How much do you usually spend for dinner for two?

[Robin Garr]

For some reason, we've never really gotten into the habit of using the forum's poll feature. I thought it might be fun to start giving it a workout, so for a start, let's take a quick economic snapshot of the Louisville "foodie" by confessing how much we generally spend when we go out to dinner.

To keep things reasonably calibrated, please assume that we're talking about dinner for two at a sit-down restaurant, including wine, tax, tip and any other associated expense: Your total, estimated tab at the end of a typical evening. (Of course individual meals will vary widely, depending on whether you're dining at Jeff Ruby's or Vietnam Kitchen, but please just pick an average. Ballpark figures are fine, and don't worry, the poll is anonymous ... no one, even the administrators, will know how you voted.

Further comments and discussion about dining prices are welcome. Just post a reply to this topic in the usual way.

It's tough to get a good meal and a bottle of wine and get out for less than $100. At Jeff Ruby's it's tough to get out for less than $250 no matter what.

Robin,

My usually strong techie skills seem to have deserted me: How do you respond to the poll?? All I get from "post Reply" is the standard posting screen and I'm not seeing a Respond to poll area....

Deb

Okay, I just figured it out. If you access the thread before logging in, all you get is the results of the poll thus far and the thread. now that I've logged in, I see a different screen, and can submit my vote.

[Robin Garr]

It's tough to get a good meal and a bottle of wine and get out for less than $100.

I definitely agree, as far as the "upscale" places on Frankfort and Bardstown and downtown are concerned, but note that a couple who mostly dine ethnic or at local pubs wouldn't agree. It'll be interesting to see how the poll shakes out after a few days.

I agree with that, but for some reason I don't view dinner at VK or somewhere similar the same as "a dinner out for two", which I envision more as an evening out for my wife and I. If we include the whole spectrum then I really can't pick a single category. I am as likely to go get fish tacos and a beer as I am to have three courses and wine at Seviche.

Difficult question to answer. We go to top tier places (Equus, Ferds, Volare, Saffron, Mayan Cafe, August Moon, etc) about once a month. The bill including tip is usually about 100.00. However there is never a bottle of wine. Maybe a glass of wine (Sandy) and a beer (Steve). A dessert for Sandy and sometimes an after dinner drink (Steve).

Other sit down places .. Dinner is Done .. Los Aztecs .. Heroes .. Flabbys .. seldom exceed 25.00. We go to these places once or twice a week.

Almost never any kind of fast food.

It's tough to get a good meal and a bottle of wine and get out for less than $100. At Jeff Ruby's it's tough to get out for less than $250 no matter what.

Discounting the bottle of wine, I believe you can get an excellent meal for a whole lot less then 100.00. I know you are talking about upscale restaurants that have fancy decor and fantastic plating and great service.

Flabbys, Kerns Corner, Dinner is Done, Mike Linnings, and many others supply great and consistent food and almost never disappoint. Often as good or better than the "top tier restaurants".

That's why answering this poll question is almost impossible.

It's tough to get a good meal and a bottle of wine and get out for less than $100. At Jeff Ruby's it's tough to get out for less than $250 no matter what.

Discounting the bottle of wine, I believe you can get an excellent meal for a whole lot less then 100.00. I know you are talking about upscale restaurants that have fancy decor and fantastic plating and great service.

Flabbys, Kerns Corner, Dinner is Done, Mike Linnings, and many others supply great and consistent food and almost never disappoint. Often as good or better than the "top tier restaurants".

That's why answering this poll question is almost impossible.

Not only do I agree with you, but I made the exact same point. I guess I just didn't think that Robin was referring to when we run up to the corner for tacos or a pizza, but do the whole evening out for dinner thing. I would guess that the former occurs 3 nights a week, while the latter is a once a week thing. The other three nights we like to stay home and cook.

As I generally don't drink and my wife is only marginally likely too, I had to completely discount the bottle of wine provision. That and I probably have a much different idea about the general dinner out for two, as opposed to the special occasion dinner out.

[Robin Garr]

As I generally don't drink and my wife is only marginally likely too, I had to completely discount the bottle of wine provision. That and I probably have a much different idea about the general dinner out for two, as opposed to the special occasion dinner out.

A couple of you have mentioned similar concerns, and since we haven't done many of these built-in forum polls, I suppose I should address this and like considerations with simple advice: Don't worry about it.

These polls are not the least scientific. They serve only as fun conversation-starters. If we will all answer, each in our own way, with the selection that best fits our personal situation, speaking of a "typical" meal and aiming at the ballpark, the results will be interesting. They make no pretense at scientific or intellectual rigor ...

some of us dont drink at all.

Generally speaking, on average, if it's just a casual dinner out, nothing special and we stick to a couple glasses each maybe of reasonably-priced wines, we're in that middlin' 50-99 dollar range. If we're out for something special, or if we're trying out one of the more expensive restaurants either together or with friends, we spend considerably more, along the lines of your top range there what with some pricier wines and a Port maybe or a liqueur.

[Robin Garr]

some of us dont drink at all.

Understood, Mike. That's your business, and no one here will criticize you for it.

You can still answer the question, though, in terms of what you spend as your total tab at the end of an average dinner.

We go to top tier places (Equus, Ferds, Volare, Saffron, Mayan Cafe, August Moon, etc) about once a month.

aside from Equus, and to a slightly lesser extent Volare;
i'm i the only one who doesn't think the other restaurants listed even hit close to 'top tier' (i'm talking the whole package).

Don't get me wrong, i love August Moon and loved the Mayan Gypsy (haven't been to the cafe yet), but i wouldn't ever consider any of these 'top tier' destinations...

in fact, i'd venture to say the owners of such places wouldn't either.




...here's two pennies.

Great topic!!!!! For my wife and I, when we dine out it really just depends on what time of day it is (Lunch vs Dinner) and what we are looking for as far as the "dining experience" .
I can have a great lunch at "Steak and Shake" and really pig out for less than $20.

But on the other hand, I could drop a couple of Bennies at the same time...

When I have the opportunty(which are few and far between) to dine out at one of our City's better establishments, I have no problem letting the cash flow for a great meal...

Not to be taken for granted, I have "Chef Statis" at a number of places and I know a number of people who will treat me like a "Rock Star" whenever I'm dining at certain establishments.(Chefs enjoy feeding other Chefs).

But I always tip on the gratis "treats" that I may receive so it usually works out to the same tariff as what any other person would pay!