Just curious: what's your go-to choice when menus have nothing you'd want to eat?
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salad or a burger.0
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I'm part of a supper club that gets together for dinner once a week. We take turns picking places to go, so there are definitely times when the restaurant and its menu are not what I'd prefer. When that happens, I usually will just have an appetizer or else I order a couple of side dishes a la carte and sort of invent my own dinner. We went to a BBQ place a couple of weeks ago. I'm not big on BBQ, so I ordered a side of beans and a side of cornbread and ended up having a really tasty dinner!1
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Yeah, my in-laws are like this, too. I don't usually struggle to find something to eat, though. Grilled cheese is usually a good option. If it's a fast-food place, I go for whatever sort of battered and deep fried onion situation they've got. It's almost impossible to mess up a battered and deep fried onion situation enough that I won't enjoy it.4 -
I guess it pays to be cheap & not have much in the way of family around
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I go out with groups a lot. The motivation is more social in these cases than gustatory. However, I'm a vegetarian, and some of my friends are picky meatarians. Restaurant choice is a balancing act, and I don't enjoy being the difficult one, so I'll go pretty much anywhere others want to. (There are a few chains I argue against, as they're a veggie wasteland.) On quite a few casual dining menus, many obvious vegetarian choices are super-carb'n'cheese-fests (an acre of pasta alfredo or mac'n'cheese, or grilled cheese sandwich, say). Now, I don't especially limit carbs or cheese, but I also don't always want to spend 1800 calories on them and not feel satisfied.
Usually, my strategy is to order several sides (a lot of places will do a plate with all the vegetable sides on it), or to de-construct a sandwich (I like a Rueben without the meat ), or just have a big salad, adding a side of cottage cheese for protein if necessary.
Naturally, if I'm going out by myself or with one or two more food-flexible people, and the point is dining pleasure, then I'm going to lobby for restaurants with delicious vegetarian choices. 5 -
I go out with groups a lot. The motivation is more social in these cases than gustatory. However, I'm a vegetarian, and some of my friends are picky meatarians. Restaurant choice is a balancing act, and I don't enjoy being the difficult one, so I'll go pretty much anywhere others want to. (There are a few chains I argue against, as they're a veggie wasteland.) On quite a few casual dining menus, many obvious vegetarian choices are super-carb'n'cheese-fests (an acre of pasta alfredo or mac'n'cheese, or grilled cheese sandwich, say). Now, I don't especially limit carbs or cheese, but I also don't always want to spend 1800 calories on them and not feel satisfied.
Usually, my strategy is to order several sides (a lot of places will do a plate with all the vegetable sides on it), or to de-construct a sandwich (I like a Rueben without the meat ), or just have a big salad, adding a side of cottage cheese for protein if necessary.
Naturally, if I'm going out by myself or with one or two more food-flexible people, and the point is dining pleasure, then I'm going to lobby for restaurants with delicious vegetarian choices.
Hi! I'm the OP. After reading some posts, I realized that I didn't say I was curious as to what people did, although perfectly satisfied with how I work this out for me. What I also didn't really make clear was that this was only when out with more than a friend or my husband, where restaurant choices are easier. Like @AnnPT77, I do what I mentioned in the original post only when it involves 3+ other people. Also like @AnnPT77, I am in groups often and I feel that if I am the one who is close to vegetarian/vegan and all the others want to go to a certain restaurant, I don't feel right making an issue and I have found ways to make do. I also agree that grilled cheese or vegetarian cheese-type entrees offered in lots of places are just too high cal or too carb-loaded for me to eat comfortably. This is also true going to other people's houses for dinner. I find a way to make it work and I don't want the hostess to have to bend over backwards to accommodate me if she is having a bunch of people over. Hope this clarifies things and thanks @AnnPT77, because you expressed it far better than I did!6 -
I reckon I'd be in trouble if I ate out as much as that so its a good job I don't so I don't have that worry. We eat out once a week, the restaurant of choice is usually very fine cuisine (along the lines of michelin star) where the food is amazing but the portions aren't big so I don't have to worry. I'll choose whatever I want but mostly go for fish or vegetarian option.
I suppose if I were to eat out more regularly, which does apply when we're on holiday I still am inclined to not order a starter and for the main, I will choose whatever appeals most but when I'm starting to feel full I'll stop, even if half the food is left on the plate. I'm very good at knowing when to stop but thats a given I think with being almost 5 years at maintenance. I hardly ever do dessert, haven't got much of a sweet tooth any more.0 -
I can make almost any place work. I opt for lean protein and vegies without any sauces. If that's not available, tehre are salads that I can modify.0
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I have a picky husband and in a strange restaurant he orders a BLT. I guess he figures they can’t mess that up.
