When we visit some of our favorite restaurants here in the area, I have to say that there are 2 or 3 items on each of the menus that I tend to order time after time again. My husband is the complete opposite. He orders something new every time to try out other great dishes the restaurant has to offer and tries to convince me to do the same. I am always be hesitant, however, to try something new and like sticking to what’s safe: the dish I already know and love. I guess I am kind of scared to order a meal that I do not like and end up being disappointed about making the wrong meal choice. It is not every day that we get to go out for dinner (I love preparing home-cooked meals) and so evenings out in a restaurant are still pretty special occasions. Plus, meals served at restaurants are typically not cheap. Therefore, once I order a certain dish, my expectations are high and my nervousness instantly rises. I am afraid of having spoiled a meal time and of having made the restaurant visit less enjoyable as a result.

I usually stick to familiar items. That being said, I'll branch out if I'm assured that a specific menu item is very well liked or especially high quality. At the end of the day, I simply don't like being disappointed. Sticking with what's familiar ensures that I'll like what I get.

I always intend to try new stuff, but I end up ordering stuff I'm familiar with. Not so much out of fear of trying new things, but because there are just some things I really love, and I can't resist them at restaurants. Eggs Benedict and cheese enchiladas are the biggest ones for me. I always order those two things when I see them on menus, because I just can't resist. So, my brunch and Mexican choices are always super predictable.

My choices are often limited, since I don't eat meat, but if something sounds good, I will try it. I'm a little bit of a picky eater, so I just don't order randomly, but I like discovering new things, especially if I might be able to make them at home.

When I go to a new restaurant I will try different things on a menu and order each. After I go to a restaurant a number of times I know the dishes they are best at and then go to the restaurant that makes what I feel like eating. Each has a different specialty that I like.

I could go either way, depending on my mood and what I am hungry for at the time.

Sometimes I'll have a day when I am hungry for a very specific item at a specific restaurant, so that's what I'll do. Other times, I just want to go out in general, so when we finally choose a restaurant I will often try something I have never ordered before.

If I am uncertain about ingredients or or the taste of something, I'll often ask the restaurant staff what they think of it. That usually works out well.

Hubby and I tend to order very different things, and that can sometimes end with each of us liking the other one's dinner better than our own. This is helpful in the long run, because that way I know which different thing to order the next time I am there.

Also, sometimes trying the special of the day or some new thing from a temporary, seasonal menu leads to a very tasty and pleasing meal that you haven't tried before, so that can definitely be worth ordering instead of my usual favorites.