Three disappointments in one day
For several years now, I've had breakfast every Saturday morning at Italian Market And Grill here in Knoxville; it's become a regular ritual for me over the last three or four years. Their omelets have been consistently among the best in town, and I've always held their gravy in such high esteem, I consider it practically a beverage.
This morning, I arrived for my usual Saturday morning feast only to discover that IMG has closed its doors. A perfunctory sign on the door noted that the restaurant has ceased operations. "We thank our loyal customers, blah, blah, blah ..."
I was devastated.
Last Saturday, one of the servers mentioned that she had heard rumors of the restaurant's impending closure (it changed ownership recently), but I dismissed the talk as mere gossip. She turned out to be right.
Unlike their Sunday brunch, Saturdays at IMG have always been laid back and sparsely attended. Since the restaurant sits between Cokesbury and Cedar Springs churches, Sunday brunch has always been a madhouse, what with all those Methodists and Presbyterians scrambling for a mimosa or bloody mary after services were over. In contrast, Saturdays were more relaxed, the food was always outstanding, and the service was always flawless.
I'll miss that place, with its odd, eclectic staff and amazing eggs benedict. A year or two ago, the omelet dude happened to have some sliced jalapeños and some fresh minced garlic on display along with all the other omelet ingredients. I asked him to include those for me, and I raved about the omelet he made for me that day; it was a work of art. Ever since, they've always made sure I had jalapeños and garlic available when I asked for my weekly omelet.
Service like that is rare, and I'll sorely miss it.
To assuage my depression, I went to Mimi's for breakfast instead. That was a huge mistake. The place was packed, so I sat at the bar. When my food finally arrived, forty-five minutes later, it was completely cold. Obviously, the plate had been sitting in the kitchen for twenty or thirty minutes, ignored by everyone who walked past.
Unfortunately, service like that is all too common. I see no reason to pay for the privilege of being ignored.
To make up for the IMG heartbreak and the Mimi's disaster, I decided to go see "Cloverfield." I thought it sucked.
I'm batting zero today. Three experiences, three disappointments.
I'm going to miss IMG, and I won't make the mistake of eating breakfast at Mimi's again, so any suggestions for a great Saturday morning breakfast in Knoxville would be appreciated. Please drop suggestions in the comments.