# Food you won't order in a restaurant because your version is better **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393 "2020-02-02T18:24:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/1 "2020-02-02T18:24:05Z")
When I go out to eat - think nice meal here, not something you just grab and go - there are certain items I won’t even consider. It’s not that I think I’m a great cook, but I don’t see the sense in ordering something I can make as well, or even better, than a restaurant. For example - meatloaf. It’s a pretty basic item, and I can’t imagine a spectacular meatloaf. Also mac-n-cheese. Yeah, you can put lobster in it, but that seems a waste of perfectly good lobster. Even spaghetti - it’s pasta with sauce. Nothing wrong with it, but it’s so basic as not to be special enough to warrant ordering it at a restaurant. Oddly enough, I’m OK ordering most breakfast foods, with the exception of cold cereal and milk - that doesn’t belong in a restaurant. Seriously! Am I alone in this? Are there things you would never consider paying someone else to prepare for you? ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/2 "2020-02-02T18:50:09Z")
I feel the same way about some of the things you’ve mentioned. Potato salad is pretty common where I live, and most of it is good, but mine’s better. Damn near perfect! Other things like iceberg lettuce in salads and long-grain rice in certain dishes don’t fly with me. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/3 "2020-02-02T19:08:57Z")
I can’t do much more “cooking” than grilling, but I’m pretty good at it. The one item that’s a no-brainer for me is steak. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/4 "2020-02-02T19:10:58Z")
If I order pasta in a restaurant it had better come with a duck ragu or a wild boar sauce that’d be too much of a pain in the ass to make at home. Schnitzel is easy to make, but who wants to clean up the mess on the stovetop? OTOH, I think a diner or coffee shop breakfast is one of the last inexpensive luxuries remaining to us. Omelette, hash browns, sausages, buttered rye toast, please. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/5 "2020-02-02T19:13:03Z")
Poached eggs. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/6 "2020-02-02T19:15:20Z")
I second the meatloaf. We ate at a Cheesecake Factory for the first time a week ago and I saw their “Famous Meatloaf” on the menu. I love meatloaf and had to try it. Bahh. Nothing special at all. It’s all meat, no nice bread crumbs or minced onion, celery, etc. Just a giant hamburg. I had to make my own a few days later. There are some very nice mac-n-cheeses out there although I never make it from scratch at home. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/7 "2020-02-02T19:16:28Z")
Because mine is better? Steak. Just because I make something better doesn’t mean I won’t ever order it. Say due to effort or size (I’m not going to make two servings of lasagna.) Or because it needs some inconvenient ingredient. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/8 "2020-02-02T19:22:45Z")
Steak. I can make a better steak at home than I’d get in 90% of the restaurants I find myself in. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/9 "2020-02-02T20:08:54Z")
White clam sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/10 "2020-02-02T20:14:31Z")
I always want the Chicken and Dumplings at Cracker Barrel. Mine is VERY good. So I wouldn’t order it. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/11 "2020-02-02T20:50:28Z")
Can’t say never. But unless it’s special occasion out with someone else, I probably won’t order prime rib again since I once made an amazing one that far surpassed anything I’ve ever had before. Other than that, I like trying restaurant food since it sometimes gives me good ideas/flavors to add to my home cooking. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/12 "2020-02-02T20:54:54Z")
how are all you people making steaks at home that taste better than restaurant steaks? Closest thing I can think of is spaghetti. I make my spaghetti by melting velveeta cubes in the sauce, using olive oil on the noodles and then dicing up garlic as a topping. Tastes better than any restaurant spaghetti. thats about it, I’m not much of a cook. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/13 "2020-02-02T20:56:45Z")
I make kick-ass macaroni and cheese, so I won’t order it from a restaurant. Some buffet versions aren’t half-bad, though, I admit. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/14 "2020-02-02T21:01:24Z")
Nothing. If I’m ordering something I or the wife can make better at home, it’s because I’M NOT HOME AND/OR CAN’T BE ARSED TO COOK! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/15 "2020-02-02T22:08:51Z")
Coffee. If it’s drinkable at all, they serve it with those damn Mini-Moos that don’t cool it off worth a damn. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/16 "2020-02-02T22:25:50Z")
I also avoid pasta at restaurants - it’s so easy and convenient to make at home that I probably eat it too often. I’ve probably passed on some great dishes. Lasagne is different however. A great lasagne is hard to find but I’m forever hunting for it. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/17 "2020-02-02T22:48:41Z")
Omelets. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/18 "2020-02-02T22:57:39Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > I also avoid pasta at restaurants - it’s so easy and convenient to make at home that I probably eat it too often. I’ve probably passed on some great dishes. Lasagne is different however. A great lasagne is hard to find but I’m forever hunting for it. Meanwhile, lasagna is something I prefer to make at home, as very few places around here really does it the way I like it (bolognese style with spinach sheets and a bechamel white layer; no ricotta). That said, there’s not really anything I won’t ever order in a restaurant. There’s certain things I won’t specifically go out for, but if a place is known for its meatloaf or steak or Hungarian goulash or whatnot, I’ll give it a try, even though I make versions of all those at home I’m more than happy with. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/19 "2020-02-02T22:59:52Z")
As others have said steak. Basic red sauce I can do WAY better than any restaurant but I’ll make the exception if it’s something that takes effort like veal parm or stuffed shells that I CAN do but I’m just to lazy to. Roasted chicken. REALLY? $25 to throw a $3 bird in the oven and not be stupid enough to fuck up a dead simple dish?! Fired chicken however I only eat out. Yes it’s not really difficult but it makes a mess I just don’t want to deal with - again, lazy. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393/20 "2020-02-02T23:17:09Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > As others have said steak. How is that possible? It’s almost certain you don’t have access to the same quality of meat as restaurants do. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-wont-order-in-a-restaurant-because-your-version-is-better/847393.md?page=2)