[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Again - so what? Why is it harmful to YOU, who wouldn't eat there anyway, that some people want to go OUT to eat, and can't afford the high-end restaurants like the ones you specified in your post? If someone doesn't want to cook at home, and wants to go OUT to eat, and can't afford a fancy high-end restaurant, Applebee's is an option. Even if it's microwaved. I mean, I microwave my "baked" potatoes and corn on the cob and they come out better anyway. But I don't want to clean up or do any of the prep work. I just want to sit down and have everyone else do all the work for me once in awhile. That's why people dine OUT. So that they don't have to do the work themselves.

It's also a good reason to get out of the house. You go to Applebee's or World of Beer or whatever else is in the area, and enjoy the evening with free music in the town square. You make a night of it, at a reasonable expense if you're on a budget.

People who have lots of money might not appreciate that. But people with lots of money are able to go to their Waldorf-Astoria steakhouse. If you meant there were better places at similar prices elsewhere, you wouldn't have selected THAT as your example.

Us plebes like dining out too, in a restaurant atmosphere with waiter service. For us, places like Applebees are an affordable option.

Enjoy your $65 filet mignon and $13 french fries on the side at the Bull and Bear. I'll pay $25 for a cheeseburger, fries, and tip, and a drink, and be able to afford to do it twice right across the street from my house, and get free dancing and live music at the same time.

Lots of restaurants actually cook the food they serve to you. Why go to a restaurant that just reheats food that others cooked?

Do not have to buy a $ 65 steak to get food cooked to order.