The Gem
Not far from my house there is a bar that my husband and I have grown to adore. Its called “The Gem” and it’s a strange little place on Davenport not far from Ossingtion. Its got a nice little patio and the whole restaurant seats about 35 people. The walls are covered with an eclectic mix of cheesy religious iconography, busted up musical instruments, hubcaps, license plates, and Christmas lights. They only have three taps and you never know what is going to be on tap at the bar.
There’s not a huge selection of food, but every thing has a “home made” feel and its all rather yummy.
What draws Igal and I back to this place time and again is not the eclectic décor or the menu, but the staff. The head waiter (Ben) knows us on sight and he’s always cheerful and chatty. But the real character of the place is the Gem’s Matron and head Chief “Mama Rosa”.
Mama, is a little Italian Lady who is my height. She has fluffy white hair that she keeps tamed with a kerchief; she wears flower print dresses and running shoes to work. If you catch her on her way to the patio, chances are she’ll have a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. She frequently wanders out of the kitchen and chats up the patrons. And she has rather taken a shine to Igal and I.
Last Friday Igal and I had dinner there and it was Mama Rosa’s Birthday. She was dragged out of the Kitchen by her family and offered Birthday Cake. She wandered away with the piece that they had given her came to our table with two forks and gave it to us. (Then she got another slice for herself) Last night she gave us a slice of home made Blueberry Pie (on the house).
She came out and chatted with us while we finished our dinner last night. As were were getting ready to settle up our bill she wandered back to the Kitchen and said “I like talking to you guys.”
We like talking to you too Mama.
There’s not a huge selection of food, but every thing has a “home made” feel and its all rather yummy.
What draws Igal and I back to this place time and again is not the eclectic décor or the menu, but the staff. The head waiter (Ben) knows us on sight and he’s always cheerful and chatty. But the real character of the place is the Gem’s Matron and head Chief “Mama Rosa”.
Mama, is a little Italian Lady who is my height. She has fluffy white hair that she keeps tamed with a kerchief; she wears flower print dresses and running shoes to work. If you catch her on her way to the patio, chances are she’ll have a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. She frequently wanders out of the kitchen and chats up the patrons. And she has rather taken a shine to Igal and I.
Last Friday Igal and I had dinner there and it was Mama Rosa’s Birthday. She was dragged out of the Kitchen by her family and offered Birthday Cake. She wandered away with the piece that they had given her came to our table with two forks and gave it to us. (Then she got another slice for herself) Last night she gave us a slice of home made Blueberry Pie (on the house).
She came out and chatted with us while we finished our dinner last night. As were were getting ready to settle up our bill she wandered back to the Kitchen and said “I like talking to you guys.”
We like talking to you too Mama.
posted by veronica at 3:42 PM
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