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

[tvguy]

This whole thread has me thinking that dinner tonight will be at Home Town Buffet.

 

[FredinFL]

I mean it cost a lot of money?

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

This whole thread has me thinking that dinner tonight will be at Home Town Buffet.

This thread has me thinking I'm cheaper/poorer than I thought I was

 

[starrzone]

If the food isn't worth the cost, then it's expensive no matter how cheap the price might be.

I agree with this. I am the kind of person who analyzes things; it's just part of my personality. So, no matter how delicious the dish looks, I won't order it if I don't think it's worth the price they're charging for it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

This thread has me thinking I'm cheaper/poorer than I thought I was

Me too. Painful to accept your reality.

 

[Art 1]

For my wife and I to spend over $200 would be considered expensive to us.

 

[Swan4Me]

For my wife and I to spend over $200 would be considered expensive to us.

Where in the world would you eat to pay that much?
And what piece of chicken or steak is really worth that?

 

[bellarella]

Where in the world would you eat to pay that much?
And what piece of chicken or steak is really worth that?

I think this is what some "non-foodies" don't get -- eating out isn't always just about the food.

I love food. I enjoy cooking and I enjoy eating good meals out at restaurants. I actually dislike paying to eat out unless I am having something I couldn't do at home. So for me, paying $50 for a meal for two is "expensive" because, generally, at that price point the meal isn't nice enough that I couldn't make it myself (for less and often better) but not cheap either. On the other hand, I will willingly pay several hundred dollars for a really nice meal out (though this happens on rare occasions).

It's just a different set of priorities. For me, a concert is a huge waste of money -- hearing the recorded version is generally better sound quality. But I recognize that other people really enjoy the atmosphere and the experience and they really aren't there for the sound quality of the music.

It's the same thing for foodies with restaurants. I go to experience the atmosphere. The way the food is presented, what things are paired with, how the chef has played with textures and flavors are all what I enjoy about going out to really great restaurants. I'm not paying for the ingredients, I'm paying for the experience.

I totally get that other people don't get that much enjoyment out of eating out. But I'm sure there are other things in their lives that they spend money on and value that I don't appreciate. It's just a different strokes thing.

 

[Uuaww]

I live in a location where chain restaurants DON'T EXIST. People need to realize that cost goes up for non-chains because they have a chef, not a cook, can't buy in bulk, use fresher ingredients, don't fry everything, etc.

For me, under $20 is a cheap entree, a bill of under 50 would be reasonable, over would be for special occasions, like weekends, ha. Also love that my home keeps portions small and is against fried food.

Getting a fresh caught hours before tuna, worth the $28 a plate. You can keep your $12pasta from Olive Garden.

 

[mikron]

IMO it is a lot of money for food. We don't like to spend over $50.00 for both of us with a drink plus tip once every 2 months or so.

 

[MoonFaerie]

Where in the world would you eat to pay that much?
And what piece of chicken or steak is really worth that?

The signatures at Disney. Our Cali Grill total was $250 after the tip. If we both get the wine pairings, Victoria & Albert's will be close to $500. (Or would be. We're doing it on the platinum plan, so we're only paying OOP for the tip & wine.)

 

[Nayan]

I think this is what some "non-foodies" don't get -- eating out isn't always just about the food.

I love food. I enjoy cooking and I enjoy eating good meals out at restaurants. I actually dislike paying to eat out unless I am having something I couldn't do at home. So for me, paying $50 for a meal for two is "expensive" because, generally, at that price point the meal isn't nice enough that I couldn't make it myself (for less and often better) but not cheap either. On the other hand, I will willingly pay several hundred dollars for a really nice meal out (though this happens on rare occasions).

It's just a different set of priorities. For me, a concert is a huge waste of money -- hearing the recorded version is generally better sound quality. But I recognize that other people really enjoy the atmosphere and the experience and they really aren't there for the sound quality of the music.

It's the same thing for foodies with restaurants. I go to experience the atmosphere. The way the food is presented, what things are paired with, how the chef has played with textures and flavors are all what I enjoy about going out to really great restaurants. I'm not paying for the ingredients, I'm paying for the experience.

I totally get that other people don't get that much enjoyment out of eating out. But I'm sure there are other things in their lives that they spend money on and value that I don't appreciate. It's just a different strokes thing.

Very well said. It's the same for us, usually anything over $250 is expensive but as you said, it's not just about a slab of steak and fries, it's the whole experience that we pay for.

 

[disykat]

I think this is what some "non-foodies" don't get -- eating out isn't always just about the food.

I love food. I enjoy cooking and I enjoy eating good meals out at restaurants. I actually dislike paying to eat out unless I am having something I couldn't do at home. So for me, paying $50 for a meal for two is "expensive" because, generally, at that price point the meal isn't nice enough that I couldn't make it myself (for less and often better) but not cheap either. On the other hand, I will willingly pay several hundred dollars for a really nice meal out (though this happens on rare occasions).

