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Writer's pictureA Glass in Hand

Dining Out

Is it worth it?


Living in this day and age is expensive.


Cooking at home is great, but sometimes you really want someone else to do it for you. Today I'm going to ask the question of if it really worth it to dine out and how much it should really cost.


After many years being a chef, people still ask me if I eat well at home. Well I would say I do eat well at home when we are trying, but when we tired, it usually ends up being the same as what everyone else eats for dinner. So I am a huge fan of eating out and trying new restaurants, even though it can be an every frustrating experience.



During this semester I began teaching once a week. Yes, at a college. That is a totally different subject that I won't even bother getting into right now. During our class, my students had to submit a restaurant review of a time when they went to dine out and how they viewed their experience. I loved hearing about all the places they dined and what young people think of going out in the city right now. I also enjoyed hearing about what young people view as value and compare that to what I would think.


I've been eating out a lot lately. Whether it has been for travel reasons or for pleasure in our own city, I find myself at the end of the decision of how to pay for this expense.


As most of us have encountered recently, the cost of everything has risen. Dining out has become more of a special treat during a time when you want to celebrate something special. Sometimes you leave a restaurant thinking I will definitely return and other times you think was it really worth it. Some nights you just say screw it, I don't want to cook so let's go for dinner instead.


Some local Toronto restaurants I have been to lately are Parquet, Ferro, Grazie and Short Turn. All different styles and all with different price points and service styles. I recently went to Halifax and dined very well, but that is also another story.



The older I get, the more I just want good food, good service and not to get a crazy bill at the end of it. I don't think that is something crazy to ask for when spending $150 dollars for dinner for 2. It shouldn't be crazy and dinner for 2 people with some booze should never cost you more than the price above. If it, then there is a serious question of is it really worth it?


So why would I want to spend and contemplate about if it is worth it what I have decided to spend the money on? Well truthfully I love restaurants. I guess that is why I started working in hospitality to begin with. I love the noise, smell and sounds of a busy restaurant. The staff hustling by one another to bring food and drinks to the table. I love when the food is presented to you to look over and analyze.


You can make a beautiful dinner at home, but there is just something about getting served by someone and having food prepared for you so you don't have to.


So I will ask the question again...is it worth it? No matter how frustrating the whole experience can get of choosing the restaurant and paying the bill and all the other variables of choosing to dine out, I love eating out. I love dining with strangers around me and do I think it's worth it? Well yes. If you are a curious human who loves learning and understanding cultures through food, then you sacrifice the money and you pay for it. Dining out is an education and social experience that humans crave.


So yes I will continue eat out at different restaurants and give you my honest opinion of how good or bad it was. I would say you need to decide for yourself if the expense it worth it, but I am a true believer in eating out. Take it from me, I know what is should be like.

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