When dining out at eating establishments what is your preference when ordering? (burger, substitute)

[brocco]

I travel for work so most of the time when I'm eating out its on someone else's dime/time. In that case we will order apps, drinks, entrees and dessert at dinner, especially if we're entertaining clients. If I'm alone and/or its lunch I'll order an entree and maybe a salad first.

At home I rarely go out - I prefer to cook. Sometimes my fiance and I will go out. Sometimes we order appetizers, sometimes we don't. I personally would not chose to order an appetizer (because $ and calories) but certain items call out to him. We do usually order a drink or two. We rarely order dessert.

[Ted Bear]

Cocktails, baby!


Then maybe a salad and a small plate.


Or two appetizers.


Coffee or espresso.


Check, please.

[mschrief]

My husband and I typically order like this: I dont eat all that much, so I usually have a bowl of soup or a starter for my meal, he orders a regular entree, and sometimes we share a dessert. Works for us.

[arctic_gardener]

I don't care for any European/North American cuisines with the exception of Italian. In an Italian place, I'd go for salad, appies,a pasta and dessert. Otherwise, I favor Indian, Thai, Mexican and Ethiopian places where the concepts of appetizer and entree are much more vague.

I love French and German desserts though. My ideal meal would have an Italian appy, a Mexican or Ethiopian main course, and a slice of German cake for dessert.

[kokonutty]

Originally Posted by mej210390

Do you prefer ordering a main, or various starters/sides/entrees? why do you order this way?

Mej, you should be aware that you're posting in a primarily American forum where some of the terms you've used mean different things here than they do Downunder. How they got that way is a topic for a different forum, I suppose.

Light or smaller things eaten at the beginning of a meal are called starters, appetizers or salads. In Oz an entrée also falls into that category while in the US and elsewhere an entrée is the main course usually consisting of a protein, a starch and a vegetable.

[Jukesgrrl]

I certainly don't eat like a bird but no way could I consume an appetizer, soup/salad, an entree, and a dessert in one sitting. Even if you dispense with the appetizer, it's too much food for me given the amount of most restaurant meals these days.

If I'm in the mood for a salad I get an entree salad. Or soup and a salad. But if I'm having a dinner entree, I normally would order only that. I don't remember the last time I ordered an appetizer or a dessert that I wasn't sharing with one or more other people at the table.

[Seafood Junky]

Depends on the place...

[Ohky0815]

entree only

[gentlearts]

Usually, a salad and an entree. I never have room for an appetizer or dessert. Sometimes I just get salad and an appetizer. I tend to order something I never make at home. If they have veal, I will get that, because not many restaurants have it. I'm not a big fish fan, unless I know it came off the boat that day.
If I'm at a steakhouse, I'll probably get a fillet.

[jbgusa]

Originally Posted by mej210390

Do you prefer ordering a main, or various starters/sides/entrees? why do you order this way?

I find appetizers are actually usually better. If it doesn't seem odd socially that's often how I order.