In laws: Cheap = Good

[Anonymous]

So my in-laws are coming and we always go out to dinner the night before Thanksgiving and they always complain about the price. We're picking pretty inexpensive things like TwoAmys/Roscoe's or Mexican - maybe once we did Old Ebbitt, which they liked but thought it was outrageously priced. We have come to the conclusion that with them cheap = good. They want seafood and a nice sit-down place but want to pay seafood market prices - even though we always pay. I don't want to hear them complain, its like nails on a chalkboard to me. Where can we take them for decent local seafood that isn't expensive - or just good local food with a crab cake/other fish dishes on the menu. Any recs in the city or within a 20 minute drive of the city. TIA.

[Anonymous]

Legal Seafoods at Verizon Center? http://www.legalseafoods.com/restaurants/washington-dc-7th-street The crab cake is 16.50 as a lunch entree and 14.95 as an appetizer at dinner.

If that's still expensive - how about softshell crabs and oyster sandwiches at the Market Lunch in eastern Market? Not quite a sit down place but might be cheap enough to suit them.

[Anonymous]

I thought about Legals. Market Lunch isnt open for dinner but its a good pick. Thank you PP.

[Anonymous]

Ollie's Trolley has a surprisingly good crabcake sandwich.

[Anonymous]

Clyde's has a great crabcake and it's not that expensive.

[Anonymous]

Sounds to me like you need to think Red Lobster with a coupon.

My ILs were the same way. Where they live, prices are a lot lower (more mom-and-pop restaurants) and they think double-digit entrees are a rip off. Which, frankly, they are.

Why not order in a pizza and call it day? Sounds like the whole dinner out thing isn't really working.

[Anonymous]

LOL, only in DC are Clydes, legal seafood, considered NOT expensive.

[Anonymous]

What about long john silvers? LOL Actually a decent priced place with seafood is the great american restaurants example coastal flat.

[Anonymous]

How about Tackle Box in Georgetown or Cleveland Park? Very tasty and well priced.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Red Lobster poster is correct. I dont think I can win either way so the pizza poster may be the way to go. They don't walk either so we basically have to drop them off at the front door - these people are so difficult to please. DH doesnt understand why I would rather have Friends-giving.

[Anonymous]

Chadwicks in Friendship Heights

[Anonymous]

Take them to a place you like. A smaller place, maybe Blacksalt. Before you go, call an explain the problem. They may be able to help you by remove the prices from the menu or have the waiter just describe the dish with no prices. Then the bill goes to you...they will not see the bill or the "high" prices and you can eat where you want.

[Anonymous]

Legal Seafood is crap.

[Anonymous]

First of all.....you sound like amazing parents!

I would go to a lovely place that has menu's without prices. Many restaurants have these and they are typically given to ladies, when they're male host wants them to pick whatever they want, regardless of price. Seriously, this does exits. Call around.

[Anonymous]

Red Lobster PP here.

Blank menus will only make it WORSE. Trust me. I took MIL to Nora years ago, and she assumed no prices meant there wasn't enough room for all the zeros.

Red Lobster. They'll love it.