When you say a meal at a restaurant is expensive, what do you mean?

[Andtototoo]

From my pov, it's dependent upon location. Around here, an expensive meal would be one in which an entree was more than $25.

In NYC, it's a different story. At WDW or other resort location, it's a different story. My dh would, for example, break into a sweat if I ordered a $25 entree at home, but in NYC or WDW, he doesn't even blink because he knows what the going rate is and we are not paying that much on a regular basis.

I have a coworker that thinks anything more than $25 for the 2 of them is expensive.

That was my MIL. She'd also ask for extra bread, etc and a bag to take it home.

 

[ChiCat]

If this makes any sense it depends on the situation. We eat out a lot but usually keep it cheap, less than $40 for the two of us but if we are going out with a group or for a special occasion anything over $150 is expensive for the two of us.

So if we are going out on a Wednesday night for a quick dinner and spend $60 I would think that's too much, if we are going out with friends on a Friday night and spend $140 I wouldn't think twice about it.

DH doesn't drink alcohol at all so that keeps it on the cheaper side!

 

[Pig Pen]

Probably the most we've ever spent on a restaurant meal for two was my birthday dinner at Artist Point...I think it was about $150. Unfortunately, I was sort of disappointed in the meal. Still love that portabello soup though!

Typically we stay under $30 for an entree. I may have a glass of wine and we rarely get an appetizer, but DH will ALWAYS have dessert!

 

[ilovejack02]

100 with drinks is kinda the norm for a nice date night for us, we do that at least three times a year , rest of the time we are all over the place with the bill, our favorite pizza place we spend 10 a person at the most . Very rarely but the two of us have hit 250 ish range , our ten year anniversary and once on our first trip minus kiddos . I have fond memories of lobster , chocolate an champagne from both nights . It's all in what you enjoy , some times I invite another couple on date night , but only the friends we know can afford it .

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Depends on the restaurant, location, and my budget.

We consider between $75 and $100 "expensive" for my family of 5 (baby doesn't eat her own meal yet) for a sitdown and $20 expensive for the drive through. So we limit that.

We consider "Expensive" for the 2 of us to be $100 pp or higher. This is reserved for anniversaries and no children.

Our priciest meals were V&A at Disney and L'Auberge Chez Francois outside of DC. V&A was about $100 pp and L'Auberge came to about $300. We have only been once to each place in our 13 year marriage. Would love to go back--but we consider that EXPENSIVE. There were groups that ate at the latter place on a WEEKLY basis. $1200 a month at 1 restaurant!

I'm guessing they make a bunch of money. An ordinary date night for us--with drinks, I limit it to $60 or so. And we hardly even do that, b/c that isn't cheap for us at this stage in our lives.

 

[a1tinkfans]

My real estate agent's husband - who is doing work for us - keeps mentioning this place to go eat. It is his wife's cousin's place. And he always says it isn't expensive. So I went online and looked at the menu.

My guess - with drinks - is that my wife and I would spend $100+ for dinner for two if we went.... IMO that is an expensive meal.

Part of that for me though, is that I probably would rather eat a cheeseburger instead of rack of lamb, or veal, if all were in front of me, and all were free. Fancy food doesn't excite me. I'm quite happy eating at a diner or mom and pop restaurant.

to me expensive would be 150. up for a couple, basic meal...no desserts, drinks

 

[Nancyg56]

Never dessert. Too full from our meal for dessert.

I would leave part ofmy dinner for later and make sure I have room for dessert


DH and I will often "get something to eat" and that runs about 35 for the two of us. If we "go out to eat" we expect $100 for the two of us. This will include a starter for DH, often garlic bread with the salad, entrees for the two of us, dessert for me. We generally will have wine and coffee.

I just checked the menu for the restaurant we are going to tomorrow night. The entrees run 18 to 26 which I consider to be reasonable. Appetizerss are about 10 and wine is about 9 per glass, 30 and above for a bottle. Cocktails average 9. I think dinner will be about 120 with wine.

 

[mjkacmom]

I would leave part ofmy dinner for later and make sure I have room for dessert


DH and I will often "get something to eat" and that runs about 35 for the two of us. If we "go out to eat" we expect $100 for the two of us. This will include a starter for DH, often garlic bread with the salad, entrees for the two of us, dessert for me. We generally will have wine and coffee.

I just checked the menu for the restaurant we are going to tomorrow night. The entrees run 18 to 26 which I consider to be reasonable. Appetizerss are about 10 and wine is about 9 per glass, 30 and above for a bottle. Cocktails average 9. I think dinner will be about 120 with wine.

This.

