The Foodless Restaurant

A well trimmed man with a pocketful of cash entered The Flame Restaurant. He was immediately escorted to a comfortable leather chair.

"Waiter, I say waiter, I'd like to order my meal."

"Very good sir. What would you like?"

"I would like to order a Duck a la Orange."

"I'm sorry. We are all out of Duck a la Orange. How would you like a delicious fillet mignon?"

"It sounds superb. I would love to order a fillet mignon."

"So would everybody else. Unfortunately, we have no more fillet mignon. May I suggest the Leg of Lamb. It won the award for being the best Leg of Lamb in the city."

"That would be fine. I'll have the Leg of Lamb."

"Too bad, we served our last Leg of Lamb a few minutes ago."

"Is there anything on your menu that I can order?"

"Why of course. You can order anything that you like. However, we only have macaroni and cheese left in our kitchen."

"That's it?"

"I'm afraid so sir."

"This is ridiculous. What happened to all the food?"

"We have plenty of food. Unfortunately, we will not receive the food until tomorrow. Sir, you look rather frazzled. Perhaps you would like a glass of our award winning house wine?"

"Yes, anything will do at this point."

"Good, I'll bring you a glass at once. Oh I forgot, table number five has the last bottle of our house wine. May I bring you a glass of water."

"Are you sure that you have it?"

"Why of course we do."

"How much is the water?"

"It's on the house. Is there anything else that I can get you?"

"You've served me nothing. You have nothing in your restaurant for me to eat except for macaroni and cheese. I'm leaving."

"Very good sir. And by the way, here is your bill."

"Fifty-five dollars, are you crazy?"

"We are a very exclusive restaurant. The bill is for the air that you've breathed and the chair that you are sitting in."

"This is outrageous. I want to talk to the manager."

"That would be fine sir. Oh yes, I am also the manager. I suggest that you pay your bill at once. The cost of air is on the rise."

"This is highway robbery."

"I quite agree. But it's our way or the highway. Now pay up unless you want your car to be towed."

"I'm never coming back."

"Funny, most of our customers say the exact same thing. Well good day sir."