I don't eat at places that serve crappy food. I don't mind paying the extra dollar for good food. A restaurant has to have a certain atmosphere that's appealing to me. If the food, service and atmosphere are just right, I'll pay the extra dollar.

Thirsty Lion and Margarita Factory excel in these two categories. There are others, but these two are my favorites. Those are my two default restaurants.

I encourage you to use Duckduckgo and search for Thirsty Lion Menu and click on Images. You won't be disappointed. Do the same with Margarita Factory.

Tony.

quote:

Originally posted by Jelly:
I would say you have been lucky. Been a long long time since you could get a good breakfast or lunch for $7 around here. I would say $11 - $13, plus tip for is the normal around here.

Yup. I can make due with the Bob Evans for $15.00 plus a tip but my favorite is Perkins. The Perkins in Fairfield Ohio can have my money anytime of day or night for breakfast. Its actually a few dollars less than Evans and the whole place, quality of foods and wait staff are much better. Will grab my ol' timer friend soon and go to Perkins.

I am on the opposite end of the spectrum of most of you guys.

Of course when I'm working, I'm in hotels around the world so eating out is the only option but man is it fun. I'm all about the local food.

And now that I am single again, when I am home for a week or so I tend to go out. Even more now to support my local places.

I love to cook and if I am off for a while (like in July when I had the whole month off) I'll go to Central Market and stock up on good stuff and cook my brains out.

But August so far...I'd say that 90% of my meals have been at restaurants.

I have not seen dramatic price changes but maybe I have not been paying close attention.

We don’t eat out much.
I’ve seen to many horror stories behind the scenes. Even the best places can be nasty.

It’s truly a wonder we all don’t die of food poisoning.

to me eating at restaurants has become like flying. used to be enjoyable but now usually a pain in the ass because of clods. that said had a very nice dinner at a restaurant recently. helped a lot that the tables were very far apart and the place was fairly upscale. won't pay to do that regularly however. even tipped the chef which I have never done before

I mainly cook at home anymore with the exception of one local brewery that serves food.
Too much shit and hassle going out.

We live in a small, small town...4 stoplights.
A. D.Q., McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Wendy’s and 2 cafes (one has now closed). None allow dine in. All drive through or carry out only.

Never thought I’d miss taking the wife out and at the very least, sit down and enjoy being out. I’m starting to believe the employees like the drive thru and carry out only scenarios. Cuts down on employee effort.

As someone who's been in the restaurant business for over 15 years, I find myself happy to see regulars coming out and supporting our business in these times. I've found that people like being recognized for their patronage and I, myself, find myself happy to see people pull me aside just to chat, even if I'm not their server. I understand that a lot of restaurants don't provide very personal service, but there are plenty of places that absolutely appreciate their clientele and the support that they provide. Some of the very best people I've met in my life have been guests that I've waited on. I get that dining out is a guilty pleasure, but it can be a positive experience when done right.

We do it maybe once or twice a week, but most of the time it is small independent joints we liked before all this. I've seen several chain places that had locations that were marginal before all this close in the last several months, an Applebee's, a Ponderosa, a Burger King, a Twin Peaks, a Panera. The places we still frequent genuinely appreciate our business, chain places don't seem to care.

Went to one of our favorites in Waverly, AL last weekend. They were pretty busy but only recently and still dialed back some. I didn’t feel the least bit guilty leaving 30% tip on dinner and bottle of wine - these servers have taken it in the shorts!

Most places I go to have doubled the prices. I dont wear a mask so there aren’t many places I can go to. Been cooking a lot at home. I do miss the social aspect of it.

You know, I thought something was up.

Mrs. Angus and I eat out a few times a week. We had really cut back on dining out since March but have recently started again. Recently, every time I pay I'm thinking "Wow, was it always that expensive?"

We went to a casual Mexican restaurant here in Houston on Monday for lunch, not diner.

We had a draft beer apiece, chips and queso, and fajitas for 2.

$70 before tip!

Now I know that's more expensive than before the China flu.

I think we are going to cook at home more often now.

We eat out about twice a week on average. All of our favorite restaurants are open and the prices have not changed. Most of the fast food places are drive thru only still. Don't eat there much.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
I didn’t feel the least bit guilty leaving 30% tip

The good folks at The Little Ice Creamery on Croghan Pike {US-522} made me my first cheesesteak of the year in May as I emerged from hibernation. With everything on it, as recommended. Pickles and hots. No guilt tipping a ten. After all, they would not be working if they did not need the money.

Tipped a $5 through the french-fries take-out window at Ishkabibble's on South Street ... and got a huge smile without the guilt and belly ache of eating a bucket of cheese fries. With mask, hat, and big old-man wrap-around shades, I was truly the Anonymous Tipper.

We order take out 2-3 nights a week, and eat out about twice a week. Have not seen a significant price increase.

There are still a handful of places where I eat. In my state, you can have full seating if the tables are spaced and they have plastic barriers between booths. We can eat lunch most places for 20 bucks or less. We go 4 or 5 days a week, once a month to an "expensive" restaurant which is around 30 bucks. Once the restaurants opened for seating again, we had little else to do. We offset the calories with an evening meal of salads or a fruit smoothie.

I do a lot of drive-thru, and that has not changed. One of the sit-down places (Dickie's) has opened for 50% seating, and their ribs are to die for -- I've been back twice recently. My former coworkers used to meet once a month for lunch, but that has been on hold. I miss those lunches with my friends.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by nasig:
to me eating at restaurants has become like flying. used to be enjoyable but now usually a pain in the ass because of clods.

I have found this to be true as well.

I used to eat out pretty frequently. The Covid cured that. It's like my local restaurants all forgot how to cook. The big, crispy, delicious Tempura Shrimp are now small and soggy. And more expensive. The menu is limited - and my Eggs Benedict are gone.

I have lost 10 lbs, though.

At work, I brown bag it, as I don't know who is making my food. When we do go out, it's usually for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary.

We haven't changed our habits as far as eating out. The difference is that we avoid eating inside, much preferring patio dining. We've not noticed an increase in prices and are happy to support local, non chain restaurants.