I used to see Roger Ebert a lot. And not just on TV. He used to eat at a kind of Italian fast food place called Roma’s Restaurant on the south west corner of Sheffield and Webster in Chicago. The neighborhood was denoted as the “Near North Side” in the way Chicago has of naming neighborhoods.
The First Mate used to order tuna and garlic bread a lot at Roma’s. The garlic bread they made was excellent. Italian restaurant remember? Then one day she decided – why not have them put the tuna on the garlic bread and make a sandwich? So she did. Then she got me eating them. Almost every time we went to Roma’s. Which was frequently because we liked the Italians running the place and the food and the fact that it was a little over a block from where we lived on Sheffield. A quick walk even in the worst Chicago weather. And we have this peculiar quirk of not caring much about food variety. If we like something as a main course we will eat it almost every day.
No doubt Ebert overheard us placing our frequent orders for tuna on garlic because once or twice he ordered one himself. We didn’t like to intrude on his privacy but every now and then he would give us a nod. The way regulars have of acknowledging each other.
As you have probably heard by now Roger Ebert has died.
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5 responses to “I Used To See Roger Ebert A Lot”
No, I hadn’t. But…my condolences to those he left behind. Requiescat in pace, Roger Ebert.
And to you…regarding liking the good food: when I was working in Thailand, there was a restaurant I almost always ate lunch at. And I always ate the same thing (best thing on their menu, IMO). They took to calling at me when I came in the door, “Same-same?”…lol.
And – regarding the link and comments thereupon. Who cares if he was left or right? Oh, sorry… just about everyone. Idiots. Might as well start Civil War (take 2) now. Sheesh.
He was a member in good standing of the Steak n’ Shake party, so I’ll not be too particular about his political party.
My mom was in J-school with him. Said he was kind of a jerk, but then most college-age guys are.
From what Simon said, he outgrew that. And I’ll second the Steak ‘n Shake. Good food, good drink, good company. In both senses of the word “company.”