had dinner with friends. Thanks to their hospitality, we dined in a highly civilized, but by no means flashy or famous, Italian restaurant just off of midtown, where the office buildings begin to give way to townhouses. One of the pleasures of dining in such places is that you get real professional waiters: not just kids trying to make a few bucks, or out-of-work actors, but middle-aged people who've done it before, who take it seriously as their life's work, and who do it with dignity and grace. Our waiter was one of those. Probably in his late forties, impeccably dressed, knew how to show up when we needed something and to disappear otherwise. 

yeah dude, when we went to New York City for New Years 2011, we went to this seemingly low-key Italian restaurant in... what do you call it.. Greenwich I guess? Southern part of Manhattan.  The waiters were top notch, man, impeccably dressed, at your service with no unprofessionalism detected.  I couldn't understand him, though, 'cause he was pure Italian with the heavy accent. ha