Picking a Restaurant - Page 3

Bill Douglas · 06-10-2023, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ Chinese restaurant workers have a way to just end a conversation.

Complain about the soup?....."You eat the soup"

"You eat the soup, or you wear the soup".

stevej37 · 06-10-2023, 03:35 PM

^^^ lol

Steve Carlton · 06-10-2023, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

Can we play "name the scoundrels"? I can only identify one of 'em!

Good lookin' bunch of cheapskates if'n ya ask me

That was quite a while ago, from the R1100S board when we went to MotoGP. No Tabs there. I think the guy closest to the fireplace was Sergio K., two people over to the left is Tony M., then me, then Cindy, her boyfriend, then flatty sporting the beret. I was supposed to get a reach around in exchange for buying him dinner, but forgot to collect. I forget the name of the black guy and the rest of that side of the table behind flatty.

Didn't Nicky Hayden win that race?

KFC911 · 06-11-2023, 04:07 AM

LOL ... I thought it was a Pelican get together .... thought mebbe REdOne was in attendance

flatbutt · 06-11-2023, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

That was quite a while ago, from the R1100S board when we went to MotoGP. No Tabs there. I think the guy closest to the fireplace was Sergio K., two people over to the left is Tony M., then me, then Cindy, her boyfriend, then flatty sporting the beret. I was supposed to get a reach around in exchange for buying him dinner, but forgot to collect. I forget the name of the black guy and the rest of that side of the table behind flatty.

Didn't Nicky Hayden win that race?

Sorry man but my arms are too short for a proper reach around. The man to my right is Rodney one of my closest friends and travel partner. Nicky did win that year.

Steve Carlton · 06-11-2023, 09:35 AM

Rodney! Great guy.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Wife’s cousin’s birthday so of course we go out to dinner to celebrate.

I thought it was a bit of an odd choice because his daughter (Violet, 7) ...

If your point was that the guy was inconsiderate you can start there. Who takes a 7 year old to a steak house to celebrate her day? Did he ask her where she wanted to go? Hard to imagine a 7 year old girl craving a big steak for her birthday dinner. You maybe lucky he didn't take everyone to a strip club.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

So the question, when you pick a restaurant when you won’t be picking up the whole tab do you consider the cost or if the offerings are suitable for all?

Yes, both of those things. I would consider if the offerings are suitable for all even if I was picking up the whole tab. As noted above, I would also consider the appropriateness of the venue to the occasion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Anyway, just had to vent. Rant off.

I understand.

stomachmonkey · 06-11-2023, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

If your point was that the guy was inconsiderate you can start there. Who takes a 7 year old to a steak house to celebrate her day?

It was his Birthday.

He originally wanted Benihana which while we have better Hibachi closer by I was fine with.

But the problem there was we were a party of 9 and he was worried there would not be enough room because the tables usually only accommodate 8. But Violent is literally only 1/3rd of a "person" so it would have been fine.

The kicker is, had he stuck with the original plan my brother in law and I would probably have picked up the whole tab.

bugstrider · bugstrider's Garage

Mrs. Bugs, a friend of her’s and myself attended a concert in Sacramento last month. She (Mrs. Bugs) wanted a nice restaurant before the concert since we were all duded up in nice formal threads.

The restaurant was nice, way over priced, food quality so-so and to boot, there is a $5.00 “employee fee” added to the tab. Since our bill was north of $200.00, I decided to ask what is an “employee fee”. The maître d’, explained that the charge is for his employee retirement plan. Totally optional if I did not want to pay. How can this be “optional” if the fee is buried in the body of the bill. Just like tipping, this seems to be getting out of control.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Laust1n · 01-20-2025, 04:39 AM

It can feel like a bit of a gamble when you're unsure if the menu will suit everyone's taste, particularly for picky eaters or when you're trying to make the experience enjoyable for all ages. In these situations, it can be useful to choose places that offer a variety of options—things like a mix of seafood, vegetarian dishes, and of course, kid-friendly meals.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

So the question, when you pick a restaurant ...

Big issue around here, whether it is a restaurant, a movie, or some entertainment.

"Let's go out for dinner," she says.
"OK, where do you want to go?" I reply.
"I don't know, where do YOU want to go?"
"Let's go to X."
"No, I don't like that place."
"So where do you want to go?"
"I don't know, where do you want to go?"

