[Rick Lee]

This place is owned by a Persian family and makes the best Mediterranean food you ever had. Well, Iran isn't exactly near the Mediterranean, but you get my drift. Everything they offer is just beyond great. But they close at 8pm. If we get there at 7:30 on a Sat. night, they tell us we have to hurry or order takeout. But they're never busy. Never. They always have a help wanted sign out front, but I've never seen anyone working there who isn't a member of the family. And even then, it's maybe 3-4 people. No servers. You order at the counter, get your own drink at the fountain and they bring your food on a tray. You bus it.

Tonight I was so jonesing for that place, but we couldn't get there until 7:40. Not a single customer there, totally empty and the lady said we could only order takeout. Having just watched several Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes on a long flight and having had a few drinks, I let her have it. I asked her if they were really so busy and successful that they could turn people away with money burning a hole in their pockets. I told her I so loved their food, but that it was ridiculous that they closed earlier than all the other restaurants in that shopping center. She said that was their closing time. They don't serve alcohol, so a meal for Mrs. Lee and me usually runs $30-35 with tip. We ended up at a sushi place across the parking lot and that bill was $93. But they were open and taking anyone who wanted to eat there.

How do these guys stay open if this isn't a front?