Hardly ever eat out any more. A couple of weeks ago, we went to a buffet, that we like. It was nice. Food was good. Wish they had a bigger dessert selection. The price is 8.99 per person including the drink. That is as good as it gets around here.
My husband and I eat at restaurants about 98% less often than we used to. I know what you mean about disappointments. Most of the time the food is too salty, sometimes way too greasy, such as at his friend's restaurant a couple of weeks ago. His friend is Muslim as are we and his place is safe for Muslims (and Jewish people) to eat because there's absolutely no pork or pork byproducts used. Because that becomes a whole nother issue when eating out...we have to ask, is the food cooked with pork, near pork or on the same grill as pork. Many times it is.
Anyway...turns out that the food we were served the time before we had the greasy meal was so salty (even tho, some was complimentary) that we could hardly eat it. My husband did inform his friend to let the chef know that. Now that we're hypertensive, it's even more of an issue.
I'd given up on Red Lobster years ago. After a couple of times being dissatisfied, I felt it wasn't worth the price. Last time we ate there, the crabs were small and tasteless. The only thing I liked were the Hush Puppies. I figure we easily save about $1500 a year or more by not eating out like we used to.
Red Lobster used to be one of my favorite places to eat out for they had a bottomless salad bowl of crisp greens and ingredients and a house dressing that was superb. Shrimp I have been served were good sized prawns (I never ordered fried shrimp for all the batter can be used to plump up tiny shrimp). I guess the chain has gone downhill in its attempt to keep prices at a certain mark -- by cutting the quality of what they serve. Too bad.
I rarely eat out for I can prepare what I want, the way I want it, better at home than most restaurants. Heavy salt is a problem as well as too much sugar on dishes, too. I like fresh foods, a Mediterranean diet mostly so that when I eat out I go for Thai Asian meals that I don't prepare as often at home.
I guess I won't drop in to the Red Lobster again anytime soon.
I'm glad to hear that others have had the same experience I had at Red Lobster. I remember the food being a lot better some years ago and the menu was more extensive. Another thing most restaurants no longer do is give you a complimentary glass of water. If you want water now you have to ask for it and maybe even pay for it. I thought instead of going out to eat at mediocre restaurants more often I would cook more at home and then maybe once a month treat myself to dinner at a really nice restaurant. The meal may cost me $50 but at least the food will be memorable and cheaper in the long run. Some restaurants could care less about the food they serve you and are only interested in bottom line profits. Most restaurants too only hire cooks and not chefs. It's the chefs that can add that extra touch to a meal.
If you can find a small local place with a "good" cook. Cherish it.
I seldom go anywhere except pubs with my friends -- good food and reasonably priced. I have a couple favorite Italian restaurants too.
Gotta agree that the quality of some restaurant food has gone down. And I simply cannot eat greasy, gravied, over-salted food.
ANAKRIS...you are right...there are cooks and there are chefs. My husband's friend's restaurant employs cooks. :-D Also, we used to be the diner king and queen. Found some really good meals at several diners in surrounding areas. Better prices and better food than fancy restaurants. Plus we got more food.
I think most of these restuarants buy in bulk at Costco! AS far as Red Lobster, it is on the lowest end of the totem pole. I seldom eat out. But guess what---if you eat at Hometown Buffet, a lot of that stuff comes out of a can.
The downside of eating out: You just don't know what you eating and who is preparing it.
The upside of eating in: You've already paid for it to come out of a can. And you know a little more about the cooks!
I think some restaurants like Red Lobster used to be good at one time but now are just riding on their reputations. It seems too when quantity came on the scene quality went down. I don't care for the "supersize" concept because it is way more food than most people can eat in one sitting. I don't like taking food home in "doggie bags" either because it is usually never as good the next day.
to all,
in this "BHO depression" (which is likely to get a LOT worse before 01/20/13), many restaurants are cutting both QUALITY & QUANTITY to "cut costs". = it comes down to this, "there ain't no free lunch".
for example, my (formerly) favorite Italian restaurant (Sabatino's) in Baltimore is now evidently relying upon their reputation & has OBVIOUSLY cut BOTH quality & quantity to save $$$$$$$. = i was throughly disgusted with the lack of expected quality, considering price, in both areas AND in the poor service that is now exhibited there.
i will not go back there anytime soon!
yours, Otter
