It's opening night for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and it's only fitting that we should celebrate with a hot meal at Waffle House. We had hoped to dine at the Waffle House at Shallowford Road and I-85, but all that remains are the two steel pillars that once held the WH letter blocks, now towering over the site. Determined, we pressed on to the next exit, where we found the WH letter blocks glowing in the misty night haze.

It was a slow night for the WH, only us Kirkwoods and a gentleman sitting at the bar reading classic literature while sipping a cup of coffee. This is a classic WH, shades of wood grain laminate create a cozy, lived-in feel for this corporately-owned restaurant. A rarity, the service and food were good.

And even more of a rarity, our service was not white, nor was she black, rather, she was Asian. In our years of WH dining, we've never come across an Asian in uniform. Although, given that we were a stones-throw away from the Buford Highway, she wasn't totally out of place.