An Open Letter to the Couple We Sat With at the Best Burger Joint in Seattle

Us: Two raucous, hungry, occasionally verbally inappropriate couples with one falafel quinoa burger with Satan's Tears ketchup; one buffalo burger with sweet chili mayo, maple bacon, and whole milk cotija cheese; one beef burger with caramelized onion, Havarti, and 7-pickle dilly sauce; two orders of tater tots (one with bacon salt), two orders of twisty fries, two Boston Creme shakes, one chocolate cherry shake, and one Heath toffee mocha shake.

You: The wide-eyed, charming, easy-going couple who was forced to sit with us for body warmth due to the sub-zero temperatures and was happy to join in the discussion about Democratic Debate drinking games and beet bundt cakes.

We found you delightful and we would like to see you again. We're sorry Sam discussed bodily fluids several times during the meal. Next time you go to Lunchbox Laboratory in Ballard, track us down.All photos attributed to Sara A. and Michael E. on Yelp.com.

I know, this is all well and amusing but something special happened this day at The Lunchbox Laboratory. While Sam and I sat with our friends Bob and Meghan, each couple consuming meat and veggie burgers respectively, we chatted it up with another couple who, due to lack of space, were forced to almost sit on our laps. We never learned their names but we learned what they were eating, which Democratic nominee they preferred, that they liked videogames and Battlestar Galactica. Food brought us together and created a social connection.

It started out with eyeballing their meals and asking what they had ordered. We then shared other favorite restaurants and brunch opportunities with each other. From that point on, it felt weird NOT to converse with them. As they left the restaurant, I could tell the four of us wanted to blurt out something to the effect of, “Wait! Can I have your number?!” But that would be a little too strange, no?

Our (the two couples’) favorite pastime on weekend mornings is to either find a delicious brunch joint or invite each other over for whole wheat pancakes while wearing pajamas. So far the winner has been sitting at a cozy table, early in the morning, with mugs of steaming coffee in Senor Moose in Ballard. They have the best authentic Mexican breakfast food (don’t let the name fool you). I think I died and went to heaven when I ate their bowl of savory tomato broth with strips of tortilla and two poached eggs. Meghan never gets anything other than Chile Aquiles and Sam swears by their homemade chorizo and scrambled eggs. Bob always orders a side of cactus leaves.

I’ve never had so much fun with Bob and Meghan than the time we sat around Senor Moose, waiting for our food, and drawing on the butcher paper-covered table with crayons. Each of us sketched out how our food would make us feel. My drawing consisted of my fork, spoon and knife sporting mohawks and singing in a hardcore band about Mexican food. It was silly, fun, and social.