Growing up my parents would never really take us for meals out (me, my sister and brother). They just saw it as an unecessary expense. There was literally one time we went out as a family for my mum's birthday and i still remember it so fondly to this day for that reason. And I also think it's why I enjoy eating so much now, because we didn't really do it growing up.

Heh, speaking of holidays. No I haven't been on one in a very long time. When I was 14 in 1995 was my last holiday. Haven't even been abroad do have a passport though. Renewed it a few months ago.

that`s the monosodium glutamate.

I hate that the most about fast food. It is why I rarely take it. Chinese is the only thing I'll take once or twice a year.

same here, it was maybe once every 2 months. So every week seems pretty luxury expending.

From what I've read so many seem to go on holidays 4 - 6 times a year. Another expensive luxury but they brag about it.

As for work, going or invited to meals out wasn't happening unless promotions or Christmas time. It certainly was never like the way people seem to describe it like it is a regular occurence. Plus it wasn't as simple as that. If they couldn't get enough employees to agree for a night out or others didn't have free time it didn't happen.

Roughly once or twice a week--and that's a lot for me; paltry for my husband who loves fine dining & would happily go out every night.

When I had a bonafide career, it meant entertaining clients--sometimes breakfast, lunch & dinner. Had my fill.

I live near a large city, so there are also plenty of down & dirty joints to try which I prefer many times.

BTW, I've enjoyed reading these responses!

I can think of few things more boring than sitting down in a restaurant, then waiting up to half an hour to be served a meal which only really saves doing the washing up.

Perhaps part of the blame is due to the school I went to. We all sat round hexagonal tables and the forks would fly in from all directions. The best tactic was to ignore your own plate and nick as much as possible from other people's. You then had to cram it all into your mouth like a hamster and eat it as quickly as possible to be ready to beg in case there were seconds available. I even eat my Christmas dinner in about five minutes, so I get really bored waiting for everyone else and can't wait to leave the table.

I enjoy the taste of good food, but can do without the time-wasting ritual that some people seem to expect as part of the package. I'd much rather get it over with and be doing something else more exciting.

Cheap chinese restaurants and most takeaway outlets use vast quantities of salt and MSG which makes you ridiculously thirsty.

How many people are aware of the thirst though? Compared to their day to day meals they might not even notice...

But the waiting is one of the best bits, it gives me time to actually sit and talk with my partner without either of us being distracted by TV, Iphones, chores

However there can be too much of a good thing, went to a New Year's Eve thing last year, arrived at 8-ish to make sure we got a decent table...etc. by the approach of Midnight we'd exhausted conversation

I've never ever heard someone describe the time it takes for your food to arrive as a 'time-wasting ritual'.

About once a week.

One year when we didn't have time to go on holiday, we stayed at home and ate out at a series of nice restaurants every night for a week. That was fun, though I was craving a basic spag bol by the end of the week.

I eat out for lunch almost every day, either for business or my golf club.

We go out for an evening meal about 3 or 4 times a month with our circle of friends (never chains, mostly local independent restaurants or pubs) and we sometimes do breakfast at the weekend.

I really should cut down.

I have two of toast in the cafe, does that count, sometimes I have beans on it ?

I found this hard to work out, as it's not consistent throughout the year. When we go on holiday, we eat out most nights. At home, we have dinner out more in the summer than we do in the winter. But then I quite often have lunch out in winter: I crave hot food in cold weather and work out in the community so it's the only way I can get something hot.

I suppose it probably works out at around once a week if it's averaged out.

i think those two statements contradict each other.

No offence but doesn't this say more about your personality or that of your friends? It's not a restaurants fault if you get bored when with friends. I had a ten course taster menu recently and we were at the restaurant for nearly 4 hours. The time flew and we were never short of conversation. The amazing food itself inspired a lot of conversation, we were still talking about the food in the pub afterwards.

About once a month in a restaurant or pub. Never in anywhere like McDonald's.

If it includes lunch, several times a month.
If it's just dinner, maybe once or twice a month.

We eat out about once every two weeks. Usually with friends. We tend to make a meal last about 2 hours, as we love conversation, which is lost on many people these days. We do try to avoid establishments like McDonald's.