Why we don't go to restaurants much

[Conan The Librarian]

My wife and I would like to go to restaurants more, but the portions are so large that we end up splitting something. We'd really like to just get the things each of us like. I'd rather pay a couple of bucks less per entree, and get less food. I'd probably go pretty often if it worked that way.

[yooper77]

I feel the complete opposite.
 
Any sitdown restaurant these days are way overpriced and skimp on portions, so I have personally started a total boycott of any eat in or take out food to include fast food.
 
yooper77

[Ex 49'er]

I prefer to go to buffets. That way I can eat what I want, as much as I want and pay a fixed price.

[Brett]

My wife and daughter will often split a meal if not we just get a doggie bag and somebody has it for lunch.

[powderman]

I prefer to go to buffets. That way I can eat what I want, as much as I want and pay a fixed price.

 
YEP, me too, just can't afford it very often. POWDERMAN. 

[Spirithawk]

We go to Golden Coral a lot. Discovered that if we get there about 10 minutes before 4pm we get the Early Bird Special price and by the time we're seated dinner is being put out. Cut's the price of eating there by half. But ya gotta be over 50 to quallify for the Early Bird Special. Plus they give a Veteran's discount too.

[teamnelson]

Eating out has always been our recreation; there's a lot we don't do, but we like to eat out ... until recently. Service has just really gone down - we lived overseas for a few years where being a waiter is considered a prestigious trade, and customer service is taken seriously. These days its as if they're annoyed they have to serve us; the orders are messed up more often than not, and the staff is surly. On the rare instance you find someone that truly enjoys their work and provides good service, I will tip very well. But overall its taken the joy out of the experience for us, so after 20 years of marriage, we're cooking at home more now than ever, and loving it. The service is always good, portions are perfect, and the food is much much better.


Of course we just moved back to the land of Chik Fil-A and they've got me hooked 

[PowPow]

We don't go out to eat much because my wife has become a Food Channel junkie. She cooks for recreation and is really good at it.  When we do go out, its as if she takes it as a challenge, saying "I can make that", and she usually does a better job.
But she won't fry fish, so we will always have to go out for fried seafood.

[briarpatch]

Teamnelson, I agree with chik- fil -a. The problem I have with eating out now is Hygiene. I dont think it is required? I cant eat at Mac d's or any of the other fast food places. The sewers are probably cleaner. That might raise the hairs on the back of a few heads but that is the way I see them. I know a lot of people got their start there and the ones that went on to make something of themselves understood hygiene. Most of those in there now dont know what water and soap is. I gave up on the horror shows when I would go in one about  10 or 15 years ago.  Its fairly rare but when the wife and I are out and wanting something to eat we hunt a Ck-fl-a.
The service is fast and those that work there have a clean appearance and are respectful. My wifes niece owns one and you can eat off the floors. Clean is the name of that game. She hand picks the employees and takes care of them. They in turn take care of her and her business.
Several months ago I called a friend in Texas, I am in Florida. When he answered the phone I could tell he was in line at some fast food place and sure enough he was trying to place an order at Mac d's. He went round and round with the order person and was finally told after waiting about 10 minutes they did not have what he ordered, which was on the menu. He got upset and before he got wound up I asked if they had a ck-fl-a in town and he said I'm looking at one now. I said go over there and you will have a better experience and sure enough he ordered and pulled a round picked up the order and was ready to go. He said I will never eat at another md after looking at the people and the way they act at ck-fl-a.
As teamnelson said, cooking at home is much better.

[magooch]

My favorite places to eat out is at the casino buffets.  The food is the best and the cost is almost always free for us at our favorite spots.   

[powderman]

SPIRITHAWK. We do that too, get there just before changeover. We can go to Ryans, lunch price, senior disc, tax and all for $11.11 cents for the 2 of us, at golden corral that is almost $16 lunch prices.  I like golden corral but they aren't worth the xtra $4- $5. When I was able to work we ate out often, just can't afford it much anymore. POWDERMAN. 

