Going to a restaurant with my family of four adults is an expensive activity. After ordering four entrees that start at $20 for a burger, four or five beverages ($15 for the cheapest glass of wine), maybe some nachos for an appetizer, our bill will approximate $200 with tip and other fees. I’m talking about a meal at the standard sports bar in New Jersey, not a four-star restaurant in Manhattan. 

A few years back, we went out to a mid-range restaurants two or three times a week – a privilege, I know. Socializing at restaurants is a major form of recreation in Jersey, particularly for families like mine that are still caring for a disabled adult-child. Dinner at a restaurant is a way to get out of the house and laugh with friends. With everybody working and driving Ian to his after-school therapy, sometime a restaurant is a necessity, too.

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