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What restaurants have you been to recently?

scotthouse

New member
On Monday I went to a chinese buffet..... I have been there probably 6 or 7 times in the last few months.....

I usually get mac and cheese,sweet and sour chicken and pudding
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(I dont like actual chinese stuff.... Besides most of it has MSG and I often have a reaction after having something with MSG)

Any of you been to any?? (Take out counts also)
 

FrancSevin

Proudly Deplorable
GOLD Site Supporter
I travel a lot and frequent Cracker Barrel. The do not use any MSG in their food. Mostly comfort fare. Like Golden Corral ( which does use MSG) but you get service.


Other than that a local Italian place we have used for lunch for the last 20 years. Their pizza is un-comparable, best in the county. But expensive.


No fast food service for me. It used to be fast and cheap. Now it is neither.
 

NorthernRedneck

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
I rarely eat out. Well, does the "Y" count?

No fast food for us either. With 6 kids and living in the country, eating out is an expensive luxury we choose to not partake in. The lovely missus and I will occasionally (like 3-4 times a year) have a date night and eat out at a nicer restaurant. We do have a few in the city 15 minutes away.

I talk to myself to get an expert opinion.
 

EastTexFrank

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
We have quit eating out since the COVID thing started. We do go to the local BBQ place, Cowburners, for lunch and a beer about once a week but sit at a table outside on the sidewalk. I sometimes pick up take-out from them on Friday when they have ribs.

The only time we have gone out to eat dinner in the last 6 months was on my wife's birthday.

To make things clear though, we live in a small town and our choices are limited. Besides, my wife is a picky eater and doesn't see the sense in going out to eat something that she says that she can cook better at home ... and she's right most of the time. Now when we go traveling, it's a different story. She loves going out to eat and trying different places and things. Maybe we will put the motorhome back on the road before too long if things stay relatively quiet on The COVID front.
 

scotthouse

New member
I went to the chinese bufet again today.... It was the worst day as far as stuff being out on the bar I ever saw! (I had to wait for more mac and cheese and sweet and sour chicken)

It was still good though and the pepsi was excellent today..
 

SophieWaggner83

New member
During the quarantine, I only went to one Chinese restaurant not far from my house. And then, it seems to me that the quality of food in restaurants has deteriorated during the quarantine)
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
I've eaten INSIDE only at 3 restaurants in the whole of 2020. All 3 were in South Bend, IN when I was taking Dasha to the Notre Dame campus, moving in, etc.

5 Guys Hamburgers, which had 75% of the tables closed.
A small family restaurant, which had 75% of the tables closed.
A fancy restaurant, which had 50% of the tables closed but seated us in a totally private area.

We will pick up from restaurants from time to time and eat carry out.
 

waybomb

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
The-mean-one-Mrs-Gretch has Michigan shut down, so we have to drive to South Bend or Michigan City Indiana if we want to do a restaurant. Not really impressed with any of them.
South Bend - Outback - what a let down. Not what I recall Outback was in the beginning. Maybe high end select, but not choice steak. And miles away from prime. Then tried Texas something or other. Steak was ok, lower grade choice. Stopped at a Gyros place - I think Kings? it was Gyros, but they overfed fed me. Did one of the chains, maybe Chili's. whatever. Not my cup of tea. Not what I would call food. The liquor sucked too.
Michigan City - Hacienda Mexican - not bad. Of course the pitcher of frozen raspberry margarita made everything better for wife and me. Maybe this week we'll try the over-priced steak house at the Blue Chip Casino. Or back to Hacienda for more frozen raspberry tequila.
When Chicago opens up, I am headed to LaScarola the second that I can get there. Maybe two nights in a row.
When Michigan opens up, it's to the Roadhouse on Red Arrow - most of everything there is made right there. Also Agostino's Navajo - lots of fresh food there as well.
 

300 H and H

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
My Wife and I had lunch at a Mall in Omaha at an adjoining Cheese CAKE Factory..
It was almost like the old days except the mask when not seated at your table.
Food was good. That Mall is not very old, and more than half of it is empty. Yonkers JC Pennies had huge floor space now empty.
Dicks the lefty sporting goods store ignored anything to do with hunting or shooting. Bought some walking shoes there cause there was no one else around to buy them form. Sad state of affairs in retail these days...
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
The-mean-one-Mrs-Gretch has Michigan shut down, so we have to drive to South Bend or Michigan City Indiana if we want to do a restaurant. Not really impressed with any of them.
South Bend - Outback - what a let down. Not what I recall Outback was in the beginning. Maybe high end select, but not choice steak. And miles away from prime. Then tried Texas something or other. Steak was ok, lower grade choice. Stopped at a Gyros place - I think Kings? it was Gyros, but they overfed fed me. Did one of the chains, maybe Chili's. whatever. Not my cup of tea. Not what I would call food. The liquor sucked too.
Michigan City - Hacienda Mexican - not bad. Of course the pitcher of frozen raspberry margarita made everything better for wife and me. Maybe this week we'll try the over-priced steak house at the Blue Chip Casino. Or back to Hacienda for more frozen raspberry tequila.
When Chicago opens up, I am headed to LaScarola the second that I can get there. Maybe two nights in a row.
When Michigan opens up, it's to the Roadhouse on Red Arrow - most of everything there is made right there. Also Agostino's Navajo - lots of fresh food there as well.
Go to Cafe Navarre in South Bend. One of our 3 restaurant visits was at this spot. It is wonderful. Dasha & I share the same birthday, 41 years apart. My family treated us to dinner there on a visit to Notre Dame. We had a table separate from all the others at the back and the food was amazing.

