Who cooks better than a BBQ restaurant?


 
Agree with all the sentiments of ‘better at my house’. Wifey the same. No good BBQ joints. We have settled down to just going out once a week, usually Friday night after she gets home from work (usually a 2+ hour drive home) with no certain time of arrival. So it’s just easier for us to go out rather than trying to meal plan when she doesn’t know when she will be leaving work. So we have settled on Texas Road House (the bartenders are friends of ours and they will pin up two bar seats for us when we head down there), I usually get RARE prime rib (since my wife doesn’t care for it, I don’t usually cook it). She gets a side of shrimp and a sweet potato.
 
I just went to a “Lefty’s Cheesesteak” the opening week here. It’s a friggin fast food joint and they were slow as molasses! Then the sandwich came and it may have been sliced ribeye but, it was all just plain glop! Half the stuff was not available to boot.
I suppose that is more a “service” issue but, some things just make me miss the good old “saloon” food that has been largely destroyed by corporate swill mills, I miss the little places that did well made meals and courteous waitstaff.
Maybe this belongs in the “Get off my lawn” thread.😁
 
Timothy F. Lewis said:
Half the stuff was not available to boot.
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I went to a local place a couple weeks ago. It's the type of place were you order and pay at the counter and then they bring your food to your table. Real plates and all, just you have to order at the counter. They display their menu behind the counter on 7 or 8 TVs turned sideways. This time they had all but two of the displays turned off. They've had problems with the displays before so I just assumed it was the usual problem but a bit bigger this time. Turned out they'd turned off the displays on purpose. They were short on cooks so they reduced the menu to just burgers and sandwiches.

It seems much of the country has transitioned from hit or miss quality restaurants to consistently mediocre food at known chain restaurants. That's why there seems little reason to go out anymore unless you need a break from cooking or cleaning up. I usually don't mind the cooking, but I hate the cleaning. Since I'm stuck doing both these days I'm much more inclined to cook large quantities and eat lots of leftovers, or settle for mediocre food.
 
I’m looking forward to a couple of days of not being complete kitchen slave, supposed to try a couple of interesting places.
 
JayHeyl said:
I went to a local place a couple weeks ago. It's the type of place were you order and pay at the counter and then they bring your food to your table. Real plates and all, just you have to order at the counter. They display their menu behind the counter on 7 or 8 TVs turned sideways. This time they had all but two of the displays turned off. They've had problems with the displays before so I just assumed it was the usual problem but a bit bigger this time. Turned out they'd turned off the displays on purpose. They were short on cooks so they reduced the menu to just burgers and sandwiches.

It seems much of the country has transitioned from hit or miss quality restaurants to consistently mediocre food at known chain restaurants. That's why there seems little reason to go out anymore unless you need a break from cooking or cleaning up. I usually don't mind the cooking, but I hate the cleaning. Since I'm stuck doing both these days I'm much more inclined to cook large quantities and eat lots of leftovers, or settle for mediocre food.
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You said it better than I could.
I am tired of dishes. Gets old after awhile. I spend more time doing dishes than...
 
I can't answer that question. Truth is, I don't sweat it. My family likes my BBQ and I'm happy with that. I've eaten at 3 local joints and their Q was usually fine with me. I think some of mine is better and some abut the same so I don't order Brisket out. The chance to just eat out and not cook at home is good enough for me. I like the break and order their good stuff.
 
Timothy F. Lewis said:
I just went to a “Lefty’s Cheesesteak” the opening week here. It’s a friggin fast food joint and they were slow as molasses! Then the sandwich came and it may have been sliced ribeye but, it was all just plain glop! Half the stuff was not available to boot.
I suppose that is more a “service” issue but, some things just make me miss the good old “saloon” food that has been largely destroyed by corporate swill mills, I miss the little places that did well made meals and courteous waitstaff.
Maybe this belongs in the “Get off my lawn” thread.😁
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Yeah, I wouldn't be caught dead in a place called "Lefty's" anything. :D
 
SSmith said:
Agree with all the sentiments of ‘better at my house’. Wifey the same. No good BBQ joints. We have settled down to just going out once a week, usually Friday night after she gets home from work (usually a 2+ hour drive home) with no certain time of arrival. So it’s just easier for us to go out rather than trying to meal plan when she doesn’t know when she will be leaving work. So we have settled on Texas Road House (the bartenders are friends of ours and they will pin up two bar seats for us when we head down there), I usually get RARE prime rib (since my wife doesn’t care for it, I don’t usually cook it). She gets a side of shrimp and a sweet potato.
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I've had some decent steaks in the Texas RH in Sierra Vista AZ. It's a bit more "hash house" atmosphere than I like, but it fills the bill. The staff was attentive, courteous, and seemed to know their jobs. That means the management is trained and qualified. I'm betting TRH has a structured training program for employees.
 
Chuck-roaniecowpony said:
Yeah, I wouldn't be caught dead in a place called "Lefty's" anything. :D
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Hey! We can be good cooks.

Now if the place was formally "Righty''s" is when you need to worry.

We've been a Texas RH several times and yeah all been good. Last year they have grill packs where they gave you steaks to cook yourself, along with sides, rolls, etc.
 
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Tony-Chicago said:
Got some road food drive-thru today. First thing I say is, notice something? Wow, have prices climbed.
I cannot afford to eat.
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In N Out Double Double is still a great deal. And Habit Burger too. Beyond that, we're not eating out much at all these days. Basically, I have zero patience to wait in a restaurant and be served less than stellar food. And the good places are really busy, and I still have no patience. Maybe January will be better once people get the Xmas bills that are due. January is one of the quieter months for eating places.
 
Do tell. The cheap place we went to was fast food at 10 a sandwich. Add fries and such. Whoa. I can cook at home for half the price and twice the.... you name it.
Service, comfort, taste, safety, aggravation, driving, parking, high taxes, timing, .....
 
Brett-EDH said:
In N Out Double Double is still a great deal. And Habit Burger too. Beyond that, we're not eating out much at all these days. Basically, I have zero patience to wait in a restaurant and be served less than stellar food. And the good places are really busy, and I still have no patience. Maybe January will be better once people get the Xmas bills that are due. January is one of the quieter months for eating places.
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"That's what a hamburger's all about"
I go to an In-N-Out about once a week for a burger and a few dog patties for my pointer. He''s also an In-N-Out fan.
 
I'll never waste another penny by ordering a steak at a restaurant. And thanks to a load of people on here, that would include the usual bbq suspects too.
I can cook them x10 better, for a fraction of the price. (I was talking to a Q buddy of mine today, (you know who you are), that I was going to bend some coin on some Xmas Eve rib-eyes that would choke a donkey. 2.5" thick, and they cost less than the price of a regular sized steak at a restaurant).
 
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