[OldSchoolRanger]

I hope you guys are aware that most of the big name restaurant & supermarket chains give senior discounts, I got a list from a friend of mine.  Some of the discounts start at the young "old" age of 50.    Hope this helps you guys get out a little more often.  Always ask about a senior or military discount, the worst that can happen is that they tell you no. Some examples:
Restaurants:
Applebees: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
 Arbys: 10% off (55+)
Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off (60+)
Bennigans: discount varies by location
Bobs Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
Burger King: 10% off (60+)
Captain Ds Seafood: discount varies on location (62+)
 Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
Chili's: 10% off (55+)
CiCi's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Culver's: 10% off (60+)
Dennys: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
Dunkin Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
 Einsteins Bagels: 10% off bakers dozen of bagels (60+)
Fuddruckers: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
Gattis Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
Hardees: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
IHOP: 10% off (55+)
 Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
Long John Silvers: various discounts at participating locations (55+)
McDonalds: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)
 Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
Shoneys: 10% off
Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
Steak n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)
Subway: 10% off (60+)
Sweet Tomatoes: 10% off (62+)
 Taco Bell : 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
TCBY: 10% off (55+)
Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)
Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
Wendys: 10% off (55+)
White Castle : 10% off (62+)

[/color]Grocery
Albertsons: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)
American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
 DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)
Frys Supermarket: free Frys VIP Club Membership & 10% off every
Monday (55+)
Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
 Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
 The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)
Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)
Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Guisepps Marketplace: 5% off (62+)

[magooch]

Isn't it ironic that statistics show that those of us over 55 have more disposable income than any other age group. 

[tobster]

It seems like the older I get, the more I prefer to eat at home.   I make a better cup of  coffee than the watered down swill most restaurants serve and I can get up and pour a second cup rather than try and flag down a waitress. Even at good restaurants a steak can be a bit of a crap shoot, where at the meat market I have my choice of many. Last but not least, I'm a cheapskate!

[FTG-05]

We don't go out to eat much because my wife has become a Food Channel junkie. She cooks for recreation and is really good at it.  When we do go out, its as if she takes it as a challenge, saying "I can make that", and she usually does a better job.
But she won't fry fish, so we will always have to go out for fried seafood.

This is exactly what I was going to post!  My waistline sure has expanded since she started watching all those shows.....

[no guns here]

We are down to three in our family now.  My wife, my 11 yo son and me.  Our dining costs have dropped dramatically so we do tend to eat out a bit more now than in the past when all four kids were at home.  Typically now we when we go to a restaurant my wife and my son still share a meal (maybe portions are bigger in Texas).  I've learned to cut down to just ordering a small steak or something without all the sides and stuff.  We all still leave full and our food bill is usually less than $25 bucks unfortunately when you add in three glasses of tea at $2.49 a glass the bill with tip still comes out to $40.  Maybe we'll cut back to water instead of tea and cut the bill back some more.
 
 
NGH

[powderman]

NGH. We never order a drink, just ice water. $2 for 10cts worth of tea is ridiculous. POWDERMAN. 

[Sourdough]

When the wife and I got married, both being active duty AF we ate at the Dinning Hall for Breakfast, NCO Club for lunch, and down town for dinner.  Neither one of us wanted to go home and cook.
 
When The Kids came along, the Wife started cooking dinner at home.  We still ate Breakfast at Burger King or McDonalds before dropping the kids off at day care or school, and lunch at the NCO Club.
 
The oldest left for the Navy, and we moved back to Alaska.  Now we each fix our own Breakfast at home, as they rush off to work, school, or the Gym.  For lunch the wife and I usually meet at Denny's, where we order from the Senior Menu, (smaller portions).  Then for dinner, we usually go to a restaurant.  Where we either split something, or take half home for later.  Protions are always too big.  With the youngest still living at home, and him being a body builder, anything brought home is usually gone later that night.  That young man usually eats five to six times a day.  He is 5'6", 175lbs, and no fat on him. 
 
Often when our group of friends go out, we only order one meal for couple.  Everything goes in the center of the table, and we split it as we each take what we want. 
 
Eating healthy is sometimes a challenge when eating out all the time.  But it can be done.