After spending hours and hours and hours in labor with my firstborn, I was starving. My request? Angel hair pomodori from Romeo's.

After only a few hours in labor with my secondborn – but still starving – what was my request?
Angel hair pomodori from Romeo's.

In the hospital, waiting for Ike-a-saurus to make his appearance? What did I eat?
Yes. Angel hair pomodori from Romeo's.

That was the dinner I had on my birthday, during a wonderful party, on September 10th, 2001 – a lovely memory I have of the night before the world spiraled out of reach for a time.

Every special occasion, every moment that needed cheering, every time I had a meeting and a choice as to where to meet, I always went to Romeo's and had that comforting bowl of steaming pasta, vegetables, pine nuts, extra parmesean. It's been my goto Fancy Meal for over a decade.

But not anymore. Romeo's is gone. Doors closed.

A lot of restaurants come and go in Austin. It's the nature of the beast, I guess. And over the past few years, Romeo's had raised their prices to such an extent we barely ate there even if we did want to celebrate something. I can't help but think, though, that an era has passed. I will have to find a new celebratory dish. A new place to go where I can hide in a dark corner and laugh with friends and get sauce on my nose.

Good-bye, Romeo's. 

I raise my empty pasta bowl to you, and wish you the best.

*** WAIT WAIT WAIT ***

After some sleuthing, I've discovered Romeo's is only temporarily closed. ANGEL HAIR POMODORI FOR EVERYONE! (As soon as the new wiring is completed inside the restaurant.)