Does anyone actually miss table service?

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Okay this whole post is confusing. First of all the only food you're going to get for ten bucks that you can eat in 10 minutes is going to be McDonald's. And who are you to judge how much people are paid, or how people spend their money or time or what they eat? And lastly, how do you miss getting your Uber eats McDonald's when you eat twice a week? And I guess it doesn't matter to me, but tipping someone who makes sure that your meal and experience is good, is a lot more logical than tipping heavily to someone who just drops your "to go" food off in a bag.

I assume you are using that word loosely in this context!

[vash]

i cannot believe we cant discuss restaurant dining without a few skirmishes breaking out.

unbelievable.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by speeder

That’s hilarious. There is definitely good food in WI. but I’m outside of a town of 500 and there is only one market in town. It’s really not bad, just not really good either. Being a modern American in a large city really spoils someone wrt food. The meat they sell is perfectly OK, just not what I’m used to.

I’m driving down to the Twin Cities today and I will stock up on the good stuff.

I bet if you do some cruising around the countryside you can find some hidden gems. I still occasionally encounter a little dive in the country that has amazing food. Amazing decor, typically not so much. But I’m sure you’ll definitely miss the diversity of dining in LA, probably not a lot of killer ethnic food in rural WI. Or KS for that matter....

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I bet if you do some cruising around the countryside you can find some hidden gems. I still occasionally encounter a little dive in the country that has amazing food. Amazing decor, typically not so much. But I’m sure you’ll definitely miss the diversity of dining in LA, probably not a lot of killer ethnic food in rural WI. Or KS for that matter....

Hispanic food choices have gotten much better in my little slice of Maryland - much, much better, including grocery stores. For this I am happy.

There is also a very vibrant Filipino Community here, with two really solid restaurants and grocery stores. I know one of the owners very well - she is unfortunately, for me, headed back to the PI.

Seafood is big here, more crabs than a Kardashian sock drawer, really cool little places with fish just off the boat.

Not my thing but they are packed in the summer.

[flipper35]

We have a great little place 15 miles from here. The owner is from Guatemala. It is my wife's favorite place to eat out. They have a grocery store attached to the restaurant and she gets items there as well.

Across the river there is a place I used to go to more often when I lived over that way. They grow all the veggies in their own garden. I believe Alton Brown had it on his ride across America on a motorcycle show.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Some of the best years of my life were living in Stillwater and at least 2-3 weekends a month we and 2 to 4 other families on the street would hit the St. Croix, go north, set up camp on a secluded beach, men go fishing, women stayed and drank wine, fish for dinner, stayed overnight, head down, water ski a little and go home.

I’m in Stillwater right now.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Great little town. Like so many towns, it used to be better in the 70s and 80s, more honest, less touristy. Brine's Meat Market was absolutely like stepping into a butcher shop in 1920. Bratwurst simmering in beer were always on the flat top. Nickel glued to the ancient wooden floor. Try as we might, could never get it off.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by rusnak

First of all the only food you're going to get for ten bucks that you can eat in 10 minutes is going to be McDonald's. .

I buy 1/2 lb. of Filet Mignon for $10 at the grocery store.
Takes me a few minutes to cook it.
Would cost me $45 and 2 hours if I ate out.
I never eat out. Huge waste of time and money.

I find getting food delivered to be a huge convenience.
I always tip $10+ since the guy took 15 minutes to drive to my front door.
Now that is service.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I buy 1/2 lb. of Filet Mignon for $10 at the grocery store.
Takes me a few minutes to cook it.
Would cost me $45 and 2 hours if I ate out.
I never eat out. Huge waste of time and money.

I find getting food delivered to be a huge convenience.
I always tip $10+ since the guy took 15 minutes to drive to my front door.
Now that is service.

To
Insure
Prompt
Service

If I knew I was going to get a $10 tip, You would have your food even faster!

