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Isn't the point of dining out quality, rather than speed? (I'm not considering fast food as "dining out.") I think a leisurely dinner with extended conversation is one of the great pleasures of life.
Did the cook wash his/her hands after using the bathroom? What if some azzhat decides to spit on my food? What if one of those employees is ticked off at the boss tonight?
Last week my wife and I went out (which is rare) and when the bill came, at the bottom it said... "Suggested tip: 20% ______; 25% ________" ... SERIOUSLY? 20-25%??? There wasn't even a line for 15 or 18%.
That would enrage me, too.
In fact, that did happen to us in New Orleans once, only the waitress ADDED the tip to the meal. Her service wasn't worth what she charged for herself, but it wouldn't have mattered if she was. My husband saw the look on my face and immediately started "cooling me down" because he saw what was coming if I didn't. I did ask for the manager and he wasn't there. But later I found their website and sent him a scathing email. No response, of course.
I prefer cooking at home most of the time, but there are a few things I like going out for.
I like eating seafood out. There's a great seafood place here; it's really good, fresh-caught off the coast, and the prices are really good. It's better and cheaper than buying seafood and then cooking it at home. Plus, I only like shrimp, and my hubby likes to get a variety platter with scallops, oysters, shrimp and fish. It's just easier and honestly cheaper to go out, and I don't have to worry about the mess of frying or the fish stink in the house.
I also like going out for steak sometimes. We do make good steaks at home too, but it's really not much more costly to go out for it. Plus, we have a few favorite local steakhouses that we visit.
Other than that, it's usually cheaper, faster, easier, healthier and overall more pleasant to eat at home. I just wish I didn't have to do dishes!!
That would enrage me, too. In fact, that did happen to us in New Orleans once, only the waitress ADDED the tip to the meal. Her service wasn't worth what she charged for herself, but it wouldn't have mattered if she was. My husband saw the look on my face and immediately started "cooling me down" because he saw what was coming if I didn't. I did ask for the manager and he wasn't there. But later I found their website and sent him a scathing email. No response, of course.
I should clarify that the lines for 20 & 25% were just 'suggested' amounts. We were still free to leave whatever we wanted and no tip was automatically added for us. Still... just the fact that they think it's ok to suggest up to 25% (in case I can't divide by 4?) was annoying and felt like a slap in the face as a paying customer. Why don't they just add the full balance of their home mortgage and "suggest" that? The fact that we'd just paid $60 for bland fired chicken did not help either.
1-Like everyone else, I don't consider fast food as "dining out".
2-if I'm at a restaurant, I want quality, not speed. You want speed, go to a fast food joint. If still too slow, re-evaluate yourself or stop waiting until you're starving to eat.
3-I don't eat out much for the following reasons: a.) it's become expensive b.) it's unhealthy
It's not that prices are especially difficult. Especially with the price of fuel down a lot, I COULD afford to dine out more often. But I don't want to. And as far as healthy options, I usually make decent choices at restaurants, and I don't tend to overeat.
But the speed of all restaurants is just abhorrently slow. Especially fast food. Ironically.
Some notable exceptions: Chick fil a is not only good value, but usually quite rapid. Even when busy.
That is pretty much the opposite reason we don't dine out anymore. It seems like, even at the expensive restaurants, we are rushed and can't relax and enjoy the experience.
By the time I get fluffed up, drive 30-60 minutes one way, pay 100+ per person for appetizer/chain restaurant steak and a glass or two of house wine and have to listen to people argue, have untended children under foot and a waiter trying to get the next seating in - where is the enjoyment?
For a mediocre dinner out for two I can cook up a storm for four to six, no noise, no rush, some can walk home, others will spend the night. There is no bad table at our house only some chairs closer to the wine cooler))
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