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The Dining Divas are not embarrassed to admit that our reasoning for the choice for this month’s restaurant may not have been about just the food and the friends. Yes, we’d get that as usual, but to us (okay, maybe the Diva planning the outing didn’t share her reasoning with the group), there was a more prominent reason. Better than food, and yes, better than friends. Gorgeous George.

Word around town is that George Clooney is living at the Chase Park Plaza while filming his latest movie “Up in the Air.” He’s also been spotted at Sub Zero in the Central West End. So it seemed like an excellent idea for the Divas to be dining at one of the 10 best new restaurants of 2008, that just so happened to be down the street from both the Chase and Sub Zero. We picked Herbie’s Vintage 72, a revitalization of the old “Balaban’s.”

It looked and felt like the old “Balaban’s”. An enclosed sidewalk café. A trendy bar. Spacious dining rooms. We were pleased. After we had a couple cocktails at the bar, it didn’t take much convincing when I suggested that we eat in the dining room rather than in the café area. We’d have a better shot at spotting George being escorted into his own private dining room.

After we were seated at our table, the Visiting Diva decided to check on George for herself. She was convinced that the two distinguished looking men who had walked in before and “disappeared” were hiding George in a secret room. That had to be lonely. Living in a strange city by yourself. Dining alone every night. We had room at our table. For that matter, we would have moved to the secret room if he didn’t want crazy fans bothering him.

The Visiting Diva discovered the secret room, and there were the two other gentlemen. George was probably hidden in a corner of the room. To no surprise, she couldn’t find the entrance. She could tell the guys were watching the St. Louis Blues game on a private TV. That made us all happy. We knew George would be a hockey fan. This Diva as well as the Visiting Diva didn’t take it personally when George stood us up at a recent hockey game. Yes, he was supposed to be there, and so were we. We made it. He didn’t.

But we had since moved on, and we sure tonight would make up for it. “Just one date with George Clooney,” said the Visiting Diva. That’s all she needed.

Oh Yeah, the Food Is Good

So we continued hoping while we ordered our food. Balaban’s fans will be happy to know that Herbie’s offers many of the same dishes along with new French, Asian, and American selections. This Diva loved the French Onion Soup; however the Filet Mignon with wild mushrooms and broccolini was prepared slightly too well done. I should have gone with medium. The lighting was dim enough that I wouldn’t have noticed pink in my steak.

The Braised Beef Short Ribs with whipped potatoes and broccolini was extremely tasty and tender. Another fabulous choice was the Grilled Atlantic Salmon. No leftovers here. Had we sat on the “café” side, we would have been given the dinner menu as well as bistro selections which included sandwiches and other dishes. But dining without as many menu choices was well worth it for George.

As the night progressed and we continued to convince ourselves that many other guests were famous, we realized that perhaps we were “seeing” things. Perhaps the other diners were diners just like us. Perhaps the secret room was just another room. Perhaps the two distinguished guys just have talented wives that know how to style their men. And perhaps Gorgeous George wasn’t going to come.

We were shocked. Herbie’s Vintage 72 is certainly a restaurant with high enough standards even for the famous. It’s classy yet trendy with great drinks and dining. There was no way that George would stand us up again! Perhaps he snuck in as we were searching for more secret rooms and private dining areas. He probably just missed us. Poor guy. Well, maybe next month. Or maybe the Dining Divas just need to focus on good food and friends.

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