Amy Lu's View

We are so happy we got to order delivery from one of our favorite restaurants, Hai Hai, last night. This is the first weekend they’ve been open for takeout or delivery since all Minnesota restaurants closed for in-person dining.

We love the food–and cocktails–from Hai Hai, but it’s more than just a restaurant or bar. It’s OUR PLACE (or one of a very select few). Everybody didn’t know our name there, but several of the bartenders did. Chad and I shared many good meals and deep (drunken) conversations at Hai Hai.

And Sunday was usually our day to go–not every Sunday, but many. Sometimes for brunch but often on our way home from Pigeons From Hell practice.

Hai Hai was the last place we went on an outing (exactly 3 weeks ago) before sheltering in place started. And while I loved being there, as always, I was uneasy with how crowded it was. It was definitely not an environment of social isolation, and the experience helped me understand why restaurants closed down soon after.

Getting to order from Hai Hai was a little taste of an oasis, and the normalcy of pre-COVID-19 life.

And it was damn tasty (I LOVE their spring rolls with mock duck). We even got to buy the cocktail mix for Tour Bus Tales. All we/Chad had to do was add gin.

Hopefully our business will be a small contribution in helping Hai Hai survive the pandemic.

In normal life Chad and I rarely get takeout or delivery–if I’m going to consume all those additional calories, I want the experience of going out. Plus figuring out the various delivery apps and making sure StanLee was secured and didn’t escape when the delivery came was a pain in the ass. But now that the restaurant experience is no longer an option, we’ll definitely order from them again (and other local restaurants like the Mill) until we can go there in person again someday.

Swell background inspirational music…at least COVID-19 gives us an excuse to feel like ordering takeout is virtuous.