It's just a different set of priorities. For me, a concert is a huge waste of money -- hearing the recorded version is generally better sound quality. But I recognize that other people really enjoy the atmosphere and the experience and they really aren't there for the sound quality of the music.

It's the same thing for foodies with restaurants. I go to experience the atmosphere. The way the food is presented, what things are paired with, how the chef has played with textures and flavors are all what I enjoy about going out to really great restaurants. I'm not paying for the ingredients, I'm paying for the experience.

I totally get that other people don't get that much enjoyment out of eating out. But I'm sure there are other things in their lives that they spend money on and value that I don't appreciate. It's just a different strokes thing.

For me, whether I value something has nothing to do with whether I think it's expense. It may determine whether I'm willing to go to the expense, but not on what I think is expensive. For me, expensive is determined more by my paycheck and by comparing it to other options.

I enjoy going to the symphony, theater, etc. but still consider it expensive.

 

[bellarella]

For me, whether I value something has nothing to do with whether I think it's expense. It may determine whether I'm willing to go to the expense, but not on what I think is expensive. For me, expensive is determined more by my paycheck and by comparing it to other options.

I enjoy going to the symphony, theater, etc. but still consider it expensive.

Did you read my post and the one I was responding to?

I said anything above $50 was expensive to me. I also said that I am willing to spend much more than that on a really good meal.

The post I was responding to (and quoted) didn't address the issue of whether something was expensive or not, but why anyone would spend $200 on a meal. My post was responsive to that question.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I'd say anything over $300.00. The most expensive meal that we (my husband and I) paid for was just shy of $1000.00 for four people .

 

[disykat]

Did you read my post and the one I was responding to?

I said anything above $50 was expensive to me. I also said that I am willing to spend much more than that on a really good meal.

The post I was responding to (and quoted) didn't address the issue of whether something was expensive or not, but why anyone would spend $200 on a meal. My post was responsive to that question.

Sorry, I saw your response quoted so I read it out of context.

That said, although I picked the wrong post to demonstrate my point, I still don't get all the people that seem to be defining "not expensive" as anything they feel is worth spending their money on. I have a totally different definition.

 

[Swan4Me]

I'd say anything over $300.00. The most expensive meal that we (my husband and I) paid for was just shy of $1000.00 for four people .

Ok folks-we now have $300....

anyone...
going once ......
going twice.....

come on-SOMBODY has to post "anything over $350 is expensive for us"

 

[tvguy]

Ok folks-we now have $300....

anyone...
going once ......
going twice.....

come on-SOMBODY has to post "anything over $350 is expensive for us"

Not here. The high society gourmet fixed menu restaurant here charges $135 per couple, includes 5 courses and wine, plus tip. Must be good, you have to make reservations 12 weeks in advance, and seating is limited to 20 people per day.

 

[Nayan]

Sorry, I saw your response quoted so I read it out of context.

That said, although I picked the wrong post to demonstrate my point, I still don't get all the people that seem to be defining "not expensive" as anything they feel is worth spending their money on. I have a totally different definition.

For me to pay, say $12 for a plate of spaghetti with sauce out at a restaurant would be expensive because I know I could make that at home for less. I am sure others would feel the same about spending that much on just spaghetti and sauce. Some people have a set budget on how much they are willing to spend when they go out and won't pay any more than that. For some folks, a low dollar amount is it while others are willing to spend quite a chunk.

For example, some folks idea of an expensive meal is Olive Garden. Others idea might be V&A. I know when we go out it's usually around $100 average. My neighbors balk at spending anything more than $30. You can get some great meals for $30 and you can get some really cruddy ones for over $100. It all depends on what you're comfortable spending.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

I think this is what some "non-foodies" don't get -- eating out isn't always just about the food.

.......



I totally get that other people don't get that much enjoyment out of eating out. But I'm sure there are other things in their lives that they spend money on and value that I don't appreciate. It's just a different strokes thing.

I consider myself a huge foodie, and we have an income that would allow us to dine just about anywhere, but to me, no matter how nice the atmosphere, or how good something tastes, I would not pay 5x , or 10x, or 20x as much as it would cost me to make it.

Like tonight I made an awesome meal for 5 people - and yeah, I know it was awesome because I know how good of a cook I am. We had chicken marinated in a homemade mojo, and I had some $12 a pound steak..... Plus veggies and dessert. I didn't spend more than $50 on all of it. Of course it took a lot of time, but I enjoy doing it so it isn't a big deal.

Just a guess, but the same meal would have cost $200 at a steakhouse near me. And that would be without drinks. None of us actually drink, but I could easily see at least another $100 on wine / drinks at a restaurant if we did.

I would rather save the $200, have fun making the meal, and take as long as I want to eat it. I will say, though, that I do absolutely hate cleaning up after dinner.

But that $200 might be airfare for one person, or two days of a home rental on vacation.