#Microblog Monday 205: Restaurants
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There was a statement made in one of the Second Helpings on the last Roundup that I can’t stop thinking about. The person said that they always order what they want in a restaurant and never look at the cost. They go to restaurants within their price range, and once they’re there, they allow themselves whatever they want to eat, even if it’s the most expensive item they’re considering getting.
This isn’t how I order at all.
I only look at menu prices after I’ve narrowed down what I want to eat. I’m a vegetarian so my meal is rarely expensive in comparison to the other things on the menu, but if one pasta option costs $11 and another costs $16, I’ll go with the $11 one. Even if I sort of wanted the $16 one more. Mostly because once I put it in terms of “do I want this enough to warrant the extra $5?” the answer is usually no.
If it was yes, I would get it. But it rarely is.
Do you look at prices in restaurants that you can generally afford?
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20 comments
I always look at prices, but if they’re reasonable I won’t give them much more thought. And will I buy the more expensive dish? As you say, if I feel it’s worth it. I won’t deprive myself over $5 though.
I definitely look at prices. That being said, if it is something I truly want, I’ll go with the more expensive thing (I mean, I’m already out, there’s a certain floor, and to me, it’s worth the $5-6 extra to take a dining experience to a new level instead of sort of settling). But if I’m sort of “meh” or think the less expensive thing is just as good, then it’s nice to save a few bucks as well.
I am like you, I’ll evaluate cost and perceived benefit and pick the lower cost option. We used to eat out a lot and I finally realized that I didn’t feel we were getting anywhere near the value for what we were spending. Now I try to be much more conscious of that.
It depends on the context. If we go out to eat because we were too tired to cook that day, then yeah I’ll look at prices and probably choose the less expensive. If it’s a date night though, I’ll let myself indulge….but I still notice the price.
Here’s how I read that statement of Hamm’s in a bigger context: some people (I assume) are always driven to acquire more wealth (some of them end up rich, and they are probably the type who check menu prices all the time…) For the rest of us though, I think we set a marker for when we have enough: no longer avoiding poverty, now comfortable! For my husband it was when he could buy any food in the grocery store without looking at the price. At that point he felt he had it made and didn’t need to try to be richer.
I hadn’t thought where it was for me: but maybe when I could buy nice clothes new. We always had second hand clothes growing up, and while there is nothing wrong with that at all, I had some fugly outfits as a teen and it bothered me though I pretended it didn’t. So as an adult I allow myself to buy new and trendy if I want. Same with haircuts: I’ll always get it done professionally, even if I go a long time in between to save $$ and time.
In a life where you can never indulge in every way you fancy (and that wouldn’t be a good idea anyway) it probably makes sense to have a few areas where you give yourself permission to just go for it.
I always look at the price too but I sometimes would order something that is slightly more expensive but rarely the most expensive item on the menu. I guess it’s my upbringing? We grew up poor and out of habit I always look at prices.
Um, yeah. I can barely afford to eat out, it’s a treat. I try not to be a brat to whoever is taking me out, whether it’s my husband or a friend. If there is an $11 chicken and a $17 chicken plate I make myself get the cheaper one unless we have a giftcard that can cover it.
I am generally similar to you. If we do go on a very rare date night, I am less conscious of it because that is the only real expense of the evening and it’s so uncommon for us. Family dinner out I’m always aware.
However this situation is something I’ve thought a lot about recently. There is a group of friends who monthly go out for what I would consider high end, fancy dinners. They do it simply for the good food and the good company. Although I like the people in the group we never attend because it is simply not in our lifestyle to spend so much on a meal, regardless of how good it is or the company. We have been concerned that we are depriving ourselves of fun when it is technically something we could afford but the idea of spending that money on a restaurant we didn’t choose and therefore do not absolutely love is just too much.
So I guess because now going out to eat is such a treat, I will let myself get whatever dish I want, regardless of price. I still look and notice it, but it won’t change my mind. I am steady out and choosing to spend money, so I want it to be worth it. I am more conscious of what I order and am hesitant to try new things if I am not sure I will like it or if it will be good, because I don’t want to leave feeling disappointed I spent all that money to eat out and didn’t get to enjoy it.
