Anyone Else Soured on Dining Out?

[Koolau]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retired Expat I agree with this poster. Except that we travel a lot and when traveling it is easier to eat out. At home where I have a fully stocked kitchen it is easier, healthier and far cheaper to eat at home and in most cases as good. Tomorrow making Sweetbreads also know as Riz d'veau or Mollejas where I am, in a lemon cream sauce at home over rice. There isn't a restaurant within 75 miles that can do that

You can have my share. In any city, I seek out the best pizza. So far, haven't found any really good pizza in Honolulu, but YMMV.

[Dog]

DH and I use to enjoy going to nicer restaurants. But, the experience has diminished over the past few years. It seems the ambiance is gone with the newer designs (hard floors, higher ceilings, open floor plans, etc.) and rooms are so loud you can’t carry on a conversation. We still haven’t gone out for our anniversary dinner and that was in early May. We aren’t cheap, but the value for the experience just isn’t there. Plus, DH is a great cook. We can enjoy a nice meal with wine, a view of the sound, and enjoyable music in our home for a fraction of the cost. We do occasionally eat out with friends after golf, but typically more pub type food. We are going to investigate a few of the farm to table establishments and see how that goes.

[Koolau]

After church, today, some folks were talking about going out together. We stopped at the place and it was loud, the menu was Dennys on steroids and most of the folks backed out when we heard that there was a 30 minute wait. So, we just came home to scramble some eggs and cook some tube biscuits. Will taste as good as a restaurant and it will be pleasantly quite. Next week, we'll do some research and see if anyone wants to make a reservation - someplace else. YMMV

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dog DH and I use to enjoy going to nicer restaurants. But, the experience has diminished over the past few years. It seems the ambiance is gone with the newer designs (hard floors, higher ceilings, open floor plans, etc.) and rooms are so loud you can’t carry on a conversation.

+1 Bingo!

The modern restaurant design which seems to elevate compounding noises through the entire restaurant is a non-starter for me. I refuse to go back to places where I have to raise my voice just to have a conversation with the person sitting across from me.

[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut +1 Bingo! The modern restaurant design which seems to elevate compounding noises through the entire restaurant is a non-starter for me. I refuse to go back to places where I have to raise my voice just to have a conversation with the person sitting across from me.

It is amazing how loud most restaurants are these days, at all price points. All it takes is one loud table, and everyone turns up their volume, it's horrible. Some of the higher end places are quieter, but still louder than decades ago.

[Koolau]

I've always assumed the sound level is one more gimmick to get you out the door more quickly. We noticed the sound level in especially LVNV restaurants. Additionally, carpets were typically garishly colored and there was a noticeable bustle and hurry among the wait staff. In short - you were encouraged to finish your meal and go back through the casino. Same in regular restaurants it seems - turnover is key to profits. YMMV

[Music Lover]

We had a $25 gift card for Boston Pizza. My opinion, it's average food at above average prices. Anyway we didn't feel like cooking and went for dinner. 1 large pizza, a 23 ounce draft for me, a margarita for the wife. The total was $72 after taxes and tip. $47 after using the gift card.

I doubt we'll be going back.

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music Lover We had a $25 gift card for Boston Pizza. My opinion, it's average food at above average prices. Anyway we didn't feel like cooking and went for dinner. 1 large pizza, a 23 ounce draft for me, a margarita for the wife. The total was $72 after taxes and tip. $47 after using the gift card. I doubt we'll be going back.

For less than the price of that meal you could have bought one of these:

https://smile.amazon.com/Presto-0343...s%2C168&sr=8-4

I have no idea how well it works. But, having made pizza at home, I know that you can create a very good pizza for well under $10 worth ingredients.

[Music Lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut For less than the price of that meal you could have bought one of these: https://smile.amazon.com/Presto-0343...s%2C168&sr=8-4 I have no idea how well it works. But, having made pizza at home, I know that you can create a very good pizza for well under $10 worth ingredients.

Actually, we have an Ooni pizza oven and use it regularly. For $72 I could have fed 15 people.

[Dtail]

Trying prepared meals tonight for the first time. Goal is 2x weekly for this aspect at $20 daily total.

[unclemick]

One more thing - actually two. !) switched to lunch at locally owned - where it appears the workingman grabs lunch in some of the 'industrial/warehouse/office areas er research ongoing and 2) 'da church' post covid hasn't got all it's members back (aka $) so the 'chefs' are doing a lot in-house and take out over the summer to raise $. Some of these are pretty good meals.

