What did you have for dinner II?

#8,152
#8,152
I hope I don't get killed for this opinion, but does anyone think the family meal option as fast food or quick food restaurants is a weird thing. I was looking at Bw3 and said maybe I will see what the option is and it is 20 boneless and 20 bone in wings for $40 with one basket of fries and it feeds 4 people. I thought maybe i will try somewhere else. Applebee's has a riblet meal, Family-size portion of rib meat, spinach and artichoke dip, Caesar salad, mac ’n cheese, fries and slaw for i think $70. I guess I have never worked in the food management or the food service industry. Where is the incentive to go to your establishment for curbside when I haven't gotten a drink and I am already paying Applebee's $85 with tip. I understand the times and we should support local businesses, like I said I am looking for an answer because it does not make sense why people have bundled together to make "family meals" and charge more. If someome takes out there 2 kids and other half, what is a bill if there are no drinks at Applebee's? $50? If they are small kids then possibly less. I don't want to give an opinion on the takeout food quality, but why do they increase the price as well.
 
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#8,153
#8,153
LIvol said:
I hope I don't get killed for this opinion, but does anyone think the family meal option as fast food or quick food restaurants is a weird thing. I was looking at Bw3 and said maybe I will see what the option is and it is 20 boneless and 20 bone in wings for $40 with one basket of fries and it feeds 4 people. I thought maybe i will try somewhere else. Applebee's has a riblet meal, Family-size portion of rib meat, spinach and artichoke dip, Caesar salad, mac ’n cheese, fries and slaw for i think $70. I guess I have never worked in the food management or the food service industry. Where is the incentive to go to your establishment for curbside when I haven't gotten a drink and I am already paying Applebee's $85 with tip. I understand the times and we should support local businesses, like I said I am looking for an answer because it does not make sense why people have bundled together to make "family meals" and charge more. If someome takes out there 2 kids and other half, what is a bill if there are no drinks at Applebee's? $50? If they are small kids then possibly less. I don't want to give an opinion on the takeout food quality, but why do they increase the price as well.
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I haven’t been a fan of eating out much at restaurants before all this started, always thought the quality of those places aren’t very good. But after seeing those prices that seems insane to me.
 
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#8,154
#8,154
LIvol said:
I hope I don't get killed for this opinion, but does anyone think the family meal option as fast food or quick food restaurants is a weird thing. I was looking at Bw3 and said maybe I will see what the option is and it is 20 boneless and 20 bone in wings for $40 with one basket of fries and it feeds 4 people. I thought maybe i will try somewhere else. Applebee's has a riblet meal, Family-size portion of rib meat, spinach and artichoke dip, Caesar salad, mac ’n cheese, fries and slaw for i think $70. I guess I have never worked in the food management or the food service industry. Where is the incentive to go to your establishment for curbside when I haven't gotten a drink and I am already paying Applebee's $85 with tip. I understand the times and we should support local businesses, like I said I am looking for an answer because it does not make sense why people have bundled together to make "family meals" and charge more. If someome takes out there 2 kids and other half, what is a bill if there are no drinks at Applebee's? $50? If they are small kids then possibly less. I don't want to give an opinion on the takeout food quality, but why do they increase the price as well.
Click to expand...

I think they are an awesome thing if they work for you. We are paying more for a family meal since it is just the two of us, but we get a ton of food and lots of great leftovers.

We ate out once a week before this, and eat out once a week now. All of our support has been to local places, so I can't speak to the chains; however, we are absolutely loving the family meal deals.

For example, my favorite place has a pasta dish that I absolutely love. If I went to the restaurant, I'd be paying $17 for the dish - usually lasts me 2-3 meals. They are offering different family meals, but one of them is a family pan size of the pasta dish for $30 - which this pan is a lot more than me getting two dishes at the restaurant.

Another one we supported was a local upscale restaurant. They were offering a family meal deal for $80 - which included bread, salad for 4, 4 choices of meats, 2 pints of 2 different sides, and dessert (4 slices of cake). Our meat choices were 2 steaks and 2 pork chops. Just for the comparison, if we got 4 plates of the pork chop dinner which is pork chop and 1 side (no salad, no dessert), the dinner alone is $28, steak is much more. $28x4 = $112. Also a heck of a deal.

There are deals to be had by theses places to entice you to visit them.
 