I have a funny story about that. I found a delightful Mediterranean restaurant in our neighbourhood, family run with grandma in the back. I took hubby there (big mistake), he turned his nose up at the menu and asked if they could make him a tuna sandwich? Of course sir. There was a little commotion in the kitchen as they made his special order. Without mayo.
I never heard the end of it. Lousy restaurant he said, made a lousy tuna sandwich.
I took out all my girlfriends there on our play dates because I was never taking hubby there again.
It's nice to hear from another with a picky husband, although I am sorry for you, too. I am sure mine is the pickiest person on the planet. We have many wonderful restaurants in our area, and he enjoys none of them, so I go out with girlfriends. His restauant food selections are restricted to french dip sandwiches, fettucino alfredo, chicken strips (really), or pizza, only with specific toppings, or maybe a BLT with no mayo.
Sorry, OP, this is off-topic, but I do not often meet others with picky husbands.
To answer the OP, I guess I try to look at the appetizer menu for something lightweight, or soup and salad.1 -
About the only thing I won't eat is liver or other organ meat...I will never have an issue finding something I would eat at any restaurant (though it might not be my ideal choice of restaurant), even if I was dragged kicking and screaming to Olive Garden or Red Lobster...then again, if my friends or family wanted to go to Olive Garden or Red Lobster, I might be "busy" and have to hit them up another time.3
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Thanks OP, for asking this question. I struggle fairly often to find good options at restaurants. I think the reasons are the same as you and others have listed: don't want to be the difficult one, eating out is more for social reasons, etc. I end up at a lot of diners/chains mainly bc friends/family don't want to spend a ton of money, and I don't always love my options, especially if most of what's offered is either super-high calorie or just a dinner salad. And honestly, I feel a little self-conscious if I just get a small salad and everyone else gets something giant. I finish so much earlier than everyone else and am basically just sitting around watching them eat. (I know, that's a psychological factor I have to work on.) Regardless, it's been good to read other's ideas.1
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Sometimes the best thing to eat — brace yourself — is nothing. I had a business breakfast this morning at a place that had zero vegan options. Everyone ordered, I said “I’ll stick with coffee” and no one in the group batted an eye. The end.8
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Sometimes the best thing to eat — brace yourself — is nothing. I had a business breakfast this morning at a place that had zero vegan options. Everyone ordered, I said “I’ll stick with coffee” and no one in the group batted an eye. The end.
Yep! Coffee + Nothing (or a tiny dressingless salad and coffee) is always an option for me. Having that coffee in front of me generally puts everyone at ease. Then I eat what I choose to eat at home.
And I’m not an anti salad dressings freak, I’ve just never had a salad dressing out that is worth the calories compared to what I whip up at home.
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I can totally relate, OP. I don't eat out often anymore but I sometimes find myself in your exact situation in a restaurant. I eat plenty at home, but I do like to prepare it myself and weigh/measure everything.
My go-to in a diner is three eggs over medium and tomato slices. I leave two yolks on the plate and eat around them. Add fruit or veg if it's available. This lets me eat socially without piling on the mystery calories.
In a dinner situation when there are not many appealing lower calorie meals, I'll choose salad with vinegar, a grilled chicken breast, or peel and eat shrimp. Shrimp always saves the day.
When I do get an average entree I will request a to go box when I order so I can pack up half of the meal before I even begin eating.
I'll usually order coffee instead of cocktails.0 -
It's hard to find a place that doesn't at least have a salad with grilled chicken.1
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I'm not picky but am on a fairly restricted diet due to illness. I generally go for the fish option in those situations but obviously that won't work for vegetarians.
I find most restaurants are willing to be flexible ;eg if the dish includes a sauce which contains ingredients I can't eat, most will omit the sauce or offer a different one, ditto vegetables.0 -
If I’m not very hungry I will get a coffee. If I am hungry I will get the dessert after coffee. Ice cream as dinner is my favorite. I don’t keep sweets in the house so it’s a treat and an 800 cal ice cream is more exciting than 1200 of an unappealing whatever.2
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Sometimes the best thing to eat — brace yourself — is nothing. I had a business breakfast this morning at a place that had zero vegan options. Everyone ordered, I said “I’ll stick with coffee” and no one in the group batted an eye. The end.
I have celiac disease and am a vegetarian. I feel you. Not all places are celiac friendly, so yup. I've sat there many times with just a beverage.3 -
Just a regular chicken salad with either ginger or vinegar-based dressing. I season the chicken in salt, pepper, cayenne, and garlic powder and add lots of bell peppers and celery to the lettuce. NEVER get tired of eating this!1
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