The sign along the road said OPEN and I have often driven past the New Mountain Tavern at 50 mph but on this day I was hungry. We were hungry and we even did a U-Turn to drive back to the New Mountain Tavern! The sign said "restaurant and bar" established 1901. And, it did say OPEN ... which I think means that the public should expect the opportunity to participate in activities that one assumes occur in restaurants and taverns ... eating food and drinking beverages.
Little did we know ... we would be walking into an exclusive QUIZZO joint that very clearly did not like nor want strangers who were hungry for a decent meal. We were just hungry you know ... famished as Monty Python's Cheese Shop visitor noted about his state of hunger ... we were not going to be picky just a burger or some pasta or even a salad with bottled dressing. We had been driving for just over three hours and that darn sigh said OPEN ... like in OPEN for business and the signage implied that this was a public place, a restaurant and tavern, where food could be procured and a cold one consumed.
We never dreamed it was just a place to play that darn QUIZZO. Entree was clearly limited to those who knew the look, whose sweaty hands could handle the secret handshake and who had an appearance to pass the inspection of the gloomy hostess whose eyes streamed 'get the heck out of here now strangers!'
We each carefully glanced around after being told that we would not be served food nor drink. That even though the sign said open ... 'we have nothing for you!' Looking around we noticed the stares. Whatever engagement of activity one's body must showcase was stopped suddenly ... with Zombie-like efficiency they were all staring at us as if the hostess of doom and gloom had pushed a remote control button sending a signal through their seats that the two strangers had intentionally and cruelly interrupted the QUIZZO game? Match? What do you call the activity known as QUIZZO after all?
So, after noticing a few sets of eyes staring to shine red ... we hurried out the door fully noting one of the worst ever experiences in merely attempting to eat at a Tavern that supposedly offers food and drink to strangers along the highway.
I know I'd hate to stop on a rainy night especially if I had car trouble and enter into this den of QUIZZO affection-ado's.
I recently travelled down 15 on another trip and you can be assured that my foot pressed down on the gas pedal while driving past the "New Mountain Tavern" not even concerned how the Old Mountain Tavern vanished into the mists. The building onto which the sign for the last named joint looks like it might be perfect place read more