We Indians are watchful about getting the best value for our every rupee. This applies to eating out as well. In fact there are several unwritten rules that we Indians have created for when eating out. Check out some of these observations about Indians eating out and see if you agree:
One by two
Soup is always, always, one by two (you get more that way). And dry starters? To be eaten without bread/rice/roti? No! We’d have to call for more dishes. Perish the thought!
The shared sizzler!
One may think it is difficult to share that sizzler but we manage quite well. We make perfect portions of the paneer steak, the fries and ensure that each one gets equal amounts of the blasted broccoli as well.
Fine dining? Hah!
Most of us have utter contempt for fine dining restaurants. We believe these places are created to rip us off; are excuses to offer tiny portions of unpronounceable dishes with unheard of ingredients.
All you can eat? Now THAT’s fine dining
If we’re going to spend a lot of money we may has well starve for a couple of days and then go to Barbecue Nation and then eat so much that you need an ambulance to take you home.
Chopsticks
“No I don’t know how to use chopsticks but I’d like a pair anyway”. They are now used to secure a juda, as a stirrer for a homemade cocktail, for homemade kulfi, for various children’s art projects and to get at toast that gets stuck in the toaster.
No dessert!
What! Rs 150 for a slice of vanilla ice cream! Never! We’ll just get those buy-one-get-one free vanilla packs from the ice cream cart on the way home for that exact same amount, thank you very much.
The doggie bag
If there is food left over on the table, it has to be packed to go. No dog is going to be allowed near the bag named after it; this is lunch for tomorrow. Wasting food in a restaurant? That is just something Americans do in Hollywood movies.
The 5 PM pizza
The choco-lava cake is free with this pizza. The medium pizza costs Rs 45 less if you order that large pizza. Not only will we spend hours poring over that extremely complex pizza delivery menu, we will ensure that we place the order at an absurd, non-meal time to get the best deal. Take that, overpriced, stingy-with-the-chicken Dominos and PHD!
