It's tough, this restaurant business. It's been romanticized in books, movies and TV. But the reality is not so romantic. And now some restauranteurs are trying to help their people with their struggles. Al talks to Sparrow & Wolf's John Anthony about that. And he talks to the new co-owners of The Hard Hat Lounge, one of the area's premier dive bars - if 'premier' and 'dive bar' even belong in the same sentence. Also: Samantha Gemini Stevens shares her recent restaurant experiences - along with a semi-big scoop about Anima by EDO. And Rich talks food carts after his latest visit to food cart heaven, Portland. But Al got the best perk of all: a preview of Bacon Nation, the new bacon-centric 24-hour joint coming to The D on Fremont St.

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