Last trip to Regas

Took our last trip to Regas yesterday.

Bittersweet. Good meal. Thanks for the memories.

Heard the news about its closing while in Townsend a couple of weekends ago. Knew we had to go back. Jenn and I had enjoyed a special meal there in the summer. It was her first trip.

For me, the memories go back a ways. We used to spend our New Year's Eves there. Dinner and a movie. Just about every year.

If you missed Jack Neely's Metro Pulse piece about Knoxville's oldest restaurant, surf on over to the MP website and check it out. Go ahead. I'll wait.

Good piece, huh? Funny to think that Regas was once a lunch counter. And that the late Dave "Wendy's" Thomas once worked there.

Regas was always the place to go when something special was going down. I'd almost always wear a coat and tie. Always dressed up. Never once received bad service. Not once.

I loved the steak and the Scrod. And the red velvet cake, if I left room.

Didn't feel well at all yesterday. Darn migraine has lasted nearly six days. But such was the pull of the place that we couldn't not go. One more time. For auld lang syne.

Amanda Noel came out of the kitchen to greet us. Hard to believe she's all grown up. Darn good chef, too.

In years past, I saw Jake Butcher, met Howard Baker in the front lobby, dined with mayors, but never ordered lobster.

Now it's leaving us and I think a part of our community is leaving with it. The dress requirements -- sadly -- have long been relaxed. But, for me, Regas will always be synonymous with class, fine dining, good service, great food, coat and tie, special night, New Year's Eve.

Here's to you, for auld lang syne, lest we forget.