A law school classmate wanted us to try a Japanese sushi place down the street from our flat, so we went there for lunch with him and his girlfriend. As we were scanning the menu a regular, a gregarious surfer sort of character, came in the door, called a cheerful greeting to the young chef at the sushi counter, and made great show of pointedly shaking his hand. The chef went straight back to work on what he was preparing.
Mieko said, "We'll have the tempura."