Chicago is a ghost town and just a hollow shell. Carry out only at the places that remain in business.

 

jillcrate

Well-known member
On Monday I went to Boston Market and had a plate full of mac and cheese and a large side of Corn...

The Coke I had was the BEST tasting coke I have had since I started drinking it again! (Thier fountain machine must be configured right (I hope it stays that way))
 

olivegirl

New member
I haven't been to a restaurant in a long time. But I often order food delivery from a restaurant. Yes, I don't see what ingredients my food is made of, but I think it's good because the restaurant values its reputation Therefore, for me there is nothing better than to order a wonderful set of delicious sushi on Saturday night. For me, it's an incredible pleasure to turn on an interesting TV series, pour a glass of rose wine, or open a bottle of cider, and eat my favorite sushi roll Philadelphia.
 

waybomb

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
Saturday night got dressed up and drove to Chicago to our favorite restaurant. Wife was dressed to the tens. Even wore her sexy Fluevog boots.
LaScarola. The best Italian restaurant anywhere. Worth the 1.75 hour drive to downtown Chicago.
Started with Bruschetta. The best I've ever had anywhere, even in Europe.
Ordered a bottle of Ruffino Chianti Reserva Ducale Oro. Must have Chianti with Northern Italian food!
Pasta & Fagioli - rated the best soup in Chicago.
I had Veal Mandelli, wife loves her penne chicken alfredo (it's not a menu item, but they will make anything so long as they have the ingredients)
Finished with Tiramisu and Espresso.
Wonderful evening.
 

FrancSevin

Proudly Deplorable
GOLD Site Supporter
We have a restaurant in O'Fallon MO called "The Bristol." Seafood is their specialty but they have steak, chops and poultry. Surprisingly good seafood for being Mid West.

Unfortunately, Very pricey.

We had dinner there a year ago and the bill was about $80.00 for the two of us. The other night, we had the same meal, Scallops in champagne sauce + Surf and turf, $123.00.

I've noticed a price increase everywhere. I believe it is in part due to inflation, but also Covid-19 restrictions. Also, it seems most menu's are limited.
 

waybomb

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
Yes, La Scarola's prices have jumped but I don't care. It's worth it, even if it means I pay for the profit of two tables since half are taken out.
With the wine desert, and tip, I dropped $210. I'd do it again every week, but God, would I be a fat pig!
 

FrancSevin

Proudly Deplorable
GOLD Site Supporter
Jill crate, You reminded me,,,;
My wife and I love going to Finial Hall in Boston.. A place there makes coconut macaroons worth to cost of plane fare from St Louis.

Unfortunately we haven't done so in years.

We used to go to Ellen's out on Cape Ann. Local eatery on Bear's neck. Best lobster ever. We actually did fly there just for my Birthday dinner once. Raining like heel and our Baggage was lost. Two soaking wet souls from out of town. Ellen took us in and feed us hot coffee, biscuits and Lobster until closing time..
We went back to our B&B, Well fed but wet and cold. Spent the night naked keeping each other warm. Likely my best birthday ever.

In Philadelphia there was a place called Book Binders down on the waterfront. Best Scallops I have ever tasted. I think it closed recently.
 

EastTexFrank

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
After our first Covid shots, on the way home, we drove past Circle K Crawfish Restaurant in Big Sandy. It used to be one of our stopping places if we were out and about. On that occasion it was packed and they weren't too serious about social distancing or wearing masks. We decided to give it a miss. After our second shot yesterday we passed it just after 5 pm and the car park was almost empty. We drove right in. It was a nice evening, we got a table out on the patio and the food was as good as I remember. My wife had the etouffee which she says is the best that she has ever tasted, even in Cajun Country. I just had fried catfish, something that I haven't had in over a year. I can't wait to get my life back.
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
I can't wait to get my life back.
Quoted for truth.

Honestly we love to go out to dinner with our daughter Melen. As she is high risk and unvaccinated its actually rather frustrating for us, we now are now days away from 95% immunity and we still have to be careful with gatherings when she will be attending.

Restaurants are something special for us. We don't go out often, but when we do it is usually to somewhere to celebrate something or to have a very nice time (not that it has to be an expensive place, literally can be a "drive in" but the event is special for us) so it is very bittersweet that we are not back to normal and we don't yet have our lives back.
 

EastTexFrank

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
Restaurants are something special for us. We don't go out often, but when we do it is usually to somewhere to celebrate something or to have a very nice time (not that it has to be an expensive place, literally can be a "drive in" but the event is special for us).

That sums us up exactly. We used to go out to eat dinner about once a week and meet up in town twice a week for lunch followed by a light supper at home. It's not much, there's not many choices in our little town, but when you are deprived of the opportunity of doing even that, you tend to resent it.
 

jillcrate

Well-known member
Do you guys have alot of places open there??

There are 2 Chinese Buffets in my area,I have only been to the one I have been going to for many years now.... The other one I havent been to in several years.. (And now I hear they might have roaches (I guess they are hungry also so I dont wanna take any food from them :D))

Ah well.......
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
Restaurants in Indiana seem open. I think there are limits to dining in capacity, maybe 75%. I did Chinese carry out yesterday in South Bend about 2 blocks away from the Notre Dame campus. They did not offer in restaurant dining but most places were open. We actually planned to eat carry out so it didn’t matter to us.
 
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