Heh heh heh -

P.S. Going to Cleveland OH for a week (relatives wedding) any hole in wall local places ??

[Scuba]

I agree with the comments about noisy restaurants. It’s actually one of our criteria when going out, especially with anyone else we want to catch up with. I guess younger folks enjoy the din, but DH and I love going to nice quiet places where we can have a quality conversation. Yet another reason to avoid going out.

[cyber888]

I went to Golden Corral today, Sunday, where they grill fresh juicy steaks at lunch. I didn't sit down and dine in, and just told the cook to give me 6 big slabs of steaks in 2 take out box. Paid $22+ bucks. Wife grilled 2 corns at home, and we were so full, we were not even able to consume 1 steak cut. So, we still got around 6 more meals with it.

[Badger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut +1 Bingo! The modern restaurant design which seems to elevate compounding noises through the entire restaurant is a non-starter for me. I refuse to go back to places where I have to raise my voice just to have a conversation with the person sitting across from me.

+1 and another Bingo!

[Badger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music Lover We had a $25 gift card for Boston Pizza. My opinion, it's average food at above average prices. Anyway we didn't feel like cooking and went for dinner. 1 large pizza, a 23 ounce draft for me, a margarita for the wife. The total was $72 after taxes and tip. $47 after using the gift card. I doubt we'll be going back.

$72!!! I could understand $47 for the beer, margarita, and a large pizza but that would be my limit. However, I still buy a Pappa Murphy's pizza for $11 to cook at home and enjoy a nice stout or brown ale for $2. Otherwise I would make pizza at home. The important thing is the bread and tomato sauce which are easy to make and freeze extra for the next pizza.

Cheers!

[ShokWaveRider]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger $72!!! I could understand $47 for the beer, margarita, and a large pizza but that would be my limit. However, I still buy a Pappa Murphy's pizza for $11 to cook at home and enjoy a nice stout or brown ale for $2. Otherwise I would make pizza at home. The important thing is the bread and tomato sauce which are easy to make and freeze extra for the next pizza. Cheers!

DW buys Aldi Pizza, cuts it in half then doctors it with her own "addies", additional toppings that is. The then easts half of it and freezes the other half for another day. Store bought Pizzas never have enough toppings or cheese for her. She has been doing this for years. We never order Pizza in as I do not really care for it. Chinese is a different story. We always order take out Chinese, mainly because we do not have a good local eat in Chinese, but the Take out is exquisite and reasonable.

[Music Lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger $72!!! I could understand $47 for the beer, margarita, and a large pizza but that would be my limit. However, I still buy a Pappa Murphy's pizza for $11 to cook at home and enjoy a nice stout or brown ale for $2. Otherwise I would make pizza at home. The important thing is the bread and tomato sauce which are easy to make and freeze extra for the next pizza. Cheers!

We only went because of the gift card. What we really should have done was use the gift card to buy the pizza and eaten it on our deck having our own drinks.

[Koolau]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music Lover We only went because of the gift card. What we really should have done was use the gift card to buy the pizza and eaten it on our deck having our own drinks.

Yeah, take out seems to be the big "take away" we all learned during Covid. Too bad, really, but it saves money - especially on drinks. YMMV

[djsander]

We go out occasionally. We moved last year so we are still exploring. Last week we worked hard in the yard and went after lunch to one of our favorite New Mexican restaurants. Total bill was $50 but we gave a big tip. I ordered an extra side and we had enough for dinner the next day. We try to get in before or after the crowds. Most are noisy as most have said. We aren’t drinkers, so usually get water, but soft drinks are running $3 when we get them. Eating out we are choosy anymore.

[W2R]

Before Covid we used to eat lunch out every day. Then we stayed home for two years like a lot of other people did. Now, we eat out about once a week and get take-out on the other days due to aging, Covid concerns, and disgust at how people choose to act with no consideration for others (loud, rude, etc) these days.

We split a lunch between the two of us often. We don't buy drinks, and instead I drink tap water and he drinks diet Coke or water when we eat at home. For each of us the cost of take-out ranges from $6 - $15, depending on what we order and if we split it or not. Average cost per day so far in 2022 for me has been $11.87 including an occasional dinner too. F is a native New Orleanian and consequently very particular about what food he eats. I'm not, but I cooked for my late ex and daughter for decades and for other family members for decades before that, and eventually got extremely bored with cooking. So, both of us would rather eat take-out as long as the local mom'n'pop restaurants remain reasonably priced. We know we are really lucky to be able to eat well for those prices.