The door gave a loud creak as it opened, but Julian had no intention of judging the place by appearances alone, so he stepped inside, curious to see what he would find. The front of the restaurant was a small space with only four old wooden tables, each surrounded by four wooden chairs, along with a counter that held a cash register and a doorway leading into the back. From that doorway emerged an elderly man with short silver hair, a lean but healthy frame, and a slight hunch to his back, dressed in robes.
"Welcome! Please, sit wherever you like and I'll bring you today's menu," the old man said cheerfully as he waved a hand, causing a sheet of paper to fly from somewhere behind him straight into his grasp.
Julian's eyes widened slightly at that. The man had done it without a wand and without speaking a spell. To anyone who did not know better, that might not have seemed like a big deal since all wizards used magic, but Julian knew very well that casual silent wandless magic was far beyond what ordinary people could do. He knew for a fact that even someone like Dumbledore found that sort of thing difficult, yet this old man had performed it as casually as breathing.
I was only curious about the place before, but I never expected this, he thought as he took a seat at a table by the window.
The old man walked over and set the menu down in front of him. "While you look over the food, is there a particular drink from the list that might interest you?" he asked, gesturing toward the menu.
Julian scanned the selection and was surprised to find that it did not contain the usual lineup of British drinks, but choices from all over the world instead.
"I'd like a cup of Qishr, if that isn't too much trouble," Julian said after spotting the drink and reading its description.
The old man smiled broadly. "An excellent choice. Please, take your time with the menu while I prepare it," he said before heading back through the doorway into the rear of the restaurant.
The description explained that Qishr was a hot sweet infusion made from coffee husks, ginger, sugar, and cinnamon.
Julian had never even heard of it before, but it sounded excellent, which was reason enough for him to try it. As he turned his attention to the food, he found himself surprised again. Aside from one British dish, everything else came from somewhere else in the world. There was Thai green curry, ropa vieja, bobotie, and several other dishes Julian had never heard of. Thankfully, each one came with a description that made the decision easier.
In the end, he chose the bobotie, which the menu described as a casserole like dish made from spiced minced lamb, dried fruit, and an egg based topping finished with bay leaves.
Once again, Julian had no real idea whether this was the right call, but it sounded like an excellent dinner option.
About ten minutes later, the old man returned carrying a pitcher filled with steaming orange colored liquid and a glass. He set the glass down first, then poured the drink into it before placing the pitcher on the table as well.
"I take it you've chosen your meal?" he asked, watching Julian expectantly.
"I apologize if I pronounce it terribly, but I decided on this one here, bobotie," Julian said, pointing to the item on the menu.
The old man nodded with clear approval. "That should pair very nicely with the Qishr. Give me a little time to prepare it, and I'll bring it out," he said before taking the menu and disappearing into the back once more.
Since the drink was still hot, Julian took a cautious sip and was very pleased to discover that it was a wonderful balance of sweetness, spice, and earthy flavor.
Another ten minutes passed before the old man returned, though this time he was empty handed.
"Forgive me if this sounds intrusive, but may I ask what brought you here of all places for dinner today?" he asked curiously.
Julian shrugged. "There isn't much to pry into. I realized it was close to dinner, happened to notice your restaurant, and decided to give it a try. So far, I'm quite pleased with that impulse decision," he said honestly with a small smile before taking another sip of his drink.
The old man chuckled. "Sometimes, a random choice can make all the difference," he said cryptically before heading away again.