…which one would you choose? The premise is that all your meals will be paid for, but you have to eat there, and there only. Also, the restaurant has to be within twenty miles of your residence. You may expand that radius only if there are no restaurants in that area.
I’d go with a diner that’s about 5 miles away. It’s not the best food in the area, but enough variety I wouldn’t go nuts from eating the same stuff day in day out.
I’m going to go with tapas. Specifically, I don’t know, let’s go with Estadio in Logan Circle, just because it’s the one I’ve been to most recently. Small plates, tons of variety, charcuterie, fancy cheeses, paella, it might take decades before I tired of it.
It’s a different question. In yours, one restaurant is free, but you can choose to pay to eat elsewhere. Here, you are required to eat at one place and no others.
My first inclination would be a Cheesecake Factory. They have an enormous menu so I wouldn’t be too worried about getting bored of the food. Although it would be quite a drive, because even though they’re within the 20 miles specified by OP, it would still be a 30-40 minute drive from my house.
If I was going to go much closer I might pick Waffle House. Still a pretty good variety plus they have breakfast. A bit low on veggies, but presumably I am only required to eat there when I’m not eating at home.
EDIT: some of the local buffets would also be a good choice for variety.
I know, I’m just busting czarcasm for the fun of it. 
There’s a Red Robin a couple of miles away, close enough for the handcycle 3 times a day.The only other choices are chain restaurants like Applebee’s/Sizzler/Chili’s and various fast foods.
And for that, you get Taco Bell for the rest of your life. 
I would choose the Portland City Grill. I’ve eaten in many cities and towns, but never better than at the PCG, and the menu changes regularly.
And the view is to die for.
Excellent! Now I can eat and crap at the same time without worrying about all that pesky ‘digesting’ and stuff - what a time saver.
Not much of a threat.
Eventually, all restaurants will be Taco Bell anyway.
“Why is that strikingly handsome man eating a sandwich in the ruins of that building?”
“That’s just Waldo; ten years ago, he chose a restaurant that went out of business.”
Is said restaurant my ONLY source of food? ie: Can I still cook at home?
There’s a place not far from me called Black Bear Diner. It’s like Denny’s but not open super late and with a slightly smaller menu. Decent enough variety that I probably wouldn’t go stark raving nuts from the repetition for a month or two, and it’s the kind of place where I suspect once they realize I’m a *very *regular customer, they’d be willing to make things for me if I bring in Mom’s cookbook, and even happily accommodate things like “My birthday’s coming up…can I get a lobster and shrimp scampi next Tuesday?”
Chef Brian comes up with daily specials that are amazing. It would be suicide, but I’d go with a smile on my face.
Easy choice. A new Cajun food cart opened about four blocks away. It’s authentic and delicious, offering both po’boys and the usual New Orleans fare, including beignets.
- Yes, it will be the only source of food.
- No, you have to eat off of the menu, same as all the other customers.
Local place, Blue Star Cafe. American diner food but done with quality and a large variety of ingredients and variations. Heck, just with the build-your-own-omelet selections I could stay happy indefinitely.
Cracker Barrel. Can get breakfast, fish, pork chops, mashed potatoes, green beans, sandwiches.
I would choose a restaurant in the French countryside.
Nobody ever says “French food!” when asked about their favorite ethnic cuisine, but the French do EVERYTHING well and have always sought out the freshest, in-season food. I would never get tired of it.
Aaaaaaaand I see it has to be within 20 miles of my house. Crap. Okay, a really good Greek diner. Hundreds of dishes to choose from – omelettes to burgers to tuna salad to steaks and chops – and they try their best at Italian, Mexican, and other popular cuisines.
Denny’s, for sure. Their menu is huge.
Red Robin is a good choice, but they don’t have breakfast and I might die from never-ending fries.
Both of them are kind of a bitch to get to, though, even though they’re just 12 miles away. If I had to pick something in my neighborhood I guess Panera. I can see myself living off bagels and sandwiches forever.
Funny, my first thought was La Sardine or Maude’s, both in the west loop in Chicago and within 20 mile too