 

[happygirl]

I'm a cheapskate anything over 20.00 a person is high for us

 

[JLTraveling]

I think it really depends on location. We RV full-time, so we've been to tons of different places. In Austin, where we are now, we're expecting to spend $100 or so on our "nice" meal. In New Orleans, where we used to live, we rarely spend over $25 per person because we prefer the dives (though we did make an exception for John Besh's place at the WWII Museum--north of $70 for lunch and worth every penny). When we're in NYC or LA, we budget for a couple of meals at $150-$200 and don't sweat it if we go over. In some of the smaller towns we've traveled through, the nicest place in town was $30 for the two of us including tip.

We eat out a lot since RV cooking can be a challenge, and we generally choose mom and pop places for our regular meals (under $40 together with tax and tip). But "expensive" just depends on the circumstances.

 

[VAfamily1998]

On a typical date night, Dh and I will spend about $100 or slightly over...that is for
2 entrees
1 appetizer to split
2 or 3 alcoholic beverages
1 soda
1 or 2 desserts
1 or 2 cups of coffee
tax and tip.

I consider that to be "average" ...so I guess the meal would have to be around $150+ for 2 people for me to think it was in the "expensive" range?

But, that is, like I said "date night" quality....I would expect much lower prices at a chain restaurant like Applebees, Chili's etc....and usually at those places we don't get wine, which lowers the bill substantially.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

For me, any entree over $20 is expensive. Not necessarily too expensive for what it is or too expensive to purchase, but a more expensive meal in my opinion. I'd say a moderate entree would be from 10 to 20 and inexpensive entrees would be under 10.

Maybe things are different in different parts of the country and we don't usually go to very high end restaurants that often.

Agreed.

 

[Buckalew11]

Shula's is expensive for us. We've eaten there for around $100. three times. DH loves it and while I think it is good, I'm just t into food. I think I have cheap taste buds or something that don't really appreciate the fanciest of foods.

We have a really nice place here that is wonderful and it is an easy 100.00 for a meal here. We have only eaten there once.

The most expensive place here that I know of is www.BlackberryFarm.com and I am not sure I could afford to even eat there (without putting it on a CC! lol)

 

[mjkacmom]

Shula's is expensive for us. We've eaten there for around $100. three times. DH loves it and while I think it is good, I'm just t into food. I think I have cheap taste buds or something that don't really appreciate the fanciest of foods.

We have a really nice place here that is wonderful and it is an easy 100.00 for a meal here. We have only eaten there once.

The most expensive place here that I know of is www.BlackberryFarm.com and I am not sure I could afford to even eat there (without putting it on a CC! lol)

Actually, that's cheaper than our favorite restaurant with a tasting menu, but the one we love is less formal: http://www.cafematisse.com/dinner.html

We only go about once a year. And it's certainly not the most expensive restaurant in our area, but a bit unique.

 

[Mama-san]

"I was born a poor black child...."

My first thought due to a recent experience was that $12 for a mediocre bacon cheeseburger, a handfull of fries, and a coke at TGI Fridays was too expensive.

It's funny how that really chaps me, but I am totally okay with going to some place like Morton's once a year and spending $200+ for an evening with my DH. Expense is all relative to the quality (and sometimes quanitity!).

 

[ilovejack02]

Shula's is expensive for us. We've eaten there for around $100. three times. DH loves it and while I think it is good, I'm just t into food. I think I have cheap taste buds or something that don't really appreciate the fanciest of foods.

We have a really nice place here that is wonderful and it is an easy 100.00 for a meal here. We have only eaten there once.

The most expensive place here that I know of is www.BlackberryFarm.com and I am not sure I could afford to even eat there (without putting it on a CC! lol)

Been wanting to try blackberry farm ! Will be that way soon , hmmm I may put it on the list lol .

 

[The Mystery Machine]

"I was born a poor black child...."

My first thought due to a recent experience was that $12 for a mediocre bacon cheeseburger, a handfull of fries, and a coke at TGI Fridays was too expensive.

It's funny how that really chaps me, but I am totally okay with going to some place like Morton's once a year and spending $200+ for an evening with my DH. Expense is all relative to the quality (and sometimes quanitity!).

OMG, I looked up that restaurant. Now that is my kind of restaurant. Wow!

One of these days I will eat there, yummy!

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

If the total bill gets above $30 my wife and I look at each other and wince. Our special occasion dinners (anniversery) might hit $50-70.

!!!CAUTION!!!

OPINION AHEAD

I just can't see spending that much money to eat.

 

[Swan4Me]

I like to keep it around $30 a person when we eat out. Anything >$50 pp would give me pause.

Us too-entree in the $18-20 with a $8-10 glass of wine
Thats why we feel WDW Table service dinners are too pricey-for wht you get

 

[JessicaR]

Actually, that's cheaper than our favorite restaurant with a tasting menu, but the one we love is less formal: http://www.cafematisse.com/dinner.html

We only go about once a year. And it's certainly not the most expensive restaurant in our area, but a bit unique.

So glad I clicked the link! The menu and out door dining looks outstanding. I am going to make it a point to dine there this summer. Thanks.