[jyl]

Restaurants are a big part of what Portland is, so I was interested in reading this article with word from some of this city’s top restauranteurs. It is interesting that many of them seem to be planning to take it very slowly, when they are allowed to reopen - which may be as soon as mid May.

https://pdx.eater.com/platform/amp/2020/5/7/21249836/portland-chefs-restaurant-owner-reopening-dates

What I think is going on:
- Some places have converted to takeout and aren’t in a big or desperate rush to reopen to sit-down dining
- Other places have very small dining rooms with tables crowded together, and aren’t sure how to be profitable with much lower density seating and/or much lower demand
- Some places seem to have the financial ability to stay closed longer, thus have the option of waiting until both staff and customers feel more comfortable returning to sit down dining

I personally don’t eat out much, as I cook a lot. I usually go to ethnic places, where I don’t know how to cook those cuisines or maybe I do know but it is too much work (dim sum) or the ingredients are too much of a pain to get (Indian, sushi). Or, I’ll go get a plain old meal if it is reasonably priced ($) and super convenient. In general, I’m not too interested in paying higher prices ($$) for a meal that I can do as well at home. The really good places ($$$) do have food better and more inventive than I do at home, but I practically never feel like spending $100/person for something that is going to be **** (literally) in a couple hours. I’m too cheap.

There are a few local places near my house that I go to, and they haven’t been doing even take-out service: I am not particularly affected by another month or two of not going there - if they reopen I’ll patronize them just to help out, but I’d frankly feel more comfortable doing that later rather than sooner. I actually wouldn’t mind them opening for takeout, as I’d be able to support them without spending an hour breathing the exhale of dozens of people I don’t know.

There are some Chinese places I go to for dim sum, I’ve been getting takeout from them throughout the shutdown so I’ll continue to do that. I’m not in a hurry to go back into a crowded dim sum hubbub . . .

The restaurant in my building is important to me, as a place to bring clients. I’ll definitely resume going there, to help support them. They have a large space and have the ability to space tables well apart. They were in there this week resetting and cleaning and getting ready.

So I guess I don’t miss dining out, would not feel unhappy if I didn’t resume doing so for a couple more months, and while I will go and spend money at my favorite places as soon as they reopen, it’ll be to support them rather than because I’m really “dying” to do so.

What I really do miss is my local pub and bar. They have plenty of outdoor seating and adequately spacious indoor areas, so I’ll head there enthusiastically, as soon as they are open. I might wear a mask, since it’s easy to pull it down to take a swig.

[jyl]

I was looking at some data that shows in China restaurant traffic is around 40% of pre-virus levels, and seems fairly stuck at that level, improving only slowly. I suspect that is partly still a fear of virus but also partly economic. People are being a lot more careful with their spending, even those who remained employed, and it will take some time for that to change.

In the US, I think when restaurants in more urban areas reopen, they’ll see the same thing. Some business will come partially back quickly and then it’ll sit at a level much lower than pre-virus, for who knows how long. Probably longer for an expensive splurge place, longer for a business expense account place, shorter for a family or neighborhood eatery, is my guess. You urbanites agree or disagree with that?

In more rural or exurban areas, I dunno - some of you guys know better - I’d guess business comes back faster at first and then it’ll depend on the local economy. Resort town, oil town - good luck. Regular old smaller town - might be better. You non-urban dwellers agree or disagree with that?

[onewhippedpuppy]

The restaurant people I’ve talked to here say they are still doing a lot of carry out. Dine in traffic is slowly improving. It will be interesting to see what impact Mother’s Day has, typically that’s one of the busiest restaurant days of the year. Also the first weekend around here that dine in will be allowed.

More crabs than a Kardashain sock drawer, lol at Paul. Love fresh seafood when I’m near the coast!

