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Do you enjoy eating out?

(117 Posts)
oldbatty Mon 19-Nov-18 11:42:51

I find I am going off the experience. It seems very expensive and nothing special. Also I have gone off having waiters fussing around and no I don't want to see your big pepper mill thanks.

Do you have fabulous local bistros or go to places?

Auntieflo Mon 19-Nov-18 11:50:35

I do enjoy eating out, sometimes, but I really have to fancy it.
If DH says, “shall we eat out tonight”, it’s usually coincides with me having prepared a meal, or have one in mind.
I agree with the expense, not always worth it, and I’m not fond of on the spur of the moment.
Getting old and crotchety moi.

Jane10 Mon 19-Nov-18 11:55:29

Gosh yes! We've recently found a small local restaurant which specialises in fish dishes. The menu changes twice a day depending on what they have fresh. I can honestly say that every course of every meal either DH and I have had has been absolutely delicious. It's a small place the owners took a chance and it's paid off. The husband and his pal cooks and the wife is front of house. Very friendly. Nothing fancy. I'm selfishly almost sorry at their totally 5 star reviews on TripAdvisor as it's becoming necessary to book in advance. They absolutely deserve it though.

Jane10 Mon 19-Nov-18 11:56:01

Ooh and it's very reasonably priced too.

oldbatty Mon 19-Nov-18 12:02:10

Absolutely nowhere like that near us. There is one place where smallish portions are tasty.

The decor is a bit like a canteen and hasn't altered in years. At lunch time the waitress has her surly children on ipads....hardly makes for the wow factor.

rockgran Mon 19-Nov-18 12:08:46

I tend to find eating out a bit disappointing these days. I just don't have the appetite to warrant the price and the huge helpings overwhelm me. Occasionally I do have the opportunity, the means and the appetite all at the same time - then I really enjoy it.

Jalima1108 Mon 19-Nov-18 12:10:24

There is nowhere very near so we have to drive wherever we go which means that only one of us can enjoy a wine with our meal.
Yes, I do enjoy going out to eat and hearing about places which others recommend. However, the place we usually go to for a pre-Christmas lunch was good even though it was catering for a large party of us - but this year it has changed hands and the menu looks ridiculous and very pretentious - and more limited.

bluebirdwsm Mon 19-Nov-18 12:14:10

I enjoy eating out if I go to small places at lunchtime for good food at decent prices served by pleasant staff.

In the evenings, not so much. The cost is off putting for what you get. I had a partner once who was Italian and who had a friend who owned an Indian restaurant. I would have far, far better Italian food at home...and Indian food as good as you'd get in a restaurant!

In a popular restaurant I hate it when it's busy and feel rushed to eat up and go. I'm a slow eater and also like to make an evening of it all, a small break between courses and a leisurely coffee afterwards. I pay enough for it.

sodapop Mon 19-Nov-18 12:20:17

A lot of our social life revolves around going out for lunch. We prefer this to cooking for everyone and the inevitable washing up. I can't eat later in the evening so this is a good solution. The day has gone though, lunch at 12.30pm home by 4,30pm walk the dogs then a snooze, goodbye day.

KatyK Mon 19-Nov-18 12:21:31

Lots of lovely restaurants around and about, some very expensive. We might go for special occasions. We prefer Wetherspoons - cheap and cheerful with nice food.

wildswan16 Mon 19-Nov-18 12:28:22

I do wish we could have some comfy basic restaurants which serve simple good food without all the hype and trimmings. The best meals I have ever eaten have been sitting on a plastic chair, at a plastic table in a Malaysian food court that cost me under £2. Everybody happy, everybody sober, nobody talking on their phones.

Blinko Mon 19-Nov-18 12:59:12

Loads of places to eat out round here, town or country, European or more exotic and spicy. Just as well, as we find that socialising with friends usually involves eating out. Long may it continue.

