Eating out, I don't enjoy it.

We only eat out when we are with friends or family.
It is far more relaxing eating at home.

We enjoy lunching out, either just us or with friends, or separately with different friends. Pub in village does good basic pub grub or we drive to another favourite which has a more varied menu. We are mid-way between two Cote restaurants, and particularly enjoy their breakfasts on a Sunday followed by a leisurely stroll.

So why do they often seem to get it so wrong?

I can't even guess how many times I've walked out of premises because of the intrusive muzak.

I know how much I want to eat when I go out for a meal and am very unlikely to decide to eat more wheni get there, muzak or no muzak.

I have one or two courses and know in advance how much I want. If having two courses, I have a starter and main course. I do not eat steak, so I am not buying the most expensive dishes, muzak will not persuade me to order a steak, I do not like it. Ditto with desserts, I do not really like them. Very occasionally I will be tempted by a plain creme brulee, may be once or twice a year. Nothing to do with muzak. Same with drink. i drink per meal - and a jug of tapwater- and usually a coffee.

Muzak, irritating and a waste of time as it doen't affect my buying decisison. Those are made before I even get to the restaurant.

M0nica

I know how much I want to eat when I go out for a meal and am very unlikely to decide to eat more wheni get there, muzak or no muzak.

I have one or two courses and know in advance how much I want. If having two courses, I have a starter and main course. I do not eat steak, so I am not buying the most expensive dishes, muzak will not persuade me to order a steak, I do not like it. Ditto with desserts, I do not really like them. Very occasionally I will be tempted by a plain creme brulee, may be once or twice a year. Nothing to do with muzak. Same with drink. i drink per meal - and a jug of tapwater- and usually a coffee.

Muzak, irritating and a waste of time as it doen't affect my buying decisison. Those are made before I even get to the restaurant.

You’re clearly a ‘contemplative purchaser’ Monica, but that doesn’t mean that Muzak doesn’t work for some purchasers in both shops and restaurants. Interesting article from BBC here.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-36424854

My favourite place to eat out is the takeaway café at a local beauty spot. Lovely bacon roll and a large tea for under £6. The people and dog watching is first class - all shapes and sizes! Firefighters, paramedics and police often roll up for a quick bite, plus motorbike enthusiasts coming together to compare notes on their gleaming machines.

Like to eat out when I can. I meet a friend for lunch sometimes at a local Italian , you can have 2 courses a glass of wine or beer for £12-95.

We also have a local Wetherspoons where two main courses are cheap as chips.

My favourite is going to a local steak restaurant with the granddaughters and my daughter ( their auntie) when Mum and dad go on a “date night” It is more expensive but the service is great, no music, and you can choose any variation on steak/salad dressing/ hot sauce choice with the steak. I’m not a huge drinker but they do a great Cosmopolitan too!

I think eating out is a really nice thing to do ( I understand it’s not for everyone ) and Im in complete agreement over no loud music .

I find eating out is hope over experience. I can count on one hand the times a meal has come up 10 out of 10.
Hubs and I rarely eat out from home say, but if we are out then we will have a meal. Some nice some not so nice.
Prefer lunch to evenings now as don't like night driving anymore.

I rarely eat out as it's too expensive for my limited budget, but on the rare occasions I do, I'm often disappointed with the poor quality of the food I'm served. I also have food allergies, so I'm happiest to cook from scratch at home

Casdon An interesting article. If I am doing something that needs me to concentrate then to me music, any music is a distraction and ncredibly irritating. It is the same at home when I really need to concentrate, the radio goes off, it has suddenly become an irritant.

My neural diversity may play into this I have been diagnosed with dyspraxia, which has mental aspects as well as the physical and almost certainly have ADHD. Both DS and DGS have it and we have a lot of shared characteristics.

Happygirl79

I rarely eat out as it's too expensive for my limited budget, but on the rare occasions I do, I'm often disappointed with the poor quality of the food I'm served. I also have food allergies, so I'm happiest to cook from scratch at home

This. All of this. I'd much rather not waste funds on food we could make as well or much better in our pleasant home.

Of course others feel differently.