My Autumnal Joys by Dear City Girl on Substack

Late Saturday lunches.

Once upon a time I was a brunch person, but that person died around the same time that matcha became a phenomenal hit with the masses, those who had nothing better to do than wait on line for a grassy tasting concoction drowned in honey. Brunch stopped being fun and fell quickly off my list of things worth going out for on the one day of the week that I sleep in. Then about a year ago, I discovered a newfound love for late Saturday lunches. The secret afterparty to brunch. This late weekend lunch takes place at the bar or within the same vicinity of the establishment, rarely am I seated at a table. I prop myself casually to an empty bar seat and interrupt the bartender who is routinely slicing fifty or so limes for the next shift, “Can I please see the bar menu?” I have the audacity to ask this in a polite manner since I’ve waited tables and know that the bar menu remains open from 3pm - 6pm. Mostly appetizers, a standard salad, standard burger, sometimes a Margherita Pizza, some kind of chicken. Bartenders don’t mind people like me, because this is their slow time to get all their sidework done before the dinner shift, pour some drinks to lazy afternoon people who want to watch sports without the interruption of a significant other and still rake in pretty good tips off the late afternooners. My usual is a pint of an ale, sometimes a Guinness and then order whatever appetizer that isn’t meat and the standard salad. I bring a book and become that girl you see in a movie where she tries to be shyly intimidating to strangers. For the most part no one bothers me, because most of the men who are there in the late afternoon, really are reveling in the time they have, away from their home life to watch sports, drink beer and a burger. Thankfully, I don’t exist in their short term scenario. There are no late Saturday lunches during the summer due to tourists, totally different vibe.