In laws: Cheap = Good

[Anonymous]

The thing about Red Lobster is that even though they suck, there's always a looooong wait for a table.

Not that the food is any better, but would they like the Phillip's seafood buffet? Maybe if it's all you can eat they would at least feel like they could get their money's worth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, check out restaurant.com. They have ridiculously low priced restaurant vouchers. Use the promo code "travel" and you can get a $25 certificate for just $3. Most of the restaurants on there suck, but occasionally I find a good one.

Or, perhaps a white lie is the way to go here. Even if you choose a place that you don't have a coupon for, tell them you do.

Restaurant.com is a good idea.

However, a white lie is not necessary to prevent a greater harm and therefore is morally indefensible. There are so many restaurant options that there is no need to lie.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the recs. For Baltimore, can someone throw out some places? I've only done Cross Street Market and Little Italy, both of which are pretty cool. I'll also check out the Silver Spring rec and restaurant.com. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Double digit entrees? As in, $10 and up? Alrighty then.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you can tell them someone gave DH a gift card for the restaurant. You don't have to say it was you who gave it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you can tell them someone gave DH a gift card for the restaurant. You don't have to say it was you who gave it!

This is sly and misleading. Why are people afraid to deal with parents and parents-in-law in a direct way? You, OP, are having to work too hard as a daughter-in-law just to take them out for a dinner. Just act like a grown-up and tell these people that (1) their restrictions on cost are not reasonable for restaurants in the DC area, and (2) your and your DH's preferences count for something, too. DH should be the one to communicate this to his parents and MANAGE them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you can tell them someone gave DH a gift card for the restaurant. You don't have to say it was you who gave it!

This is sly and misleading. Why are people afraid to deal with parents and parents-in-law in a direct way? You, OP, are having to work too hard as a daughter-in-law just to take them out for a dinner. Just act like a grown-up and tell these people that (1) their restrictions on cost are not reasonable for restaurants in the DC area, and (2) your and your DH's preferences count for something, too. DH should be the one to communicate this to his parents and MANAGE them.

Nice - complain about people not dealing with in-laws in a direct way, then, 3 sentences later, insist that your spouce deal with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you can tell them someone gave DH a gift card for the restaurant. You don't have to say it was you who gave it!

This is sly and misleading. Why are people afraid to deal with parents and parents-in-law in a direct way? You, OP, are having to work too hard as a daughter-in-law just to take them out for a dinner. Just act like a grown-up and tell these people that (1) their restrictions on cost are not reasonable for restaurants in the DC area, and (2) your and your DH's preferences count for something, too. DH should be the one to communicate this to his parents and MANAGE them.

Nice - complain about people not dealing with in-laws in a direct way, then, 3 sentences later, insist that your spouce deal with them.

This relationship originates with DH and his parents. This is their pattern of dealing with each other. OP has been triangulated by marriage. It is not OP's responsibility to mediate. Lots of DH's and DW's pass the responsibility for dealing with their parents to the spouse, and it does not work. Here, DH has primary responsibility. Look how hard OP is searching for a restaurant, doing all the work. I bet DH just sits back and lets OP deal with his parents. That's not right.

[Anonymous]

How about a Filet-O-Fish from McD's? Delicious!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I keep thinking: If cheap is what they want, give them cheap. Like not going out at all; just have a regular meal at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about a Filet-O-Fish from McD's? Delicious!

I actually do think this is delicious, but that's a topic for another thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Double digit entrees? As in, $10 and up? Alrighty then.

You're right. Grilled shrimp is so much better when you pay $18.95 for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about a Filet-O-Fish from McD's? Delicious!

I actually do think this is delicious, but that's a topic for another thread.

I think it fits in well here. It is seafood and very very cheap. The ILs should be thrilled!

[Anonymous]

Really want to have some fun with them? Take them to Mid Atlantic Seafood in Takoma Park. There's a groupon for it right now. Not cheap but not expensive and the neighborhood will tweak these oldsters in a comic manner.

[Anonymous]

search washingtonian.com restaurant finder by cuisine "seafood" and inexpensive.

and good luck; it seems like no matter what you do it might not be enough

friends from my hometown are always have sticker shock when it comes to restaurant prices; friends from college who live in NYC, are like wow, how cheap!