With a fascinating history of its founding and expansion with a commitment to quality, freshness, and menu items rarely seen in most chain Italian restaurants at the time, it was possibly the best and most creative of the genre at its peak, devolving into Olive Garden territory over the last several years.

With a general standardization of individual stores while maintaining a measure of uniqueness to each, there was both tradition and whimsy baked into all of them. “Spotting the heart” was always a fun pastime. Finding yourself in the “wrong” restroom was a sudden panic until you got the gag. Ordering “off-menu” was never discouraged.

Now down to 17 remaining locations nationally, it seems completely doomed, a dead restaurant walking.