#restaurants #dining #EatingOut #DigestiveDistress #StomachIssues #SpicyFood #OverpricedRestaurants
The well-dressed waiter brings out the pink elixir.
In an ad for Pepto Bismol, a patron at what looks to be a fancy restaurant experiences some digestive distress, and the waiter brings out the Pepto wrapped in a cloth napkin.
First, if one owned the restaurant, and a customer became distressed, wouldn’t you inquire about what he ate? Would you try to trace what might have caused the distress?
And, why, as an elegant restaurant, would you make it a point to have Pepto on hand for customers?
Finally, if you experienced digestive distress at a restaurant, how likely would it be that you would go back to that restaurant?
These are all questions designed to illustrate how farfetched the ad is.
But it also raises questions about dining out, and what you eat.
Do you frequently eat spicy food? Do you relish enduring as much heat as possible when you eat?
If so, digestive distress may be a regular occurrence, whether dining in or dining out.
If you stay away from spicy food, and you get digestive distress after an elegant meal, then you may want to determine whether that restaurant is suitable. If you pay a big bill – which could also give you distress – on top of your queasiness, then you should re-evaluate your dining options.
Restaurants, particularly elegant ones, often charge a premium. For that price, the food needs to be tasty, plentiful – or, at least, satisfying – and the atmosphere needs to be, well, elegant.
The food should never make the clientele sick, or give them distress.
Even less expensive restaurants shouldn’t give their diners distress.
If they do, and they’ve made an honest mistake, they should own up to it.
No one would expect them to do it deliberately.
Offering them medicinal relief upon distress is a sign that you might expect your diners to get ill.
That would not be good for business.
The bottom line is if you have a sensitive digestive system, you should be careful what you eat, and where you might eat it.
Some restaurants’ prices should indicate that they expect their food to be good, and distress-free.
By the way, some restaurants are overpriced for no good reason. Others are worth the splurge. Know the difference.
Bon appetit.
Peter
#dining #FineDining #HighEndRestaurants #EatingOut #food
When you eat at a “high end” restaurant, do you come away wondering whether it was worth the price?
Some such restaurants are, indeed, worth the price. Others are just overpriced.
Most of us know the difference, especially when our meal is finished.
(Warning: If you know you can’t afford a high-end restaurant, don’t eat there).
Some restaurants like to up-charge because of their atmosphere. They may have white or black linen tablecloths and napkins, fancy dishes and silverware or even a dress code.
None of those things, by themselves, are worth paying extra for. In fact, having a dress code may be a reason NOT to eat somewhere.
Some restaurants may think their food is so good that they only need to give you little bites, or tapas. In such cases, one either walks out poorer and hungry, or orders too many separate things just to get satisfied.
Tapas restaurants have their place, but there is only so much one should be willing to pay to eat there.
A good rule of thumb here is if you are in the mood for a good steak, you do not have to go to a high-end steakhouse. Many moderately priced restaurants have just as good steaks for much less money.
But the restaurants that are clearly worth the high prices give you food you can’t find many other places. They give you plenty of it. In fact, they may give you enough to take home for a separate meal. Two meals for the price of one makes paying big bucks more palatable.
Some may have unique locations that you know they have to pay high rent for. Dining overlooking the water, or some other great view, has to be factored into the price.
Still, some high-end restaurants’ food is so good, and so plentiful, they can locate in a strip mall and still draw diners.
If you don’t know whether an expensive restaurant will be worth the price, ask people who have eaten there. Did they come out feeling good about splurging?
It may be a good time to give a shout-out to those restauranteurs who serve good food at a reasonable price.
Most diners will opt for that, but there are occasions when people want something out of the ordinary.
Sometimes, experiences are more valuable than things to give as gifts.
If you splurge, make sure your splurge is worth it.
Dining out is something most people like to do. Most people work hard for their money, so they want to spend it carefully.
Dining at high-end restaurants should not be a regular activity for those of modest income. But, sometimes, putting loose change into a jar can add up to a nice dinner out when the jar is full.
Just make sure, as best you can, that the experience will be worth the price.
Peter
