[berettafan]

I remember the big deal it was to eat at Haussners (sp?) in Baltimore as a kid. My parents were clear this was a special treat and 40 whatever years later I still have some memory of it.

My kiddos still talk about two of our nicer meals when we visited Italy.

I think it’s a great thing to expose your kids to the good stuff as well as the rest.

As to big chairs and dark rooms I loved that vibe in Italian places as a kid. There was also a place near my first job out of college called hamburger hamlet. Big ass chairs and a darkish vibe kinda 70s. Miss that place. Not fancy but just a comfortable place to enjoy a meal.