Restaurant Nightlife

We all have our favorite restaurants, and favorite menu items.  While it’s in most peoples’ nature to stick to what they know when dining out, trying something new once in a while can really expand your horizons.  One of my best dining out experiences was when I tried something besides Pad Thai, all I had ever ordered previously, at my favorite Asian restaurant.  Instead, I went for an Indian dish called Aloo Gobi which featured tender potatoes seasoned with turmeric and other spices, peas, tomatoes, and garam masala.  It was delightful in every way and replaced Pad Thai as my favorite meal in that restaurant.  I had a good experience.

I would say that most of the time, if you venture off the beaten path and try something new in a restaurant you already know and trust, you have a very good chance of having a rewarding experience yourself.  Still, what happens if your greatest fears materialize:  you order something new and different, and instead of falling in love with it, you are terribly disappointed — or worse, you suffer a more comprehensive and systemic condition known as Restaurant Remorse.  This condition is far more debilitating than simple disappointment.  With disappointment, you can often muddle through your meal and at least still leave full and content, if not happy.

But when you have Restaurant Remorse, you often cannot even eat your food.  You find yourself in the awkward situation of not wanting to insult the chef or cook, and yet try as you might, you just can’t bring yourself to swallow any of the food on your plate.  You even want to retreat and order your old standby, but again:  how not to offend your waitstaff and the cook?  Sadly, you begin dreaming of what leftovers might be at home, or maybe even stopping for a burger on your way there after this fail of an evening out.

Just remember, anytime you decide to try something new, it’s a good idea not to be extremely hungry when you do so.  If you are genuinely hungry, plan to order something you know that you enjoy and will eat.  If you are not all that hungry, be adventurous and try something a little off the beaten path.  Only two things can happen after all:  you’ll find something new to love, or you’ll be a little let down.  Just don’t let it stop you from ever taking those risks that can lead to better life with more variety.