EATING OUT FEBRUARY 2023

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I've been eating out for years--well decades--on Thursdays and Fridays--mostly with restaurants I am familiar with but every once in a while I'll try a new place and surprise! Surprise! It becomes a regular stop. It happened last year with Jalisco a Mexican restaurant that I saw/passed for about 12 years before finally stopping in and I haven't regretted it since. The food is good and the choices are many, not to mention the size of the portions--an example is the third photo from the left on the top row. I have been going through their lunch specials and this one was their Chimichanga, one of the best I have ever had! Little by little, we have been coming here more often than going to Tequilla Sunrise as this is closer---right across from Winn-Dixie where we do our grocery shopping every Thursday not to mention just as good plus lower prices and a complimentary cup of soup which is WOW! Another new place we tried was Mario's Catalina Restaurant which primarily serves Cuban food. There was nothing wrong with the food or the service but neither was outstanding enough to make us want to come back and $20 per person for lunch is more than expected. Talking about restaurant prices if you haven't been to a restaurant in a year or so get ready for sticker shock as prices are almost double what they used to be! In many cases, the portions are smaller and you have to be careful of 'hidden' charges like if you are paying by credit card they will charge you the cost to the restaurant for your using the credit card or you will see a tip already added but called by another name or nothing is explaining what it is. The worst is when you see an '8% inflation' change or even a "Covid" charge! In the case of the Red Lobster, I hadn't been there in years, and after this trip, I won't go back again! The atmosphere is dreary, the service less than it should/could have been and the food a failure. I had the shrimp trio (see the second picture down on the right or the second picture from the left) served lukewarm which made the pasta and shrimp just a 'clump' of food. The only thing still good is the biscuits but $70 for lunch??? No thank you. I do have a friend (not naming names, Chuck) who seems to find it very funny that I like the Ruebans at Arby's but they are good! No, it isn't a New York Rueban but still a good-tasting meaty sandwich, and for $4 a good deal! It is at least a once-a-month stop--usually after the Friday movie! Have a few new places to try in March but Big Louie's, The Quarterdeck, Outback, among others are still on the list!