Table for One: My Anti-Aging Secret

Ever go to a favorite hangout at a different time of day and feel as if you entered into the Twilight Zone?

Doo doo doo doo. Doo doo doo doo.

But instead of Peter Jenson walking into his therapist's office, it was me going into Wood and Wine on a recent Saturday.

I like Wood and Wine on Chester Road.

Sure I'm turned off by its Dianna's Deli-esque exterior that was not updated. But the owners really transformed the inside into something spectacular. You can't even recognize the interior of the former family restaurant. (Well aside from the dessert case.)

At night, white lights envelope the restaurant. And the glow of the televisions at the bar offer just enough light to add to the ambiance. The wine cellar has a decent selection. The wood fired pizzas are delicious. And it's always hopping with an eclectic crowd. It's a good standby for me at night.

So I figure what could go wrong for a quiet lunch for one?

A lot.

I thought I had mistakenly walked into the Bob Evans' for its early bird senior citizens' specials. Whoa.

I was literally one of three diners without an AARP card. And one of the three was a toddler so does she really count?

The appeal of my pseudo-hip suburban hangout was lost as there were no white lights and droves of electric scooters and walkers. 

At night, I can walk in alone confidently. But in daylight, I don't think my iPad and I made many friends. Those kids and their fandangled electronics.

Yet I can handle all of that for good food.

But it wasn't good.

I decided to try the lunch buffet everyone seemed to be feasting on. Soon-to-be single mom, remember? So it was difficult to turn down soup, salad, a variety of pizzas from which to choose, and pasta. And the day I was there, diners were treated to wood fired wings. All for under $9.00.

The pizza was cold. The wings lacked flavor. And I make better rigatoni. And I'm so not handy in the kitchen. So I ate clam chowder. Lots of chowder. I decided against a glass of vino because it was before 4 p.m. But perhaps that would have made this dining experience more enjoyable.

I left the restaurant that afternoon sure I had gained several more grey hairs and wrinkles.

Going to Wood and Wine in the middle of the day alone is a mistake I won't make again anytime soon. If you're looking to keep your youth, I'd suggest sticking to visiting the restaurant at night. I know this single-mom-to-be will.

If you happen to see a Mom sitting at a table for one at Wood and Wine (at night of course), it’s likely me. Come say hi.