And it goes on and on until I order a pizza.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

I consider the price if I am inviting people out and expecting them to pay their own tab. If I am bringing a big group, I am working out a deal with the place in advance to get a break on the price if it is Toby +25

Depends on the group too. Friend brought his wife from Korea. She never had a fresh peach or nectarine in her life. They came for her sister's wedding in Yosemite. I picked them up at the airport and loaned them a car so he could enjoy the drive alittle more. We wdnt to the Virgin Sturgeon for dinner, funky local place on the river. I guess I could have had them take us out to Morton's or Ruth Chris, but they had a nice view of the water and an old airport ramp you walk down as a gang plank. I wonder if that place is still there

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

To me this means that they aren't great steakhouses. If you can easily do better at home for 20% of the cost, then they are a crappy steakhouse.

They should be buying better beef than I can buy anywhere. Dad had a lot of guys in Nebraska and used to know a guy here. I have worked in high end restaurants. Really good Prime beef is nothing like you are going to see in the grocery store. I have no idea how the make it happen, maybe they feed the cows butter lettuce, give them daily massages and play Mozart on loud speakers

matthewb0051 · matthewb0051's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve185

I gave up on that, if i am picking up the tab, then I BBQ good steak, with all the fixings.

Woa, hold on there fella. You grill a steak. BBQ is a food item, not something you do.

I'm with others, steaks at home, mainly due to expense. Ditto for going out with others if you ain't picking up the check you should consider the cost.

With the Army JAG Corps School in Charlottesville, VA, I would visit Aberdeen Barn, any time I got sent there for a class. (thank you per diem) Place has the red leather chairs, wood paneling, dark inside. Classic!! Outstanding prime rib that on their menu today is $47 for the regular cut, which is big boy size.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

Woa, hold on there fella. You grill a steak. BBQ is a food item, not something you do.

I'm with others, steaks at home, mainly due to expense. Ditto for going out with others if you ain't picking up the check you should consider the cost.

With the Army JAG Corps School in Charlottesville, VA, I would visit Aberdeen Barn, any time I got sent there for a class. (thank you per diem) Place has the red leather chairs, wood paneling, dark inside. Classic!! Outstanding prime rib that on their menu today is $47 for the regular cut, which is big boy size.

^^^

And the Aberdeen Barn hasn't changed one bit either!

Funny thing- Our Charlottesville family was in a San Antonio "Brenners" steakhouse last spring on the riverwalk. All the other places had filled up, and tired of walking, we went in. We sat down. Two members of the family were HANGRY! (not me

) We got a tasting menu of some high end $$$ and my picky daughter eater insisted on "mac and cheese" (which wasn't on the menu). Some good steak, but about $400 dollars later I think we escaped, and she didn't even get her mac and cheese!

look 171 · 01-20-2025, 05:19 PM

Steak houses are over rated, IMO but I eat a large slab of meat once every year or two. My wife and kids on the other hand like it but still we go to steak houses once every blue moon.

Traditionally steak houses are considered higher end restaurants? We have so many great places to eat out here that are equally jsut expensive and IMO, much better then the traditional steak houses. Plus, many sure seem like they were in business from the 60s full of old, stuffy people, dark with the typical red or black vinyl seats. We are drawn to the newer, chic fusion places. Those are usually pretty packed with people on weekends (date nights) and the wait is long, foods are usually really good. Not always cheap. The more east of LA we go, the fewer those places exist. If you like restaurant hopping, LA or SF is the place to be. We have eaten at a few really, stupid, expensive places in San Francisco. A friend is a PITA foody and his wife is a chef at a local fo-fo place. Upwards of 400 bucks a person. My wife and I walked oout of there looked at each other and we knew exactly what we needed to do, stop by to get a midnight sandwich somewhere. Thankfully there are plenty of places open late in the city. Oh, this fooking place brought us a set of 3 different steak knifes and we were to select the correct knife to cut certain part of our meal. Dumb.

Baz · Baz's Garage

In other news......whatever happened to SM?

917_Langheck · 917_Langheck's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laust1n

It can feel like a bit of a gamble when you're unsure if the menu will suit everyone's taste, particularly for picky eaters or when you're trying to make the experience enjoyable for all ages. In these situations, it can be useful to choose places that offer a variety of options—things like a mix of seafood, vegetarian dishes, and of course, kid-friendly meals.

Thank you Arty Fitial, that's quite some Intelligence.