> Rich's company gives us a $100 gift certificate to El Gaucho every
> other year at the Christmas party. We could not afford eating there
> without those certificates. We went out for a night of dancing and a
> late dinner there, and though the food was excellent, and the service
> impeccable, I still didn't find it to be worth the price. I had a
> cocktail at the club where we went to dance, and Rich doesn't drink, so
> we didn't order any alcohol at the restaurant, neither did we drink
> anything but water and the coffee that came complimentary at the end of
> the meal. We didn't order dessert. We split an appetizer between us,
> each ordered salads, a main course and side. That was it. It cost us
> another $65-70 over the gift certificate. If we didn't get those
> certificates, I'm certain we would never eat there. Also, since we need
> babysitting to go out together, it means that for three hours out (that
> night Rich's folks had watched the kids for us, so we didn't have any
> added cost there), we're paying another $30 at least.
>
> Regards,
> Ranee
>

You have to live within your means for sure. I've found that if you are
worried about the price of the meal, you probably won't enjoy it much. For
us eating at the upscale places now and then is, more about the experience,
and not just the food. My wife and I have very similar tastes, as do our
close circle of friends. So, when we do splurge, we make the most of it, and
try not to think to hard about what it's going to do to my cc balance!

Best,

Larry T