Sam's Coney Island was my parents favorite place to go out to eat when they were spending summers at the farm after retirement. It kind of surprised me, I knew my mother loved dinners, but my father thought of them as the places he went for cheap thrills as a teenager. In old age he mellowed. I went to Sam's for dinner on my recent trip, in part to connect with that happy time in my parents later years.
Something immediately struck me and that was the prices. The DC area is expensive, a quick lunch at the Deli in the building my office is in can easily cost $20. I know where you can get a really great cheeseburger for $30, fries are extra. Hence this weeks Sunday five.
1: Do you consider it to be expensive to eat out where you live?
2: Is price important in deciding where to eat?
3: How often do you eat out?
4: What percentage do you tip (if at all?)
5: Is there a place your parents went to, that you would like to revisit?
My Answers:
1: Do you consider it to be expensive to eat out where you live? Yes, it really is.
2: Is price important in deciding where to eat? We tend to do what we want to do and not be guided by price.
3: How often do you eat out? Probably three times a week, I go out to lunch when I am in the office, and we order takeaway or delivery about once a week (we have room service where we live.)
4: What percentage do you tip (if at all?) 20% has become my norm, when dinner was $10.59, more like 50%,
5: Is there a place your parents went to, that you would like to revisit? The troll restaurant in Titusville Florida (that is not it's name, but it is literally under the bridge,) most of the others in Michigan from my childhood are gone.
Please share your answers in the comments.
1. It can be expensive but there are plenty of good and cheap options.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, price is usually important but perhaps value for money is a better was to judge.
3. Brunch every day. Dinner maybe once a week out.
4. We don't normally tip in Australia and we get into all sorts of trouble when we are countries that tip, one in particular.
5. The places of my childhood are all gone, but I'd like to revisit if it existed a cafe that had a dumb waiter hauled up and let down by rope. I can remember the sound of the squeaky pulley wheels. The food was excellent and not expensive.
Servers / waiter in the USA get something silly like $3 an hour, plus tips, they can't survive without the tips. We really should change that.
Delete1: Do you consider it to be expensive to eat out where you live? There are expensive places, but the standard is surprisingly affordable for great food.
ReplyDelete2: Is price important in deciding where to eat? To a degree, but not primary.
3: How often do you eat out? Now, perhaps once or twice a week. Before Covid, 4+ times a week.
4: What percentage do you tip (if at all?) Different here. Between 5 and 10%.
5: Is there a place your parents went to, that you would like to revisit? No.
It is nice to see you eating out more often, such a part of the social life there.
Delete1. I hate to admit it but out of necessity we went through Arby's (!!) drive thru the other day, it was $24 for two of us. I was floored. They should be paying me to eat there. So yes, anywhere is expensive anymore.
ReplyDelete2. Depends on the occasion. I will spend more for a place we really like.
3. Post Covid / Non-Vacation: I can count on two fingers when we've eaten out - that wasn't a drive-thru, that is.
4. 20% minimum. I mean, if the wait staff is just horribly bad, maybe 15%.
5. Not a one.
We stopped at a new chain for burgers and fries last weekend and it was $40 - and especially good.
Delete1: Do you consider it to be expensive to eat out where you live? Not really.
ReplyDelete2: Is price important in deciding where to eat? No, I want a good meal.
3: How often do you eat out? It varies so much; sometimes one or twice, or even more one week, and then not at all for a spell.
4: What percentage do you tip (if at all?) Generally 25-30%, unless the service is horrid and then 10%
5: Is there a place your parents went to, that you would like to revisit? I remember there was a very good steakhouse, called The Red Barn because it was an actual red barn, near where I grew up that was a big night out for Mom and Dad, and sometimes the kids. I don't eat red meat any longer, and it's probably gone by now, but it'd be nice to see it again.
The Chuckwagon was my father's special night out place, it is long gone.
Delete1: Do you consider it to be expensive to eat out where you live? Yes, it tends to be expensive.
ReplyDelete2: Is price important in deciding where to eat? Sometimes but most of the time I don't think about it.
3: How often do you eat out? Yes, 3 to 4 times a week.
4: What percentage do you tip (if at all?) 20% commonly, 25 to 30% for extra good service.
5: Is there a place your parents went to, that you would like to revisit? I wish I could visit a place we went to when I was a kid but it is long gone.
We should eat out more often, we will be without a functioning kitchen for probably 3 weeks - I expect we will go out a lot.
Delete1. Expensive here? Not really. No $30 cheeseburgers here!
ReplyDelete2. Is price important? Not really. I want what I want.
3. Eat out how often? When I worked full time, I ate out a lot. In retirement, not so much, especially during covid (never). Now, maybe once or twice a week, if that.
4. Tip percentage? Standard tip here is 15%. If service is exceptional, I'll go 20%. If service is atrocious, 0%.
5. Parents' fave restaurant? They loved Swiss Chalet when it first came to Canada in the 80s. I'd love to go there with them again. But to the old version of Swiss Chalet, not the current one because their food has nose-dived and they have a crap menu.
I don't mind paying, for what I want
Delete1. Not really, it depends on where we go.
ReplyDelete2. Price isn't as important as what's being priced. I will pay a highish price for a filet mignon that is chewable with my need to be replaced teeth.
3. I don't count fast food as eating out unless we go inside to eat. Sooo, next Sunday will be our third time eating out this year.
4. I tip at the very least 20%. The silver fox waiter that let me touch his oh so sexy beard got 30%. I promised the kids and Balder Half that I will not molest any more of the staff when we go out for our anniversary next week. They may have to suspend my drinking rights while we're out. I get weird.
5. My parents didn't go anywhere as far as I know. There are pictures of them partying in Tijuana, but I refuse to go there ever again. Reasons.
I agree, if the steak is not tender, it is not worth any price
Delete1: Do you consider it to be expensive to eat out where you live? No, only in some places. there are a lot of cheaper eats.
ReplyDelete2: Is price important in deciding where to eat? not really, although Someone doesn't like a certain breakfast place given their prices.
3: How often do you eat out? apart from take out, a couple times a week.
4: What percentage do you tip (if at all?) 25-20%
5: Is there a place your parents went to, that you would like to revisit? Many. I suppose many places are gone now.
I see Blogger ate my comment again here, :-(
ReplyDelete1: Do you consider it to be expensive to eat out where you live? not more expensive than buying ingredients for a meal these days.
ReplyDelete2: Is price important in deciding where to eat? nope
3: How often do you eat out? hardly ever these days, unless we're on vacation.
4: What percentage do you tip (if at all?) 20% base, more if service is better.
5: Is there a place your parents went to, that you would like to revisit? Nope.
Sassybear
https://idleeyesandadormy.com/