To prefer eating in to going out for dinner/lunch?

[Purplepansies]

I really do not enjoy going out to eat any more.I find it tedious waiting to be served,it is a gamble as to whether the food will be good/bad/mediocre,it costs a lot for a family of four and always makes me think what else we could have spent the money on, and yet its one of those things that everyone else seems to really enjoy.
I have two teens who really don't enjoy it either and there is endless faffing with things like "I'll have the beef but I don't want the gravy on it,I'll have the chicken but no sauce,I'll have the burger but plain with nothing on it".
Am I the only one who is like this?I far prefer cooking something myself at home ,eating it where and when I want and not handing over large amounts of cash for average food.
I have no problem getting a takeaway now and again its just the sitting down that drives me nuts.
I am being unreasonable aren't I?

[thebody]

Depends whose cooking!

[thebody]

Depends whose cooking!

[FourArms]

Bunbaker - their fish & chips is my favourite anywhere! Esp since I only eat the fish and it's always big fresh pieces :)

[2rebecca]

When the kids were young eating out was something we only did when away from home as it was much more pleasant staying in. As teenagers I enjoy eating out with them but they're not fussy eaters. They're often now out round friends so my husband and I will go out for a meal together sometimes, but we more often get a take away. We don't generally go to posh places though, just walk to the nearest good pub and there the staff are too busy to hover and faff. If we've both been working its nice not to cook.
We avoid eating out at weekends as it's busy plus we have more time to cook.

[Bunbaker]

"I like to go to Morrisons - less than £10 for 2 adult meals, 2 child meals and drinks."

But the food isn't great.

[FourArms]

I like to go to Morrisons - less than £10 for 2 adult meals, 2 child meals and drinks.

Otherwise we probably eat out once a fortnight, but usually somewhere mediocre. Kids make it a fairly miserable experience unless we're somewhere like Pizza Hut or McDs as they're so picky.

On my low carb diet it's easier to spend a bit extra on a nice meal at home.

[Marylou62]

As a migraine sufferer, so many ingredients are off the menu for me...cheese, red wine, MSG. I get embarrassed asking if there is red wine in the gravy, cheese in the sauces etc. I don't really enjoy eating out that much as usually there is limited choice for me.(I know this is my fault as I have had some horrendous migraines...think 3 days in bed, crying in agony with Dr coming and giving me injections, so maybe a bit too fussy...but cant help it!!) When my parents come to my seaside village on holiday, we eat out 2-3 times and I always end up with the same thing. JP with tuna. Ask for no cheese and 50% of time I have to send it back! BUT love eating breakfast out! Just waiting for all the DCs to wake then we're off for a fry up! DS1 home after 4 months away! Yummie!

[halfdrunktea]

I agree based on where I live now. The options for eating out are generally mediocre. Pub food can be OK but tends to be expensive. In my pre-children days, I enjoyed it more, and I enjoy it if I'm in a big city with more culinary options. With small children it's not much fun either! But I do enjoy not having to clear up after meals.

[Me2Me2]

I love eating out because I don't have to do anything.

[WilsonFrickett]

I probably would have been a bit at this thread, had I not recently moved from a city to a tiny, yet very touristy, village. In the city the food is amazing, and we ate out weekly, cheaply. Here in tourist-ville, it's a minimum of £60 for two courses and two drinks and it's shit, because the tourists keep coming back.

Luckily we're still in easy reach of the city, but not so much that we can still drag DS out on, say, a Tuesday night just because I don't fancy cooking.

So yes. While I love eating out, I actually don't think you are being U.

[MusicalEndorphins]

I like eating in restaurants so I don't have to cook or clean. I do like cooking but it is harder to do these days.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I think it's great if you have fussy eaters (we do) as everyone can have a different meal which obviously isn't going to happen at home. I also like the change of scene, the lack of washing up, etc, etc. We had a really nice pub lunch on a roof terrace overlooking the sea yesterday, lovely.

Hate carveries though, we don't have roasts very often at home but they are so much better home cooked.

[JapaneseMargaret]

I cook from scratch every night, and love food, but the idea of eating in every night just depresses me...!

We love eating out. There are so many amazing places to eat here, that you need never go back to the same one, unless you love it.

Yes, I can imagine that if you're fussy, and only have mediocre places to choose from, then it's probably not worth it.

But the thought of only ever staying in for the rest of my life, God no. Eating out is DH's and my thing, and we love the fact that the kids are now getting to age that we can do it with them, too.

[TruffleOil]

Probably because I am OCD in the kitchen, to be honest.

[TruffleOil]

I love dining out, it's the biggest line item in our family budget.

[Flibbertyjibbet]

We hardly ever eat out but we are not far from Garstang.....

[Sparklingbrook]

Ugh yes, Frankie & Benny's Mintyy. Absolutely dire for the £££s it costs. never again.

[squoosh]

One thing I've noticed in recent years is people taking a photo of their dinner before tucking in. Food bloggers everywhere!

[Laquitar]

I hate eating out with competitive types. You know the ones who go 'hmm the food is ok but the one we ate in...blah blah '.
But my family used to run hotels and touristry restaurants and i used to spent my school holidays in them so maybe thats why i dont see it as a big deal or the ultimate life experience. Competitive travelling and competitive eating out or trying 'ethnic food' does my head in.

[Mintyy]

As I said earlier on the thread, I love to eat out, but would never waste money on a hideous Frankie & Benny's type experience. Would rather eat out once every three months than once a month at a place we didn't really like.

[WooWooo]

I love sitting opposite someone that I like in a nice restaurant and chatting. I don't like doing it with complainers or people that I haven't chosen to be with.

[CombineBananaFister]

I lurve eating out BUT my husband is a chef (not a stealth boast) so it really limits us. We are on a tight budget and My DH only really likes to eat out if it's something he can't eat at home (which isn't much )

I know I should be grateful but I really like the social aspect of eating out with him and DC but chains are a nightmare for him. Saying that, simple is good as long as it's quality so my nans egg and chips are fine

[Laquitar]

I like eating out and we used to eat out a lot but we cantafford it in the past 2 years.
Some people can go on and on about the 'interesting' restaurant they have visited and the...'interesting' food they ate. Anyway if you mix with people from other countries you can eat more authentic food in their houses for free.
Imo eating out and holidays abroad are nice if you can afford them but you can live without them too.

[Nancy66]

another one who loves eating out too. one of the best things about going on holiday is eating out every day