I didn’t do the typical male thing and forget my wedding anniversary. Both of us have a few days off and we’re going to celebrate today by going to a restaurant we’ve been to a couple of times. It’s called Rivoli and it’s in Berkeley and there’s an amusing story about the first time we went there for our anniversary (this was years ago).
We arrived around the time of our reservation, and told the person at the front who we were. She said “Okay,” and went to the back (where the restaurant is). She came back and asked our name again. We told her and she excused herself again and this time another person came out and said, “I’m sorry folks, what was you name again?” We told him and he said “Well, another couple with the exact same name as yours came in about 5 minutes before you and said it was their wedding anniversary, too.”
Well, since our last name is pretty uncommon, Julie said, “Would you like to see our IDs?” He said “No, that’s quite alright, it looks like they just glanced at the reservation list, saw your name and went for it.” I asked: “Hey, did they pronounce our last name correctly? ” Surprisingly, he said “Yes.”
We were kind of laughing about it, and while they set up a new table for us, the manager gave us wine and appetizers and, I believe, even picked up the tab on dessert. Anyway, I was really tempted to walk up to the couple who took our table, and say: “Well, congratulations to you both! How amazing it is to meet a couple with the exact same name as ours — and we’re not even related!” But, they seemed really crabby, and I didn’t to ruin our evening by getting into it with strangers who don’t think it’s strange that they nabbed someone else’s reservations.
A couple of years later, we went back to the same restaurant for our anniversary and the staff remembered us! The manager said they even had a name for it: “The Asregadoo Incident.” And then added, “You know, you two can come back and visit us when it’s not your anniversary.”
But Rivoli has become our anniversary place!
So Happy Anniversary to the “other Asregadoos” and to J and me. I think we’re much happier than they are. 🙂
J has a very nice and mushy post about our anniversary HERE.
J
July 3, 2007 at 10:51 amI wonder if we’ll see them at the restaurant tonight? HA!
What did they get out of the evening? A good meal, and the bad karma of knowing they took someone’s wedding anniversary reservation. BAD KARMA people!
What did we get out of the evening? Free wine and appitizers at the bar, free dessert, and a funny story to tell for years. 🙂
Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart, and I’m looking forward to some yummy food tonight!
J
July 3, 2007 at 10:55 amI just went and peeked at their menu, linked from your post. I may pass out. Looks DIVINE.
Py Korry
July 3, 2007 at 11:04 amBecause we can’t talk to each other without blogs, I hope “The other Asregadoos” got divorced. 🙂
Beenzzz
July 3, 2007 at 11:15 amHappy Anniversary you guys! I’m glad they comped you all that stuff for giving your reservations away to someone else.
Cherry
July 3, 2007 at 11:41 amI love that story!
Happy Anniversary to a wonderful couple!
MsMamma
July 3, 2007 at 12:28 pmCongrats! Your wedding photo looks amazing with your new digs as well! You two seem to have such a happy life! I hope you get really, REALLY old and wrinkley together!
Gina
July 3, 2007 at 2:12 pmYou two are wonderful together and Happy Anniversary!
Maya's Granny
July 4, 2007 at 11:01 pmI’ve never heard that story before. I agree, they are probably divorced. People who would do that are people who would do dirt to each other, as well.
Ml
July 5, 2007 at 8:17 amGreat story! Happy Anniversary!
Lalunas
July 5, 2007 at 1:27 pmI hope you have a great dinner. I love that story, I am so surprise no one said anthing to them.
Happy anniversary…
Thinking About… » Miscellany
July 7, 2007 at 6:05 am[…] sadness that we were too full to order desert. Sigh. It was a wonderful dinner, and noone tried to steal our reservation this time. […]