Tillie, Matilda T. Smith now, and 84 years old, comes in every Saturday night and sits at the first table in the lounge, where she can check things out. A painting of Tillie, serene and smiling slightly, is on the wall just above us in the center of three dining areas. As usual, the restaurant is busy. We had to wait a few minutes to get in. Families with young children and elderly couples are all around us.
People heading for the bar walk past our table.
Often, it's vice versa, and it's irritating if you can't stand secondhand smoke. The popular potato dumplings are cut into strips here, cooked until tender but not flabby, and served with lots of the ubiquitous red sauce. I've never had better gnocchi. Whatever, I like it. His Honor is having lasagna, made with three cheeses, ground beef and lots of red sauce.