3 ms·

You can't serve something like that at a restaurant and make it in a plain way, because it's something that basically everyone can make at home for really cheap

You can't serve something like that at a restaurant and make it in a plain way, because it's something that basically everyone can make at home for really cheap. People are looking for an interesting take on something like that in a restaurant, which isn't going to fit what you want. That's a poor choice to judge a restaurant on. You need to base your judgement on things you can't or won't cook at home because it takes too much time, is too complicated, or uses ingredients that are difficult to get.

sidlls 6y ago
Sometimes people just want to go have a get-together including well-trod "comfort food" style means, but with someone else (the restaurant) doing the cooking and cleanup. I don't go to restaurants to be entertained by the food or "impressed" by the "creativity" of the chef, and I'd wager neither do most people.
- dylz 6y ago
  Then you're looking for the equivalent of a solid takeaway place, not somewhere where you go for the "experience" and "gastronomy"
  - ghaff 6y ago
    Or just about any diner.
  - sidlls 6y ago
    That’s just one aspect of a vibrant food culture. That is, access to multiple cuisines is a different discussion from how fancy the preparations are. There are plenty of “sit down” restaurants that aren’t fancy, but are more than “solid takeaway” that fit in this picture. And these are what most folks actually think of when they picture dining out.
tikhonj 6y ago
Well, you can't make something simple in a simple way unless you are both really confident and really good :). In a sign of the crazy times we live in, Chez Panisse has started doing takeout. First time I tried it, I got a BLT sandwich. Exactly what it says on the tin: bacon, lettuce, tomato, no weird spices or creative takes or deconstruction. Just a stock BLT sandwich—except better in every way. I'm not even sure how. I would not have thought there was that much room to improve on a BLT through better ingredients and execution, but apparently there is. Anyway, if you're in Berkeley, I would highly recommend giving it a try.

sidlls 6y ago

Sometimes people just want to go have a get-together including well-trod "comfort food" style means, but with someone else (the restaurant) doing the cooking and cleanup. I don't go to restaurants to be entertained by the food or "impressed" by the "creativity" of the chef, and I'd wager neither do most people.

dylz 6y ago
Then you're looking for the equivalent of a solid takeaway place, not somewhere where you go for the "experience" and "gastronomy"
- ghaff 6y ago
  Or just about any diner.
- sidlls 6y ago
  That’s just one aspect of a vibrant food culture. That is, access to multiple cuisines is a different discussion from how fancy the preparations are. There are plenty of “sit down” restaurants that aren’t fancy, but are more than “solid takeaway” that fit in this picture. And these are what most folks actually think of when they picture dining out.

tikhonj 6y ago

Well, you can't make something simple in a simple way unless you are both really confident and really good :). In a sign of the crazy times we live in, Chez Panisse has started doing takeout. First time I tried it, I got a BLT sandwich. Exactly what it says on the tin: bacon, lettuce, tomato, no weird spices or creative takes or deconstruction. Just a stock BLT sandwich—except better in every way. I'm not even sure how. I would not have thought there was that much room to improve on a BLT through better ingredients and execution, but apparently there is. Anyway, if you're in Berkeley, I would highly recommend giving it a try.