Where to Eat Dinner : The Eternal Argument

I've written a bunch of really weighty stuff so far on this blog, and it's been therapeutic on top of being informative, but I thought I would take a moment to discuss a very real struggle for almost every couple that's also kind of funny and not too dark a subject. Okay, it CAN get dark and serious, depending on how "hangry" your bae gets when he or she needs sustenance. But we're not necessarily talking about life and death arguments. MOST of the time.

What is it about us that makes us so indecisive when it comes to "where to eat dinner"? Our ancestors relied on hunting and gathering skills, and were just happy to have ANYTHING to eat. Whether to eat a squirrel or a mammoth wasn't always an "option", we got what we could kill. Strawberries instead of muscadines? IF you're lucky enough to find them. So who the hell do we think we are, arguing over an unbelievable amount of choices even in the smallest towns of where to sit ourselves for dinner???

Couples often face the conundrum of not being able to JUST...PICK...WHERE...TO...EAT. Seems easy enough, right? But no, it can lead to a several-hours-long non-discussion, or wasting a half a tank of gas driving around "looking for somewhere to eat", high emotional tensions, and sometimes ultimately a complete surrender and just heating up some pizza rolls and tater tots in the oven. There is no fix-all for this problem, but here are a few ideas to ease some pain. One or more of them just might help you out next time you and your significant other find yourselves butting heads or indecisive about where to go fill up.

1. Make picking a restaurant a game.

If nobody is feeling picky (and "almost ANYWHERE" sounds "fine"), but you just can't seem to pull the trigger, try making the selection process more fun by playing what we call the "3-2-1 Game."

This is selection by elimination.

One of you picks 3-5 places that would be acceptable (the taco place, the pizza joint, the cafe, etc).  Then, the other person is charged with the job of simply eliminating one choice off the list (i.e., "not the cafe.")  Then. it's back to the list maker who eliminates a second choice - "not the taco place."  This continues until only one choice is left standing... and off you go!

Why it is so much easier to remove choices than build them, I have no idea, but the system seems to unfold more easily that way.


2. Make dining out an experiment.

Do a quick Google search to shed a little light on any culinary jewels found in random strip malls and far flung locations you may never have heard of, maybe somewhere off the grid a little or somewhere you'd just never have thought to look.

You may very well even find your new favorite go-to for the future when you knuckleheads can't make up your minds.


3. Make eating out a budgeting decision.

Eating out can definitely impact the old budget (readers of my blog know how I feel about this already...lol), but there are afternoons when the cook is off duty (or out of town) and the kitchen is closed...regardless of the pocketbook.

It is in those moments that we decide to let the budget rule the choice...and we're always surprised how much we still love it.  I personally can always enjoy a couple of the regular little burgers from McDonald's, or the MVP breakfast combo at Waffle House, but there are lots of other fantastic spots that are cheap.

Whether it's the budget-friendly buffet at your local CiCi's Pizza or the 4-for-$4 at Wendy's or whatever, dining out doesn't have to leave you broke. And date night doesn't always have to mean spending a lot of money, guys. Get with the program. And if your partner disagrees with this, let him/her pay, or find a new partner.


4. Make restaurant choices an adventure.

Maybe do one of those searches for dishes a nearby town (or your own) is "famous" for and try it out.  Again, Google is your friend.  Do a little searching and try something new.  You can also try downloading a relevant app for adventurous eating. Try something really, really outside your normal preferences (easy to do when you're absolutely famished). It can be fun, and you might actually like it!


5. Make finding a new restaurant a community experience.

Sure, you can go to Yelp! and read random people's opinions, but I've often found those reviews to be unreliable, conflicting (some love, others hate), and not necessarily paired with my tastes.  I find ZAGAT surveys to be a better tool because they weed out the rabid fans and the people who have a bone to pick.

A quick post to your local friends on Facebook asking for folks to chime in with suggestions is also a worthwhile approach, allowing both the people familiar with your personal tastes/preferences AND your more casual "acquaintances" to offer up ideas. Sometimes they'll even be able to suggest things not even on the map, or eateries which even the mighty Google has yet to find.

Eating out should be a fun experience and if you figure out how to make the decision process painless, you're halfway there! Also, if you can find a way to settle this eternal struggle with your partner, you will have a much, much more enjoyable relationship.