| One thing I have to say for Prose, an Arlington | | | | remembrance of Valentines past or if sixmonth's |
| MA eatery, is that it is aptly named; it isentirely a | | | | advance was really required. |
| prosaic affair, nothing poetic happening here. | | | | 4. At around 9:30 two unsuspecting diners |
| The decor is strictly utilitarian in this storefront | | | | appeared at the doorinquiring if they could still |
| bistro. Somepictures adorn the walls in a | | | | obtain service. "Yes," they wereinformed. Yet |
| quasi-artistic arrangement. The tablesare sturdy | | | | although there were more than half a dozen |
| Formica; chairs tolerably comfortable; ambient | | | | freetables, they were required to stand in the |
| temperaturea little sticky, unless you are able to | | | | doorway for anunnecessarily uncomfortable |
| hover over the airconditioning vent. Be prepared | | | | number of minutes. Perhaps the staffneeded to |
| to settle in for a few hours. | | | | prepare themselves mentally for there were no |
| A more well-disposed reviewer would call this | | | | signs of anyphysical preparations undertaken |
| place "a quirky littlecharmer." I rather prefer to | | | | before the new arrivals werepermitted to take |
| think of it as a littleweird. Consider just a few of | | | | their seats. |
| the situations our party of fourencountered on | | | | 5. In a curious stylistic touch, the name is spelled |
| our first (and last) visit there: | | | | with a long markover the "o." Is this to insure the |
| 1. My brother, admittedly not a bon vivant, had | | | | proper pronunciation? Perhapsan invitation to |
| the temerity to askfor ice in his water. Our young | | | | linguists? Or, is this to betoken some foreignword, |
| waiter was completely flummoxed bythis request. | | | | not to be confused with the English word "prose?" |
| He seemed to be unfamiliar with the substance | | | | As for the rest of the foods: Bro opted for the |
| orunaware that some people used it in beverages. | | | | chicken dish - asoupy affair with lots of corn |
| He valiantly promisedto do his best and | | | | swimming in some rust-coloredliquid. The only thing |
| miraculously within an hour produced a | | | | missing was... some chicken. Trust me, |
| six-ounceglass brimming with solid water prepared | | | | Mickey D's McCluckers contain more fowl material |
| in cubes. | | | | than foundhere. Perhaps, true to the emphasis on |
| 2. This place has only ten tables and one | | | | fresh and local, they werefree range chickens and |
| chef-owner. The menu is atad - how shall I put it? | | | | had opted to walk away. |
| - spare in offerings. And the delightfulchef, who | | | | GalleyGirl had the usual "piscatarian" special - in this |
| floats about the premises, is always within | | | | case a wholesea base that kept casting a |
| earshot torespond to your comments, regardless | | | | dejected eye in my direction (Maybe itwas a see |
| of their intendedaudience. Thus it happened that | | | | bass). And, of course, my kim chi had her |
| my sister-in-law, who expressed somemisgivings | | | | breathing fire,which is to say, it was almost hot |
| about ordering a steak with chilis, was informed | | | | enough for her. |
| that thiswas an apparently unalterable preparation. | | | | Sis-in-law chose a salad. How bad can a fresh |
| Would not a smallestablishment with a limited | | | | salad be? In a fit ofpique and as an act of |
| number of diners offer to produce asimple grilled | | | | passive-aggressive response to GG's choice |
| steak? Her decision was ratified by the people at | | | | ofvenue, she was unable to finish it. Yes, lettuce |
| theadjoining table, where the same dish was | | | | can be veryfilling. I personally had all I could do to |
| deemed too spicy by a youngdiner. Curiously | | | | finish the salt cubesthat sat on my plate. |
| enough, I sallied forth and ordered it anyway, | | | | The highlight of the evening was a scrumptious |
| onlyto have it presented without the offending | | | | home-made cheese cakeserved with fresh |
| garnish! On the otherhand, the kim chi actually | | | | berries. Four jousting forks vied for everymorsel. |
| caused my nasal passages and retinas | | | | Whether from desperate hunger or sheer |
| tospontaneously combust. | | | | appreciation of itsrich taste, only the dining muse |
| 3. The web site invites you to plan your | | | | can say for sure. |
| Valentine's dinner now. Iwasn't sure if this was a | | | | Take your $90 somewhere else. |