just talking to myself.

Is that my stomach grumbling?  I've really worked up an appetite today.  I'm so tired of fast food and really don't feel much like cooking tonight.  A nice juicy steak would taste great about now.  It's too late to make plans now with anyone, not that there are many to ask these days.  Everyone is always so busy with their own lives and half of them are married.  So where can I grab a real meal?  Most places will have me eating at a table by myself or at the bar.  That's not very appealing.

Hey, didn't John mention something about a new place down on Boylston Street?  He was raving about how he was seated with a couple of other guys who had a real interest in college basketball.  They couldn't stop talking long enough to finish their meal, which according to John was quite sizable.  Apparently they match you up with other people who have similar interests, so no one is eating alone.  I hope it isn't only sports they talk about.  John also mentioned the menu was kind of different... mostly steak and potatoes.  He said the meal didn't even come with a salad or mixed vegetables.  But he was really impressed with the piece of steak he received, one of the largest and most tender cuts he'd ever had.  Well this restaurant certainly sounds interesting.  Now what was the name of the place?  Meet & Spuds.  I think I'll give it a try tonight.

15 minutes later...

Well it wasn't too hard to find.  As I approached the place, I saw a number of people checking it out.  That's a good sign.  There seems to be mostly individuals going in, although I did see a few couples entering together.  As soon as I walked in the door I could see lots of people congregating around the bar.  There were a couple empty tables scattered about the restaurant.  A lovely young lady, the hostess, has just welcomed me to the restaurant and asked if I had been here before.  I say "No, first time."  She directs my attention to a huge TV screen on the wall to my right and explains that it is showing all of the different topics of conversation going on tonight.  

What seems to be popular... interesting, it isn't just all about sports.  There are quite a few tables with people talking about politics and a few more focused on the economy.  I was worried this would be just another sports bar.  She told me to think about what I'd like to engage in a conversation about, then see the social coordinator at the podium to reserve a seat at one of the tables.  As soon as they gather a full group of four, we will be seated.  In the meantime, I could grab a drink at the bar.  She said it typically takes 15-20 minutes for a table, depending on the topic and who walks in the door.  When I mention that I think I would like to talk about the economy, she notes there's one seat available at the next table being formed and that we could be seated in minutes.  So I go and put my name in and they hand me a beeper.

Five minutes later I am summoned and led to a table with three other gentlemen of various ages.  They appear to be well dressed, businessmen I'd guess from their attire.  After we are seated the waitress hands us a tablet (iPad), then proceeds to tell us they have wifi and we will see on the screen a number of  links to current news articles related to the economy, if we are interested.  Drinks are ordered and menus left for us to view.  I've never seen such a simple menu... just one page, except perhaps at one of those high end restaurants.  Let's see.  Five different cuts of steak, pot roast and corned beef... mashed, fried or baked potatoes... and gravy or au jus.  Well this is a simple choice.  T-Bone steak with mashed and gravy.  After introducing ourselves, the conversation easily turns to what is currently going on in the economy, unemployment, etc.  Before we know it the food has arrived.  The portion of steak is so big that it requires a plate of its own.  The potatoes and gravy are in a large bowl to the side.  It smells and looks so good, I am salivating.  I take the first bite and I am in heaven.

Has it been an hour already?  The conversation has been so in depth and interesting that I've lost track of time.  We order a last round of drinks, so we can continue our discussion.  A few times during the meal a segment being presented on the live feed on the big screen TV in our section of the restaurant caught our attention.  It was just audible, if we wanted to listen, and had closed caption, so it wasn't intrusive.  We also took advantage of the tablet and looked up a few facts to support our arguments.  In this environment, our conversation was just about guaranteed not to be superficial.  We are so full from our meals that dessert isn't even a consideration.  I noticed they don't offer a dessert menu.  No loss.  Who'd have room?

As we finish up, the waitress hands each of us our own checks, so there is no confusion over the bill.  The price feels right.  The quality of the food was excellent and the ambiance was like nothing I had experienced before.  I offer my business card to the other men as we are parting and thank them for a hearty conversation.  Perhaps we will cross paths again.  The others reciprocate the same.  What a wonderful experience this has been.  As I leave, I see they are open during lunch time as well.  Now I have an alternative to break up my day if I want.  You can bet I'll let others know of this place and be sure to thank John for telling me about it.