Tonight, I had one last meal at...

Here's the story. Mrs. Schechter and I went to dinner on Thursday. We discussed a few options and then settled on Tien Hong. We drove over, walked in, and promptly saw a sign attached to the podium at the entrance: they're closing up shop. Sunday (as in tomorrow) is their last day. What? My favorite Italian restaurant closed up shop about a month ago and now this? Not fair. So, we had a nice dinner and I called Jennie on my way home. She didn't answer but called me later. I gave her the bad news. My favorite Chinese restaurant is also her favorite Chinese restaurant. So we went there for dinner tonight. One last order of Crab Rangoon. One last order of Shrimp Lo Mein for her and one last order of Tofu Home Style (best stuff in the world) for me and one of Moo Shu Pork as well. I came home and set my leftovers up for 3 lunches over the course of the week. We got an extra order of Shrimp Lo Mein for Jennie. I'm guessing she'll be eating that for lunch this week as well. Or maybe dinner. I don't think she likes dealing with the microwave at work.

So sad. At least I saw the sign in time to have that one last meal. Unlike the Italian place. Esther and I decided to grab lunch there about three weeks ago. As I parked, I noticed that the landscaping had been pulled up. And, that the hand-painted sign that stood in the middle of the barren landscaping area was gone. I thought they were just putting in something new. But, as we got to the door, I noticed signs of ongoing construction projects in the patio area and commented as I pushed the door open that I hoped they were open. Well, the door was open. But, the building was undergoing major renovations. There was a guy on a ladder working on a light fixture or something. Someone else was working over near the bar area. They looked startled. Less so than Esther and I, no doubt. We backed out and looked at the side of the building. One sign was still there but another was gone. The next week when I drove by, that sign was gone too. I called their number. No answer. I let it ring 10 times or so. No news. They say that no news is good news. But, not in this case. Sigh. I didn't know the last meal I ate there (probably two weeks earlier) was the last meal I'd get to eat there. That seems so wrong. What did I eat that day? The pasta special? Probably. Anyway, I suggested we drive by this past Wednesday and see if anything new was in the spot. Some sort of ice house. We stopped in. They've got lots of kinks to work out. My sandwich was good but it took 'em 30 minutes to make a BLTA, no T (bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado...hold the tomato). 30 minutes. Esther's sandwich was ready in about 10 minutes. But, the toast it was on was burnt. And, the peppers had no oomph. Same story on the cole slaw. We won't be back. Double sigh.

I took a photo of the Tien Hong sign as we left this evening. Something by which to remember the restaurant. The owners are retiring. No plans to open up in a new location. They opened the restaurant in '84. I was living in Austin then and don't remember a time that Tien Hong wasn't here. But, I was still in school and rarely ventured far from the 40 Acres in '84. I probably didn't discover the restaurant 'til some time in '86 or so. Wow. I'm gonna miss it.

Posted on July 26, 2008 by Joanna