The simple, but-in-this-case-not-really-so-simple, pleasures can often be the best. Since the last time we went to TGI Friday’s in Utrecht was almost two months ago, it seemed like a good time to bring up a return visit with Teko, who was willing to accommodate my senseless American craving – and of course, to drive us there. Friday rush hour traffic wasn’t too heavy so our estimated hour-long drive from work this sunny afternoon went by like a blur, and we were soon in Utrecht Central Station’s parking lot and walking over to our table way ahead of our 6:30 p.m. reservation. I was a little worried that the place would be unbearably loud given it’s World Cup season right now but TGIF indeed, we got a large, quiet table not anywhere close to anyone else, and settled in for a meal of cheeseburger and fries for Teko, and North Carolina spareribs for me. Our American-sounding waiter was the perfect, richly-nostalgic touch for the evening.

The service was quick enough but the spareribs’ lackluster presentation was a downer, especially considering I’ve had better, and paid less, at Pendergast, but I was hungry enough to wolf it all down – with a little help from Teko and a decent glass of rosé.

Having to travel all the way from Amsterdam for a dinner out isn’t ideal for sure, but we did end up having a fairly good meal, peppered with more pipe-dream plans for the future, and with today’s terrific weather and ease with getting around we walked out feeling good at how a simple idea as dinner could turn into an unexpected luxury.