A Run-In With the Locals

We've heard rumors here that the locals in town aren't too fond of us military types.  I understand why they feel that way - there aren't too many of us calling home with raving reviews of Minot.  However, I think they realize that the base is one of the main reasons this town is still on the map.  There are some wonderful reasons to live here for sure.  The article in National Geographic about North Dakota was unfair and hurtful to its citizens in my opinion, so their suspicion of "outsiders" is completely reasonable.  

However, one would think the local restaurants would welcome our money!  Saturday night we decided to try a local restaurant that had caught our eye near the mall.  The sign said they serve grilled salmon and steaks Thursday through Saturday, and that they welcome Canandians, lol.  Plus, there was a teepee outside, which was the real reason Matt wanted to try it :-)  We invited our next door neighbor, Jo, to come along since her husband was out on alert.  

The restaurant was very small inside, maybe ten or fifteen tables at the most, and the kitchen was open to the dining area.  We walked up and stood next to a sign reading "Please wait to be seated."  Everyone in the restaurant started staring at us.  No one acknowledged our presence whatsoever for a good five minutes.  We were clearly treading on sacred ground here.  I find it a little surprising that the locals are so quick to recognize us as non-Minotians.  I mean, we're as white as white can be!  And we have light colored hair!  The give-aways of course are Matt's haircut, his lack of a beer gut, and our giant winter coats.  Now, this particular night, the stares were a little more warranted, because Jo is Puerto Rican.  :-)

So a man eventually walks slowly up to us and asks if we have reservations.  Um, no.  "Ok," he says, "wellllllll, let me see what I can figure out... how many are there?"  Three and a half.  He slowly wanders around the dining area.  He walks back over and says, 

"You say there are 2 adults?"  

No, 3, and a baby.  

"Oh, welllllllll... I can sit you over there in the corner at that table for two and see if you can squeeze in there until something else becomes available."  

How long do you think that will be?  

"Welllllll, I dunno, I mean, until someone else leaves, it's hard to say really."

By now, we're feeling the love from the locals staring intensely at us, so Matt tells the guy that it's ok, we'll go somewhere else.  The man seemed almost relieved.  As we left, the couple standing behind us said to each other, "Well, we'll definitely wait."  

So we piled back in the van and headed for the new Mexican restaurant that had just opened by Super Walmart, and received excellent service thanks to Jo chatting away in spanish with the staff.  

We will probably try the other restaurant again some day.  We will definitely make reservations.  And I'm sure the locals there will recognize us as the ones who walked out.  So next time we go, I think we'll have Matt wear an orange baseball cap and a hunting jacket.