In Defense of Cheap Dining

I enjoy fine dining at a fancy restaurant once in a while. White linen tablecloth, candlelight, a waiter to add a dash of pepper to your meal and scrape up your crumbs when you're done. Very romantic. But, I have a hard time enjoying a twenty dollar plate of pasta when I know I can make the same dish a lot cheaper at home.

I guess I'm just a pedestrian pig but I like eating cheap food. Fast food joints, chain restaurants and buffets. Am I the only one who thinks Taco Bell isn't a bad place to get decent Mexican food? And talk about cheap! And who can't find something they like on the menu of the local Chili's or Applebee's? Olive Garden? Fuggedaboutit!

The best deal is a good Chinese Buffet. While fine dining snobs are paying ten dollars for Shrimp Cocktail or twenty-five dollars for Fried Shrimp, I'm gorging myself on all-you-can-eat Shrimp in about three or four different styles. Granted, they're smaller but that only means you can eat more!

I know the atmosphere in these places leaves something to be desired. They are often like noisy warehouses and you'll never catch a guy playing a violin at White Castle. And you won't be able to impress your friends when you tell them you just ate at the new Pizza Hut that opened up down the street.. But your tummy will be happy! And when it comes down to it, isn't that what it's all about?