Black Bean burger, scrub guys, and "The Shot"

So, I went out by myself on March 30th, Black Friday. I had hopes to invite a coworker of mine for a girls night out for her birthday, but she was under the weather so I went out solo.

I was in the mood for a burger and a beer. So I headed downtown to Eli's Tavern. I got there at a little after 7:00, and several seats had just opened up at the bar. I wondered if maybe I had just missed a Happy Hour. I sat down with empty seats on either side of me. Looking at the menu, I decided to go for the black bean burger (never had one before) and a lager.

A few minutes later, a young woman sat down to my left, by herself. I offered her my menu and drink list as the bartender hadn't gotten to her yet. "Can i have your name to start your tab?" The bartender asks. "No, i'm just having the one, i'll pay cash" she says.  He brings her a fancy looking pink drink in a champagne flute style glass. An older woman sits down further to her left, by herself, and she seems to be a regular.

The young woman sips her fancy drink daintily but quickly as she reads what looks like an article on her phone. Within 10 or 15 minutes that fancy drink is gone and paid for, and she leaves.  The bartender collects her glass, looks at me, and says, "Well, I guess that was a shot!!". We both laughed. That was probably a very expensive shot!

A few minutes later a young guy wearing a hoody and a beat up baseball cap takes her place. He tells the bartender that a buddy will be meeting him there. He keeps to himself.

At this point my black bean burger has arrived. I go to take a bite and HALF the "burger" falls onto my plate. I struggle to eat it, alternating between using a fork and trying to shove the crumbly bean patty back into the bun.

The buddy joins the young guy. "You are still wearing your scrubs!" He says. And so is he now that I notice his pants. They get menus, and the young guy turns to me and asks, "what's good here?" Not the black bean burger! I answer. I should have ordered a real burger! "Well, I could have told you that!" He laughs and turns back to his menu and his buddy. They both ordered a "milford mule" to drink, it came in a copper cup. I may have to try it next time I go.

I manage to finish the beer, the beans, and the french fries, and I am suddenly very sleepy. I've already had a water, as well as I scooped black bean patty crumbles off my plate. I pay up, head home, climb into bed, and am asleep half an hour later.

So it was a night of people watching. I had several other things that I observed from my perch. Not all that interesting. Not all that exciting. Never ordering a black bean burger again. But I will go back to that place.