What would you order?
You're at a restaurant you've never been to before and there's one menu item that is one of your favorites that you don't get very often (and you've had it done both good and bad, so this isn't a sure thing), and another item that you've never had, but it sounds good as it's described on the menu(maybe it's something you heard of, or maybe it's this restaurant's creation).
Which would you choose?
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23 Comments:
The new one!
sadiepix at 2:04AM on 07/23/08
yep, the new one! there's nothing worse than an old favorite done wrong...
cowprintrabbit at 2:50AM on 07/23/08
I make my Husband order the old one and I get the new one and then I get to see both.
JerzeeTomato at 7:00AM on 07/23/08
I almost always order crab cakes or lobster at a new restaurant, hoping for a miracle. Occasionally, they are superb. If I had a inkling that this might be the case, I'd go for one of those favorites. If it's not that kind of restaurant, I'd try something new and different and hope for the best.
PerkyMac at 7:26AM on 07/23/08
i usually ask the server if the chef/cook has any specialties and/or what theirfavorite dish is. either that or i check to see if there is anything similar in the appetizer section and just order 2 appetizers instead of an entree.
huneybumper at 7:43AM on 07/23/08
@Perky: That's so funny about crabcakes. I've been let down TOO many times, I'm jaded beyond considering a miracle. Depending on what part of the country I'm in and type of restaurant, I'll ask someone what the ingredients are -- if it has celery, onions, and peppers in it, I'm not ordering it because I know that's all I'll be tasting. So, yeah, the last time I've had crabcakes was ~8 years ago in Baltimore. They were wonderful.
New restaurant but same cuisine as ones I've had many times before? I'd try the one that I've had many times so I can gauge whether I want to return. It's usually one of the simplest dishes on the menu.
Now if it wins me over and there's a 2nd time, I'd order one of the chef/house special dishes.
Cassaendra at 7:52AM on 07/23/08
i would have to order something i've never tried before....i can't resist trying anything new !!!
onepercent99 at 8:02AM on 07/23/08
Definitely the new item, for the same reason mentioned by cowprintrabbit.
Kerosena at 9:16AM on 07/23/08
I don't have very good luck ordering in restaurants, I seem to have a black cloud that follows me out to dinner, there always seems to be something wrong with my order, no matter how simple it is. It's become almost humorous...
so to answer your question, I'd likely not order something new, I'm not very adventurous when it comes to food, my palate has pretty much remained the same for many years (picky is a word that comes to mind) so I'd probably just go with ole reliable that I'm familiar with... which would probably end up wrong somehow anyway, following the pattern. :P
I'd definitely try to get my husband to order the new/never had item though, his luck is much better with meals than mine.
Southern_bella at 9:22AM on 07/23/08
Hands down: new dish. I'm the same as onepercent99..:)
Butrflygirly at 9:24AM on 07/23/08
The new dish every time! I always try to order the most distinct thing on the menu :)
bitchincamero at 9:37AM on 07/23/08
I would order the one with seafood in it.
renzata at 9:50AM on 07/23/08
I would order the one I have never had before just to try new htings. Who knows mabey its your next favorite thing to order!
cooked7 at 9:54AM on 07/23/08
@Southern_bella: I wouldn't feel too badly about ordering the same dish. :) I consider myself an extremely adventerous diner, and I'm with you there on ordering what you know. When we enter a new restaurant, they have to live up to my standards or I won't bother returning.
My test is to see if they mess up something very simple. Of course, if the service is poor we'll walk right out, tell everyone about how lousy the place is, and not return. If they screw up a simple dish, we won't return. My philosophy is that if they can't do something basic right, how can they do anything else right? I'm particularly strict with Japanese food (for obvious reasons).
My husband is the one with the extreme bad luck, especially at Korean restaurants. I can order a random menu item and always get something good, cheaper, arranged beautifully, and a larger portion (usually 3 meals worth), but he'll order something and it'll cost more, turn out bland, and he'll get a very small serving. :P
Cassaendra at 10:18AM on 07/23/08
This very question epitomizes exactly why I'm indecisive at restaurants. New things always sound intriguing but I never know if they're going to be good or not. Plus, I really have a craving for that good old standby that I know will satisfy me...but I want to try something new...but I don't...but, but but aaah!! This happens every time.
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 10:30AM on 07/23/08
I would definitely go for a new item. In fact, I always wait to hear about specials before I make my mind about my order. Since I usually order two appetizers for dinner (having realised a long while ago that try as I may, I wouldn't be able to eat more), whatever I order is never huge and/or becomes my entire meal anyway, so I have a rather open mind. I wrote on another thread that I recently ordered a chilled cantaloupe soup with lobster, even though I would never eat a piece of cantaloupe (or any other melon, for that matter). The soup was sublime, and I was giddy like a schoolgirl because I liked it so much:-)
brooke29 at 10:49AM on 07/23/08
The new one! Hooray for trying new foods!
hungrychristel at 1:35PM on 07/23/08
That's a tough one -- sometimes you do want the comfort of an old favorite, especially if you don't make it yourself and don't get a chance to order it very often.
But in most instances, I'd have to agree with everyone who said the new one. Be bold!
suthungirl at 2:10PM on 07/23/08
The new one. You'll never find another sure thing unless you try it.
dakotarose at 3:01PM on 07/23/08
My SIL always has a hair in her food or something gross but i am usually lucky and i like to try new things as long as it has things i like in it. i am bad at trying something i have never heard of, but i have had some exotic meats.
http://organicandnaturalmom.blogspot.com/
love2cook at 4:41PM on 07/23/08
Definitely the new one!
izatryt at 5:10PM on 07/23/08
@love2cook: hairs here too, plastic, box staples, metal, labels from the bag they opened when making their "home made (insert item they claim is homemade but comes out of a bag)"... fingernail clippings (could have been toenail, who knows)...etc.
Southern_bella at 6:49PM on 07/23/08
Oh yeah, finding stuff in my food - been there. I cracked my tooth and had to have it extracted because a bolt was in my food. I never reported it to the restaurant because I couldn't prove it. Anyone can bring a bolt and throw it in their food.
Cassaendra at 8:04PM on 07/23/08