@mystery2me wrote:

I did a McAllister's Deli shop, having never eaten there before, and was impressed enough that I now eat there occasionally when traveling. Yes, I know, it's not exactly fine dining, but it's a step up from fast food and is something different at not too high a price.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

@Dino29

I don't expect my wife to remember details. .

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

@mystery2me wrote:

I did a McAllister's Deli shop, having never eaten there before, and was impressed enough that I now eat there occasionally when traveling. Yes, I know, it's not exactly fine dining, but it's a step up from fast food and is something different at not too high a price.

I love McAlister's

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

@retrodaddy

funny you mention Pollo Campero. There are quite a few in SoCal. I would do the shops when I lived there.

@Sandyf likes them too.

I would not pay their outrageous prices with my own dime though. The food is great, bu the prices are absurd in my opinion. El Pollo Loco has better deals, but the chicken from Pollo Campero is better and they have unique sides like Plantains and Yuca fries.

But they serve Pepsi products, so it makes me question their overall judgement. People can like Pepsi. But it is known fact, Pepsi is an inferior product to Coca-Cola and priced like it's inferior. Places want to be cheap serve Pepsi. That is why Costco left Coca-Cola more than a decade ago. Coca-Cola wouldn't budge on price, so Costco gave them the boot. I guess Coke wants back in and met Costco's demands and the food courts are switching back.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

@retrodaddy

funny you mention Pollo Campero. There are quite a few in SoCal. I would do the shops when I lived there.

@Sandyf likes them too.

I would not pay their outrageous prices with my own dime though. The food is great, bu the prices are absurd in my opinion. El Pollo Loco has better deals, but the chicken from Pollo Campero is better and they have unique sides like Plantains and Yuca fries.

But they serve Pepsi products, so it makes me question their overall judgement. People can like Pepsi. But it is known fact, Pepsi is an inferior product to Coca-Cola and priced like it's inferior. Places want to be cheap serve Pepsi. That is why Costco left Coca-Cola more than a decade ago. Coca-Cola wouldn't budge on price, so Costco gave them the boot. I guess Coke wants back in and met Costco's demands and the food courts are switching back.

@mystery2me wrote:

I did a McAllister's Deli shop, having never eaten there before, and was impressed enough that I now eat there occasionally when traveling.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I'm all about the deals like my buddy WB. I exploit deals to the maximum. I have multiple rewards accounts and when people leave receipts where places have rewards points, I will scoop them up and apply them to my accounts and earn rewards faster. I have been known to offer extra $ to servers for receipts from other tables that did not use rewards. I had one server bring me $200 in receipts one visit which was $20 in rewards and I gave him $10 for it. Figured I would grease the hands that took care of me to keep them coming on future visits.

It's alot easier when people bring you the receipts than having to scour for them or walk around the restaurant snapping pics of receipts laying on the tables.

Pre-covid...there was a group from us that would eat out every day at lunch. It was a fight to see who could get whatever loose receipts were laying around. One guy would go into the trash at chipotle and go past the elbow. I had the George Costanza "eclair rule" that hit had to be "hovering."

[www.youtube.com]

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

@Dino29

I am curious how you mess up a TXRH shop. Those are one of the easiest ones. I don't expect my wife to remember details. I just text her phone with important things like timings and descriptions. Occasionally she will text me a name if she was able to see it and I wasn't.

I get not wanting to risk it on a fancy dining shop where they want a "war and peace" novel of all the things that took place.

@maverick1 wrote:

I learn from the masters when eating at restaurants on my own dime...

"According to multiple news and finance sites, Warren Buffett, despite his immense wealth, is known for using coupons, even when treating others to meals. One notable instance, recounted by Bill Gates, involved Buffett paying for a McDonald's lunch in Hong Kong with coupons, according to Yahoo Finance. This story highlights his frugal nature and appreciation for a good deal, even when not necessary for his personal finances."
[www.nasdaq.com]

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I'm all about the deals like my buddy WB. I exploit deals to the maximum. I have multiple rewards accounts and when people leave receipts where places have rewards points, I will scoop them up and apply them to my accounts and earn rewards faster. I have been known to offer extra $ to servers for receipts from other tables that did not use rewards. I had one server bring me $200 in receipts one visit which was $20 in rewards and I gave him $10 for it. Figured I would grease the hands that took care of me to keep them coming on future visits.

It's alot easier when people bring you the receipts than having to scour for them or walk around the restaurant snapping pics of receipts laying on the tables.

Pre-covid...there was a group from us that would eat out every day at lunch. It was a fight to see who could get whatever loose receipts were laying around. One guy would go into the trash at chipotle and go past the elbow. I had the George Costanza "eclair rule" that hit had to be "hovering."



Thanks for the chuckle. I have all the rewards apps the same as you and I look for receipts at the Chinese place mostly. I currently have almost 5000 points and am waiting for a special occasion to use them all at once.


Sometimes at the end of the month when there are few shops, I will look to see what I can get cheap or for "free". Currently, I have free meals at Jersey MIkes, McAlisters, Freddy's, and Panda. $20 rewards at BJs plus gift cards.

@gigishopper wrote:

Is he the shopper or are you (or do you both shop?) My husband is not responsible for remembering anything on a shop. His only job is to tag along and not touch the food before I take a picture.

@Dino29 wrote:

My husband refuses to eat out if we have to write a report about it. It is not worth it to him, too much to remember, too much to do, and we don't do expensive anyway. We got burned on one of those roadhouse shops. He said never again.

@ShopperGirly wrote:

@maverick1 wrote:

I learn from the masters when eating at restaurants on my own dime...

"According to multiple news and finance sites, Warren Buffett, despite his immense wealth, is known for using coupons, even when treating others to meals. One notable instance, recounted by Bill Gates, involved Buffett paying for a McDonald's lunch in Hong Kong with coupons, according to Yahoo Finance. This story highlights his frugal nature and appreciation for a good deal, even when not necessary for his personal finances."
[www.nasdaq.com]

I once had a wealthy uncle (self-made). I spent many summers with him and my aunt. He would make a big production out of getting the scissors and cutting coupons for groceries. And he never passed a penny on the ground. He has been gone over 25 years but I think of him I time I find a coin.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I'm all about the deals like my buddy WB. I exploit deals to the maximum. I have multiple rewards accounts and when people leave receipts where places have rewards points, I will scoop them up and apply them to my accounts and earn rewards faster. I have been known to offer extra $ to servers for receipts from other tables that did not use rewards. I had one server bring me $200 in receipts one visit which was $20 in rewards and I gave him $10 for it. Figured I would grease the hands that took care of me to keep them coming on future visits.

It's alot easier when people bring you the receipts than having to scour for them or walk around the restaurant snapping pics of receipts laying on the tables.

Pre-covid...there was a group from us that would eat out every day at lunch. It was a fight to see who could get whatever loose receipts were laying around. One guy would go into the trash at chipotle and go past the elbow. I had the George Costanza "eclair rule" that hit had to be "hovering."

[www.youtube.com]