“It’s a Friday night”

Last Friday, She Who Must Be Obeyed and I independently had the same thought. “After work we should head out to Maynards for some sun, supper, and people watching at Lake Minnetonka.”

When we drove up to park the car we could see it was nuts. The main car parking lot was full. There was a young man sitting in a chair at the entrance to their lot across the street. Was he there to direct traffic? Tell us the lot was full? Sit and keep the chair from blowing away? He chose the latter and never moved except for his eyes to check out the young ladies. I drove into the lot in the vain hope of finding a space. Others were doing the same. There was some creative parking and rule breaking going on. I navigated all the rows and was ready to exit the lot when incredibly the Red Sea parted and a car backed out of a space in front of us. We parked and then jay walked across the street. The motorcycle patio was littered with Harleys and wanna-be’s, no British, German or Italian classics to be seen.

Steps beyond that, a Country Western band was finishing their last tune. Throngs of people littered the patio. Most of them were dressed to impress someone, or to expose as much skin as was legally possible. It was great, everyone seemed to be enjoying the sun, a drink, and the company, as well as some food.

We scanned the deck for a table. We were willing to share. We moved thru the crowd like Ninjas ready to strike or hover until a table payed their tab. There was nothing until She noticed two empty chairs at the bar! Our butts were on them so quick that no one realized the switch. What luck! Car parking and butt parking. The two seats at the bar were very adjacent to the spot where people belly up and order drinks. On the other side, Maynard’s staff would rush back and forth replenishing drinks for the others seated at the bar. Directly in front of us the servers would build drinks, create and close tabs and take cash. It sounds bad, but it was great entertainment.

As soon as we were seated Brittah—while mixing drinks for other patrons—took our drink order and moments after she handed off that order she had our drinks in front of us. She and all of the other bar keeps moved with great skill and speed—mixing, serving, asking us how we were doing, while very pleasantly taking orders, making change, handing off drinks, making sure that multiple drink orders were not going to minors. It was crazy fun. Across the bar the singing bartender with a pompadour was pouring beers while simultaneously singing and fist pumping with a customer. The kitchen helper was running back and forth replenishing ice only pausing to precisely cut up limes, oranges, and grapefruit to refill the buckets for the bartenders.

A young man came up to the bar asking to get a round of shots for his homeys. Brittah asked him: “Which table?” He pointed. She said: “Sorry, you have already had two rounds of shots.” The impaired young man then asked: “If I moved to another table could I order another round?” “Sorry no” was her answer. “Only two rounds.” This line of questioning went on and on and on until in a very pleasant and respectfully mannered fashion did Brittah and the Top Bun bartender finally convince the young man that he had had enough shots. When he sat back down at his table, the talk about the bar was this interchange. When asked if this kind of thing was common? Brittah answered: “It’s a Friday Night.”

I ordered the chicken breast sandwich with waffle fries and She Who got the fingers with some coleslaw. Our food came fast, and was hot and very good. As we ate we watched the show. Both of us were very impressed on how professional the staff is and it was obvious that they enjoyed what they were doing and working together. We will be back, hopefully sooner than later.