Eat Out vs Take Out
On birthdays it often happens we eat take-out. To us that is special. We don't usually have take out dinners. For very special occasions we do eat out. But that is not entirely a pleasurable experience for me.
It happens sometimes I get conned when eating out, having something which is quite a bit more expensive than I thought. Like the restaurant of a hotel in Helden. The three course meal was something like 25 euros. When they served it, they opened a bottle of sparkling water. That proved to be 12,50. Half the price of the entire meal was added for a bottle of water, which was opened without even asking whether we wanted some. Obviously a con. Experiences like that stick with me. Every time I go into a restaurant, I feel I have to be aware of cons like that.
It's becasue of these kinds of practices that I never am fully at ease when eating out. I feel I have to keep my guard up, check whatever it is we're ordering and what we're getting. Not ordering coffee afterwards, because it isn't served the way I like it, but does add noticably to the bill.
When everything seems to check out, I can enjoy my meal. That is: when there's no smoking. Nowadays it is more and more rare to have a smoker near you in a restaurant. But for many many years it was quite common. Even after smoking had become politically incorrect, and parts of the establishments were supposed to be non smoking. The restaurant business was so afraid of loosing customers, that I would rather keep out altogether than having a go and trying my luck.
At the conclusion of eating out there's the knot in my stomach again. Will the bille be correct? Also we have to walk to the car, drive to wherever we're staying, and sometimes spend the rest of the evening in a hotel room or appartment that isn't ours. This all adds to the knot in my stomach, adding stress to the occasion.
Much less so when ordering take-out. There is still some amount of stress involved, but it concerns the moment of ordering and paying, and the first bites of everything we've ordered (will it be any good?). Because you pay in advance, there is no stress about the bill afterwards, which makes the meal experience much mellower. Than there's the relief of not having to worry about the cost of the drinks. They don't cost anything more than they always do.
And there's the doggy bag business. In the Netherlands we're not used to taking doggy bags home. Which motivates to eat too much. You've paid for it, why not have it all? Eating at home I end up much less bloated. Whatever I didn't eat the first round. I can have whenever I like.
And afterwards I don't have to keep focussed on driving, finding a key, or where to park the car. We can just clear the table and sit on the all familiar couch.