Where Are You Going to Eat After COVID-19?

[CarlSpackler]

I've heard this question on a few radio shows, so I will ask it here. Where is the first place you are going to go have a dine-in meal when this is all over and restaurant dining rooms are open again?

For me, there is a little roadside joint called the 571 Grill with awesome smoked wings that are flash fried right before they're served. The have a great selection of micro-brews. That's where I'm headed.

[mcanadiens]

My brother and I spend entirely too much time at the Submarine House in Troy, so we'll be hoping to see our old people once stuff opens back up.

Then, of course, there is the Fairway Inn at Kittyhawk. 

 

[Piz]

I have continued eating despite social distancing.  What I am looking forward to doing is saddling up at my local and knocking back a few cold ones.  It's the ordinary stuff I miss.

[iacas]

It doesn't matter.

Anywhere.

The "problems" with takeout are plentiful, and include the temperature of the food (and "freshness"), the ambiance of the environment, the free drink refills, the fact that if they forgot a sauce or you would like more bread/rolls they bring it to you, etc. The fact that everyone can get different sides instead of family portion sizes of two or three sides only… etc.

[FlyingAce]

I just want french fries and I don’t care where! 

[bwdial]

My list is rather long, but my real concern is whether they will open back up.

Tropicana is a really good Caribbean restaurant in Buford.  Their roast pork and yellow rice is awesome, and I am really missing it right now.

Mexican.  Period.  There are several really good places around us.  One is still doing takeout, but like @iacas mentioned, it just isn't the same, and last time we got an order, if was screwed up.

 

[BamaWade]

My wife and I both agree it'll probably be this little local steakhouse.  Pretty low-key, rural roadhouse-type place with good filets at a good price, and a nice in-house specialty frozen concoction to wash it down.  Funny though, I'm kinda missing your run of the mill Mexican joint with the basket of chips n salsa, etc.  Taking it out (in either case above) just isn't the same.

[Double Mocha Man]

3 minutes ago, BamaWade said:

My wife and I both agree it'll probably be this little local steakhouse.  Pretty low-key, rural roadhouse-type place with good filets at a good price, and a nice in-house specialty frozen concoction to wash it down.  Funny though, I'm kinda missing your run of the mill Mexican joint with the basket of chips n salsa, etc.  Taking it out (in either case above) just isn't the same.

Remember, you are paying more for food at a restaurant than you can prepare it for at home. You're getting treated like a king, someone is washing your dishes, and the restaurant is providing ambiance you probably can't get at home.

40 minutes ago, Piz said:

I have continued eating despite social distancing.  What I am looking forward to doing is saddling up at my local and knocking back a few cold ones.  It's the ordinary stuff I miss.

Good to hear that you are still eating. I'm with you on reporting back to the local watering hole.

[dennyjones]

Several fast food places around me are shut down.   There just isn't enough business to keep them busy.   Many of the others that are open have changed their hours and the menus.     Taking home fast food just isn't good, usually the food gets cold and these places are within 5 minutes of the house.      We did buy a very large Mac and Cheese from a local restaurant that fed us for 5 days (it got old eating the same thing after 3).  It is nice supporting local places.  We've drove to Culvers, went thru the drive-thru and sat in the car eating. 

I'm alway dying waiting for the local Mexican restaurant to reopen.  

[bwdial]

14 minutes ago, BamaWade said:

My wife and I both agree it'll probably be this little local steakhouse.  Pretty low-key, rural roadhouse-type place with good filets at a good price, and a nice in-house specialty frozen concoction to wash it down.  Funny though, I'm kinda missing your run of the mill Mexican joint with the basket of chips n salsa, etc.  Taking it out (in either case above) just isn't the same.

Would that be Nick's in the Sticks?

[CarlSpackler]

47 minutes ago, iacas said:

It doesn't matter.

Anywhere.

But if you had to pick somewhere, where would it be?

@Piz and @Double Mocha Man I am also looking forward to watering holes opening up. I had 5 drumming gigs cancelled so far with more to come. I doubt I could file unemployment for missing out on that income.

20 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

I'm alway dying waiting for the local Mexican restaurant to reopen.

I too cannot wait for Mexican. One of our favorites is a place with a salsa bar. Sooooo good.

[iacas]

33 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

But if you had to pick somewhere, where would it be?

I don't really care. We had Outback takeout on March 23.

[oregongolfguy]

Here in spokane washington, steakhouse called clinkerdaggers.  Spendy but love the prime rib.  Also looking forward to some good mexican food.  I'm not really a take out guy by nature

[nevets88]

It'll be nice just to have a normally stocked kitchen again. Getting food delivery is not easy, hard to get a delivery time. The days before food gets delivered, pantry is pretty empty. On the positive end, I'm getting good at improvising. Not doing any take out.

[tehuti]

I plan to go to Stubrik's Steakhouse in Downtown Fullerton, CA and have a huge steak.We used to go there quite a bit for food, spirits and live blues, but not much in the last 5 or 6 years. Can't wait to get back there.

I need to check the legendary Philippe's in Los Angeles off my "restaurant bucket list". I have been threatening to go there for a long time and just haven't been. As soon as I can I am making a special trip to L.A. just to go to Philippe's.

[Vinsk]

I have to agree with @iacas. I won’t go out for the first time based on what I want to eat. I’ll enjoy the convenience/ambience of dining out as well as seeing a room full of strangers together again. 

[Big C]

34 minutes ago, tehuti said:

I plan to go to Stubrik's Steakhouse in Downtown Fullerton, CA and have a huge steak.We used to go there quite a bit for food, spirits and live blues, but not much in the last 5 or 6 years. Can't wait to get back there.

I need to check the legendary Philippe's in Los Angeles off my "restaurant bucket list". I have been threatening to go there for a long time and just haven't been. As soon as I can I am making a special trip to L.A. just to go to Philippe's.

Philippe's French Dip is awesome. And now is the best time to go. I had to make a trip to downtown LA last week and the roads were as empty as you will ever see them. I got from Orange County to downtown in 27 minutes.

I'll add one other recommendation while you are visiting Philippe's. Check out Breadlam - a sandwich spot in the arts district of downtown. An old high school buddy of mine opened it up last year after a decade of running an artisan cheese and salami shop on the east coast. His sandwiches are amazing, even if I am slightly biased.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/breadlam-los-angeles?osq=breadlam

[billchao]

It will probably be Wendy’s because the first meal I’ll eat out after restrictions are lifted will likely be while I’m working, so no change to the current situation for me.