"8/22/24—As I sat sipping a great cup of Colombian coffee at El Paisa, I decided it was the perfect moment to reflect on my visit to Capriccio last night. Now, I hadn’t set foot in that restaurant in over ten years, and I wasn’t even planning to go. I figured it was a dinner meant for the boys—my husband and our adult children. But when one of them couldn’t make it, I decided to step up and take one for the team. Capriccio is an upscale Italian restaurant that 's been around since the '70s, and it shows. I figured, what better occasion to flaunt my new Louis Vuitton bag? Yes, it’s real, folks—second-hand but in like-new condition. I got dressed up, put on makeup, and felt like a million bucks. I even drove my husband there, treating him like the sultan he thinks he is. We pulled up to the entrance, and of course, we valet-parked. Why not go all the way, right? The magnificent doors were a sight to behold. I love history, and these doors, massive and imposing, looked like they were made only for titans to pass through. After paying my respects to these shiny giants, I descended the stairs that led to an Italian paradise. The lights on the ceiling sparkled like stars, as if they were eagerly awaiting my arrival. The first thing I noticed was the sea of white—waiters dressed head-to-toe in white, reminding me of when I used to work at the El Panama Hotel back in the late ‘90s. Those white-clad angels stood at the bottom of the stairs, making you feel like a star as you walked down. My husband, ever the groupie, had explicitly asked for his favorite waitress, Kristy, who had recently transferred to Capriccio. When we arrived, her smile lit up the room like a thousand diamonds. As we walked to our table, the shiny wooden floor felt so smooth that it was like gliding on ice. I took a quick detour to the bathroom, which was really just an excuse to explore this Italian wonderland. The bathroom had an arch made of rocks that made me feel like I was stepping into a scene from Lord of the Rings. After my brief adventure, I continued my little tour, checking out the bar in the back. Kristy, our angelic waitress, even gave me a mini history lesson, mentioning that they used to have a piano by the corner of the bar. Her dad used to visit here back in the day. When I returned to our table, I couldn’t help but admire the adorable decorations. The wine menu was extensive, but I opted for a house margarita—it was better than the one I had at Mis Jalisco in New Hampshire. Kristy mentioned that the decorative dishes on our table were from the '70s, way before I was born. The place was steeped in history; you could almost imagine the types of people who dined here back in the day. It was the “it” place for all the wise guys, if you catch my drift. My stepson joined us later and regaled us with stories about his recent trip to Japan. Between the dinner, drinks, and dessert—Victoria’s cake was divine, by the way—we spent the night sipping wine, watching people fill the room with chatter and the sound of clinking glasses. They even had decaf, and I was thrilled to learn they could make it into a cappuccino. I was told one of the men visiting our table was one of the owners, but he didn’t look the part. More like the Stephen King of Capriccio—a man with a mysterious air, carrying all the secrets and gossip from an era long gone. All in all, it was a night to remember—full of history, mystery, and a dash of comedy. And, of course, I got to flash my Louis Vuitton, so it was a win-win!"
