Eating out.  

There are still lots of places you can get a decent meal without any hurry on the part of the staff. I love olive garden where you can get a meal at an affordable rate and no one is in a hurry to kick you out. So if you are in the mood for Italian you can try that place out. Another one is Don Pablo's for mexican if you like loud places.

That's the way it is today, sometimes even fine dine restourants have waiting area already. The beach or a resort is your best alternative, get a cottage so you can enjoy the whole day not just dine. Its your birthday right, why not take a day off.

I do tend to agree with you. I also find that the staff are always trying to get you to order more so they can make more money out of you. Usually I order water for the table instead of wine and from that point on the staff tend to leave me alone as they realise I'm not going to spend lots of money.

We have a pretty good selection of restaurants here in Canada. Not sure which ones are chains and go into the States. My 9 year old loves East Side Marios which is
what replaced Olive Garden in Canada. We also like Kelseys
which is more pub food type of thing. Those are our
favorites. Now I know you guys have Applebees and stuff like that. Are they suitable? By the way Happy Birthday. Mine is next week but we can just skip over that one.

Yes, I agree with you. Which is why I rarely go out to eat. Chili's, The Ninety-nine, Applebees, Uno's, Friendly's, they are all pretty awful. I think that they get all the same food from one place, and just add crap to it. Different sauce, or dipping stuff. And I absolutely HATE being served anything in a basket (like some of the resturaunts do) I hate paper napkins with my meal. I hate plastic drinking cups. Your right, because sometimes you have to pay alot of money if you want good food.

I would try a resturant that is NOT a chain. Go early, or on a weekday, when the prices (and service) tend to be a little better.
Have fun!!

Fab, i get that treatment a lot. not only at fast food restaurants but even at the so called better ones. I love good conversation at my meals even if it's with someone that I don't necessarily like. Just so we can laugh and talk. Makes you not want to give the waiters tips because of the way you're treated. But they're only following orders.
But I hope that you find an enjoyable restaurant to celebrate your 30th birthday.

Yeah, I completetly agree!! I love to linger and wait in between to order my courses....just starting with a salad or appetizer then waiting to see how I feel...

My answer would be a small Italian or casual french restaurant. Or someplace brand new no one knows about that just opened. Or what about finding some super small quaint place - that you can call ahead when you make reservations, you can mention you are going to enjoy catching up and ask when their next reservation after you is. If there have any class they won't schedule anyone and make a note in the book.

Then there is the ole, never stop drinking, which is pretty good for keeping you there. Except in Los Angeles. they forget to even ask if you want another drink. I also live in New Orleans, and thank goodness no one will speed you up, they encourage you to stay and enjoy the meal!

Good luck and do some searching on some restaurant directories online.

Might be fun to find a new, hip, gourmet restaurant with comfort food. It would be fun to eat four cheese marcaroni with your boys or have a smores dessert.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday! I know what you mean about the shoo 'em out the door treatment. When I was younger, my dad would take us to the all you could eat catfish parlors. He always had a big appetite, so in his case, he liked the conveyor belt continuously bringing more fried fish. :)Dinner out used to always take a few hours since he liked to talk as much as he ate. He definately got his money's worth. LOL