Yesterday, I was exposed to what has been called “a dining experience like no other.” At lunchtime, Dilly’s Deli is so crowded, I wondered when the fire marshal had last visited the establishment. The line snaked out of the door to the corner, and by the time I reached the counter, I was freezing. I decided on the hamburger steak special; the other specials were liver and onions or tuna casserole. Each special is offered with two side dishes, but there was no potato salad left and the green beans were cooked barely beyond recognition. I chose the gelatin salad and was turned out to be the blandest coleslaw I have ever eaten. At Dilly’s, you sit at one of four long tables. The couple sitting across from me was having an argument. The truck driver next to me told me more than I wanted to know about weight matters. After I had eaten most of the food on my plate, I rose to go, intending to leave my plate behind; the cashier yelled at me to clean up after myself. Throwing away that plate of food was the most enjoyable part of dining at Dilly’s.
November 6, 2024