4 hours ago, Maison Rustique said:I have started going to Olive Garden every month or so. Not my favorite place but if I go around 4 pm, it is quiet. I sit at the bar, order a glass of wine and then order a meal with soup and one of their $6 entrees to take home and bake--all to go. Then I have at least 5 or 6 meals (I pop the soup and extra entree into the freezer) that are easy and hot and I don't have to cook. For $30 or thereabouts, I've got lots of food and got to sit somewhere besides my house with a glass of wine.
I used to do that, go out for a meal by myself at a place that was comfortable. Since Sweetie passed, I've not done that once, although I have thought about it. I'm unsure about why the change has taken place. I've only gone out to eat with friends. I have, however, gone to a couple of drive-thrus as there's a good Mexican place that opened a take-out place that's near me, and there's the coupon-centric Burger King, but for the most part I cook and eat at home.
There used to be an Olive Garden near me, and I went there a couple-three times before it closed. I never quite understood the bad rap that the place got. Sure, it wasn't a high end place, but I liked it, and I'll say this, it was a comfortable place to eat. And when dining alone, that comfortable feeling is important.
Here's to Olive Garden (hoisting a glass of mediocre Chardonnay) 