[group911@aol.co]

Watching the 60 some restaurants near us, it's interesting to see some of them really hustling takeout- both chains and independents. My guess is the hustlers will be greatly rewarded when things really open up but I wouldn't be too surprised if a lot of them aren't anxious to go back to table service.
Think about it. Maybe the same or better volume than before, they don't have to clean the crappers, tables, dishes etc. etc. and they are out of there by nine or ten. Minimal staff, lower utilities- the list goes on.
A lot of them have brought back staff to deliver so they can avoid having to pay the delivery apps.
Speaking of that, remember that those delivery apps take a huge hunk out of the restaurant's hide.
Order direct and pick up or use the in house delivery if possible

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I buy 1/2 lb. of Filet Mignon for $10 at the grocery store.
Takes me a few minutes to cook it.
Would cost me $45 and 2 hours if I ate out.
I never eat out. Huge waste of time and money.

I find getting food delivered to be a huge convenience.
I always tip $10+ since the guy took 15 minutes to drive to my front door.
Now that is service.

OK, I understand now. I used to do that also, 20 years ago. Try it with a bordeaux style or blended wine like Isoceles from Justin Winery or Cyrus from Alexander Valley. A decent wine is a good purchase any time.

You might try a Porterhouse if you can find a good one. Or if you find yourself in a Costco, they have USDA Prime in a separate case. They don't sell the untrimmed tenderloin anymore. That used to be the absolute best way to get a Chateaubriand at home, and believe it or not, it was USDA Prime!!

Still, the better restaurants and steak houses get prime cuts of meat that are simply not available to us in a grocery store. But USDA Prime is close enough I guess. I would not want to try to cook a $60 steak at home.

[Bill Douglas]

Yesterday they talked about maybe going to level two of covid lockdown, which means pubs open. I immediately phoned my favorite pub and booked a table for four for next week a couple of hours after the decission. Girl was a little surprised and said "I hope to see you, and of course if the decission goes the other way I'll see you some other time."

[rusnak]

^ very nice !!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I would not want to try to cook a $60 steak at home.

You should try, it's not difficult.

[rusnak]

^ recipe please !!!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Cast iron pan really hot. Steak at cool temp. Pat dry both sides. Moisture is the enemy of the maillard effect. heavy salt and pepper both sides. Steak in the pan, let it sit there 3 minutes. Flip, 1 minute, in oven at 400F for 3 minutes. Take steak out and let it rest. Add butter, chopped shallots, fresh thyme & rosemary, soften shallots, steak back in pan, baste for a few seconds, steak on plate, pour butter sauce on top. Eat.

Thickness of steak and desired doneness changes times in oven, you will have to experiment.

Good luck! Spring Mountain Cabernet works best.

https://www.springmountainvineyard.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=view

[fintstone]

Different lifestyles illustrated here. Personally, I really don't go out to eat much except when travelling (in the "big city") and the shutdown has had almost no effect other than I now avoid mass transportation and work more at home (which I would/could have done all along if they would have let me). So, all day in front of a computer just like always...but I don't have to catch the last train home...so add a few hours. I have to go out for groceries about once a week vice every two weeks before...because some of the limits do not allow me to get enough eggs, etc. to go two weeks . I didn't travel recreationally every month before...so no big deal there either.

When I see commercial after commercial on TV of people crying about staying home...as if the world is ending, I just don't get it. I could understand anyone that was losing their livelihood or couldn't afford to eat with being upset...but most that I talk to on social media seem to have as much or more than before...and are only grousing about their neighbors and not getting to eat out vice carryout. All of my family has continued to work (some teleworking and some still going to their respective trade)...and no one's lives have changed much other than my daughter (doctor) who has gone for 10 hrs a day, 5 days a week to 12 hrs, 7 days a week. Me, I just wish I could get some time off. The longer hours are killing me...as everyone wants much more to be accomplished than usual (some of it useless)...to show how great we are doing during this silliness.

Like others here, I would not hesitate to go out if a local restaurant opened (and I felt like having whatever they served).