I was a regular here in my 20's. I would go mostly after work Friday nights, and on occasion, Saturdays to have Burgers, Black & Tans, and possibly margaritas.
I worked for a company called "Dealer Specialties," a subsidiary of Auto Trader at the time. I took pics of the cars to put them on the Auto Trader site.
That was a nice job for a while.
I would almost always sit at the bar with my friend/co-worker Randy, and we'd spend the afternoon and night there. I had a big crush on the bartender Stephany and was on the outs with my then gf. I was really there for the food and atmosphere and just to wind down after work. I wasn't one to pick up women, and so I would carry on so much in conversation with Steph. She never had to entertain me in conversation, but she did. Always.
The food was always good. Maybe the service at the tables was a little sub par. I didn't mind it.
Anyway, one day, Steph and I set up a date outside of work at a nice Astoria lounge on her day off..., but she stood me up.
A week later, I was there just eating at a table with friends when I saw her.
I didn't say anything to her, but she was there as a patron eating with a few of her friends at a table.
She must've said something funny about me to them because they all turned around to look over at me, and then turned back to her and laughed.
They all got up and left out of the back exit.
She went last, and I'll never forget her stopping to look back at me. It's as if all those months were a lie. And like her gaze said, "I'm sorry. I'm never going to see you again." And I never did.
I have to assume she met someone else or was talking to someone else, and just decided to go with them instead, and she couldn't break it to me.
Oh yeah, they had pretty good chicken fingers and fries too.
-Carlos A, from Greenpoint. aka Def Frog
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