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#8,155
#8,155
LIvol said:
I hope I don't get killed for this opinion, but does anyone think the family meal option as fast food or quick food restaurants is a weird thing. I was looking at Bw3 and said maybe I will see what the option is and it is 20 boneless and 20 bone in wings for $40 with one basket of fries and it feeds 4 people. I thought maybe i will try somewhere else. Applebee's has a riblet meal, Family-size portion of rib meat, spinach and artichoke dip, Caesar salad, mac ’n cheese, fries and slaw for i think $70. I guess I have never worked in the food management or the food service industry. Where is the incentive to go to your establishment for curbside when I haven't gotten a drink and I am already paying Applebee's $85 with tip. I understand the times and we should support local businesses, like I said I am looking for an answer because it does not make sense why people have bundled together to make "family meals" and charge more. If someome takes out there 2 kids and other half, what is a bill if there are no drinks at Applebee's? $50? If they are small kids then possibly less. I don't want to give an opinion on the takeout food quality, but why do they increase the price as well.
Click to expand...

Longhorn takeout for me and the wife last week.
Her: 8oz Flo Filet, Wild West Shrimp
Me: 12oz sirloin with Red Rock Shrimp
Bill w/Tip: $65.00

Red Lobster (Last time Step-son and wife visited together)
Me, Wife, Son, Step-Son, DIL
5 meals, 3 alcohol drinks, 3 teas, water
Bill $140.00

Panera Last Week
Wife: French onion soup, whole grilled cheese
Me: French Onion, half sandwich (half was 7.00)
Bill: $27.00

Zaxby
Typical for 3 of us $30-$35

Local Mexican joint we like
Takeout usually $30-$40 depending on selection. I like the home made tamale and traditional Chille rellano al la carte so my portion is usually only about $5.

My wife's norm on shopping day
Walmart/Grocery: $140-$180
What are you bring home for dinner? Another $40.00


It's brutal out there folks.
 
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#8,157
#8,157
volwindy said:
I think they are an awesome thing if they work for you. We are paying more for a family meal since it is just the two of us, but we get a ton of food and lots of great leftovers.

We ate out once a week before this, and eat out once a week now. All of our support has been to local places, so I can't speak to the chains; however, we are absolutely loving the family meal deals.

For example, my favorite place has a pasta dish that I absolutely love. If I went to the restaurant, I'd be paying $17 for the dish - usually lasts me 2-3 meals. They are offering different family meals, but one of them is a family pan size of the pasta dish for $30 - which this pan is a lot more than me getting two dishes at the restaurant.

Another one we supported was a local upscale restaurant. They were offering a family meal deal for $80 - which included bread, salad for 4, 4 choices of meats, 2 pints of 2 different sides, and dessert (4 slices of cake). Our meat choices were 2 steaks and 2 pork chops. Just for the comparison, if we got 4 plates of the pork chop dinner which is pork chop and 1 side (no salad, no dessert), the dinner alone is $28, steak is much more. $28x4 = $112. Also a heck of a deal.

There are deals to be had by theses places to entice you to visit them.
Click to expand...

One dish = 2-3 meals. You a grazer ??
 
#8,160
#8,160
volwindy said:
I think they are an awesome thing if they work for you. We are paying more for a family meal since it is just the two of us, but we get a ton of food and lots of great leftovers.

We ate out once a week before this, and eat out once a week now. All of our support has been to local places, so I can't speak to the chains; however, we are absolutely loving the family meal deals.

For example, my favorite place has a pasta dish that I absolutely love. If I went to the restaurant, I'd be paying $17 for the dish - usually lasts me 2-3 meals. They are offering different family meals, but one of them is a family pan size of the pasta dish for $30 - which this pan is a lot more than me getting two dishes at the restaurant.

Another one we supported was a local upscale restaurant. They were offering a family meal deal for $80 - which included bread, salad for 4, 4 choices of meats, 2 pints of 2 different sides, and dessert (4 slices of cake). Our meat choices were 2 steaks and 2 pork chops. Just for the comparison, if we got 4 plates of the pork chop dinner which is pork chop and 1 side (no salad, no dessert), the dinner alone is $28, steak is much more. $28x4 = $112. Also a heck of a deal.

There are deals to be had by theses places to entice you to visit them.
Click to expand...

It may just be a geographic thing...where are you?

My favorite restaurant is having 2 steaks, 2 sides and a dessert for $110. I am tempted on a nice Friday night meal, but I think the problem is always portion size. I don't know how many of these meals last 3 days, but we may eat differently.
 
#8,161
#8,161
GVF said:
home made tamale and traditional Chile relleno
Click to expand...

sJrbI2SF_400x400.jpg
 
#8,162
#8,162
During my brief residence in Las Cruces, NM, awesome chile rellenos were ubiquitous. The chiles were grown in the surrounding area and more available than Hostess Twinkies. Blister 'em on the grill, peel em, make a cut near the stem, insert cheese, egg wash, dust in fine seasoned masa flour, pan fry. Oh. My. Goodness.
 