Now, when we do go out with all the kids, we will decide before we go that we are only ordering main meal, not apps or dessert to save money and let everyone know. I took the kids to our favorite Chinese buffet the other week as a treat, but let everyone know we would only be having water, not ordering drinks, too.
Funny story about this is that when my oldest turned 13, I took her and a few friends out for dinner and mini golf. We went to a local popular chain restaurant and I agreed on one big appetizer and everyone could get dessert…what I didn’t expect was for these 12 and 13 year old girls to decide to order the Ribs…which is easily an over $20 menu item (and not what the restaurant was even known for!) so I quickly had to nip that in the bud and insist that if that is what they wanted they could only order the 1/2 rack, which is still PLENTY of food for a 13 year old. I swear I felt like their parents told them to do that. What 12 year old picks the ribs off a menu?!?!
I look at prices before I order. I also generally go only to restaurants within my price range, but before I would order the most expensive dish on the menu, I would seriously contemplate whether I would enjoy it that much more than other choices on the menu. Usually the answer to that question is no, and I will then order a less expensive meal. Not to say that I’ve never ordered the most expensive item on a menu, but I would have to be pretty convinced that it would be worth it before I’d do it.
We rarely eat but of course I check.
We’re much more comfortable now then say 10 or 20 years ago but once a poor college/grad student…I still check weekly ads, use coupons, Target cartwheel, etc. Yes I can afford to shop at Whole Foods but I check and compare and if I buy something there it’s bc it’s cheaper there or that’s the only place I can find the item.
I can’t see ever losing that. Still gotta save for college, retirement, etc.
Rarely eat *out*
I definitely look at prices but like you, if I like the thought of two choices, I’m taking the cheaper one. It’s unlikely that I want the other one enough to warrant the extra money.
Like you, I’m a vegetarian, so prices tend to be more reasonable. And–there are often far less options. I go with what I want generally because there’s really not that much difference in price. If the desserts are tempting, I’ll go with the least expensive in hopes of using a few extra bucks for dessert. 😉
For the most part, yes. We mostly eat at mid-priced restaurants anyway… the more expensive items there are usually things like steaks & ribs, and while I enjoy those things once in a while, I wouldn’t want to have them every time I went out. I usually prefer something not quite so heavy anyway.
I look at prices (except even going to our weekly Mexican Friday night, but we mostly get the same thing anyway unless there’s a good airfield, but I never so how much the special is). I choose what I want, though… Although I always ask Bryce, “is it okay if I…” Even though we’re in this together and he is always mystified add to why I feel I need permission to order the filet. Three funny thing is the meal I can get with my celiac is the opposite of your vegetarian… Often is the most expensive. No pasta for me, and if we’re going out somewhere I can eat I’m going to eat something yummy I can’t make myself. We go to nice restaurants on occasion but nothing crazy expensive. Usually it’s the wine that gets us. But, fancy dinners are one of our “benefits” to our situation, so we tend to indulge.
I’m like you, but Charlotte is inspiring me! Like you, I’m price conscious, but the last incredibly meal I had was when Grey took charge of the ordering and got us a couple of dishes to share. I know he focused more on the dishes than the cost of each item, which is something I normally don’t do. Maybe it’s a matter of having some freedom from choice?
That said, we rarely eat out. Frozen pizza is considered a treat.
I pretty much always look at the prices. How much I let them sway my decision depends on what frame of mind I’m in.
I do. I always look at the prices before deciding to order my meal. I may or may not spend that extra $5 or Rs. 5 (Indian Rupee) over a pasta variant (I love pasta) depending upon a lot of concerns.
I do look at prices but if I want something I order. I don’t eat out much so I guess I’m allowed that little luxury.
I do factor in price. But I factor in other things, as well.
Also, I sometimes justify but halving the meal as soon as it comes. I pack away half in a box for the next day. That helps what might otherwise have been a splurge.