Just a thought, if you don't eat out, how do you usually socialise? Genuine question.

annodomini Mon 19-Nov-18 13:00:13

Some restaurants offer smaller portions and I wish more of them would do so. If I don't fancy a big main course, I sometimes ask for two starters as these can be quite substantial too.

annodomini Mon 19-Nov-18 13:01:40

PS I mean another starter instead of a large main course!

BlueBelle Mon 19-Nov-18 14:27:37

I lunch out a fair bit but all cafes, bistros small indepentant ones or pub grub or a Chinese or Indian I haven’t been to a posh restaurant for many many years if ever can’t think of any I mean with proper waiters with a white cloth and a bottle of wine like you see on TV
We ve just had a vegan bistro open near me and my friend and I are going to try it next week it looks lovely
That’s definitely how I socialise apart from the cinema or an occasional theatre trip

Riverwalk Mon 19-Nov-18 14:49:50

I love to eat out and do so often.

Lucky to be surrounded by loads of good restaurants, bars, gastro pubs and pop-ups!

ninathenana Mon 19-Nov-18 14:59:57

I do enjoy it but not on the spur of the moment. I need a day or two notice.
There is a very good Turkish recently opened near us. They have white table cloths, comfy chairs good food and a great atmospher. There was a guy singing live last time we went.
Most of our dining out is in pub restaurants though.

EllanVannin Mon 19-Nov-18 15:06:15

I've lost 3 of my life-long pals this last year and wouldn't dream of eating out anywhere----besides the fact that I'd miss them so much that they weren't with me that I wouldn't enjoy myself anyway so the best thing for me is to stay at home and eat ( and be miserable )
I'd known these friends since 1960.

suzied Mon 19-Nov-18 15:38:19

Ooh yes, where I live we could eat a different cuisine every night of the month. I love a posh restaurant , friends and I often meet up somewhere smart , they often have special lunch deals , you can often get 2 courses for about £15 or £20 and occasionally you get a glass of fizz as well if you look on the websites such as Open Table. I also like more basic Indian or Middle Eastern restaurants where you can get loads of good food at reasonable prices. A friend and I found a Korean restaurant recently and had an amazing soup with noodles and mushrooms. Yum. Whats not to like about trying new dishes? The only restaurants I would avoid are places with loud piped music.

lemongrove Mon 19-Nov-18 15:47:25

I love eating out and would do it every other day if funds allowed.
That’s eating out with another person, or a group of friends, not eating out on my own.

M0nica Mon 19-Nov-18 15:53:01

I'm like Riverwalk, I love eating out and we have every kind of eatery round us from the standard chain pubs and restaurants, to lots of gastro pubs and non-chain cafes and restaurants.

As we live in a rural area, we have to drive to most, but fortunately I rarely drink, so that causes no problems.

MissAdventure Mon 19-Nov-18 16:08:22

I love eating out, but only in relaxed places.
I don't want to have to get dolled up to be able to have a nice meal.

Maggiemaybe Mon 19-Nov-18 16:20:46

Yes, I love it. Lots of restaurants, pubs and pop-ups round here that serve food of every origin. And many of them excellent value. We can have a great main course from our local Turkish or Indian (the one we've been going to since 1972!) for a fiver. We've plenty at the posh end as well, for special occasions.

Alima Mon 19-Nov-18 16:24:02

Lovely having someone else do the cooking! Really enjoy having lunch out. Usually a pub lunch. Can’t be doing with anything arty farty and don’t like eating too late.

GrannyGravy13 Mon 19-Nov-18 16:33:08

Eat out in the evening usually twice a week with husband, sometimes AC and GC will join us. Sometimes "fancy" others, local Indian, Malaysian, Turkish or Pub. We are lucky to have lots of choice.

Going up to Borough Market Saturday evening, 3 of AC and partners, 4 GC, my Sister and BIL. It is an upmarket restaurant, we have booked an early table so that the GC are not tired.

Love lazy Sunday brunches out, browsing the newspapers that we do not read at home. I know we are fortunate to be able to do all of the above, and I shall never take it for granted.