#8,163
#8,163
Tin Man said:
During my brief residence in Las Cruces, NM, awesome chile rellenos were ubiquitous. The chiles were grown in the surrounding area and more available than Hostess Twinkies. Blister 'em on the grill, peel em, make a cut near the stem, insert cheese, egg wash, dust in fine seasoned masa flour, pan fry. Oh. My. Goodness.
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The Green Chile Cheeseburgers in New Mexico are awesome also

Buckhorn-Sandy021.gif
 
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#8,165
#8,165
Tin Man said:
Tamales - simple, delicious, satisfying. Why is it so darned difficult to find real honest to goodness tamales?

I've been served all kinds of barely edible crap labeled "tamales." It's a sin against food and culture.
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There are very good tamales in Mississippi.
 
#8,169
#8,169
I call this picture of a Sunset that I took "Cotton Candy Sky", I took this in the parking lot outside where I work and
see some of the most beautiful sunsets there, its always like a little treat after work.
 

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#8,171
#8,171
LIvol said:
It may just be a geographic thing...where are you?

My favorite restaurant is having 2 steaks, 2 sides and a dessert for $110. I am tempted on a nice Friday night meal, but I think the problem is always portion size. I don't know how many of these meals last 3 days, but we may eat differently.
Click to expand...

I think you really just have to be paying attention. Some of these deals are lasting awhile, whereas some of these restaurants are posting these deals on their social media for a one day deal or even a deal until they sell out - which for some can be within 10 minutes. So I only know about some of these deals if I follow them.

Proper portion size is a problem for almost everyone. Most meals at a restaurant are easily double and triple the proper portion - especially italian, japanese, chinese, etc. Most of the time you don't need a full plate but you eat it because you can't stop. I have to force myself to stop because I know I don't need to eat it all. Actually this take home has helped eating smaller portions than in the restaurant. Hard to stop when the plate is front of you vs. portioning it out at home and not going back for seconds, only eating what is on my plate.
 
#8,172
#8,172
I only go to restaurants anymore for three reasons:
1. Convenience (the Japanese restaurant here has much more access to ingredients I don't want to spend on, for instance)
2. Social interaction (I know lots of restaurant owners and employees and sometimes like to go see them at work, and then sometimes it's nice to sit in a place with my wife especially at breakfast)
3. The very occasional visit to really high end restaurants (once every other month or so)

Generally I've found that I can make better food for a fraction of the price at home, plus I enjoy it.
 
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#8,173
#8,173
mad4vols said:
Tuesday brunch
Salad with fruit, veggies, avocado, goat cheese, eggs, hummus, little olive oil. Italian ciabatta bread with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Yogurt with honey. Only thing missing is the Cuban coffee that @Tin Man was telling us about.
View attachment 278957View attachment 278958View attachment 278959View attachment 278960
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It’s getting to the point that I don’t know if you are sharing or just bragging😁

Looks excellent. Meal photos look like they belong in a gourmet food magazine.

Wishing you the best on Friday.
 
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#8,174
#8,174
LIvol said:
I hope I don't get killed for this opinion, but does anyone think the family meal option as fast food or quick food restaurants is a weird thing. I was looking at Bw3 and said maybe I will see what the option is and it is 20 boneless and 20 bone in wings for $40 with one basket of fries and it feeds 4 people. I thought maybe i will try somewhere else. Applebee's has a riblet meal, Family-size portion of rib meat, spinach and artichoke dip, Caesar salad, mac ’n cheese, fries and slaw for i think $70. I guess I have never worked in the food management or the food service industry. Where is the incentive to go to your establishment for curbside when I haven't gotten a drink and I am already paying Applebee's $85 with tip. I understand the times and we should support local businesses, like I said I am looking for an answer because it does not make sense why people have bundled together to make "family meals" and charge more. If someome takes out there 2 kids and other half, what is a bill if there are no drinks at Applebee's? $50? If they are small kids then possibly less. I don't want to give an opinion on the takeout food quality, but why do they increase the price as well.
Click to expand...
A number of locally owned restaurants here in Tampa are offering 2-4 person meal packages for $25-$50 which is very reasonable and makes me consider if I want to get takeout or cook.
One of our better Italian restaurants, Donatello’s, offers a four person meal for $110.00 which i have not tried yet but might try this weekend. Great value for what you get.
 
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