Datz

So last weekend, we were invited to an opening party for a new deli in town. Some friends of ours helped design the space and created the artwork, and we've really been looking forward to seeing them open.

A group of six of us met for drinks beforehand (they don't serve vodka at the deli, for goodness sakes). Since the very same weekend, there happens to be a parade going on very near the new restaurant, we all decide to take one car and everyone piles into an SUV. Two in the front, three in the middle and one person graciously offers to ride in the cargo area. This SUV doesn't have the fancy third row seating (cheapskates).

We're all having a great time - talking, talking, and more talking - on the drive over to the deli. We park the car about a block away because of the parade crowd and get out of the car, very focused on getting to the new restaurant. We’re about half way down the block when a woman walking away from the parade yells, "Excuse me, you left someone in the car!"

Only then do we realize, the cargo area doesn’t have an inside door handle. And the knocking we kept hearing – it wasn’t fireworks. It was Charles locked in the back.

True story.

If you’re in Tampa, visit Datz Deli. It’s so good, you might forget someone in the car. Maybe that should be their new tagline.

Datz Deli