How Much Is Too Much For Lunch

How much is too much for lunch?

When’s the last time you went into a real “sit down” restaurant for lunch? Not a fast food spot.  I’m talking about a restaurant where someone waits on you.  Brings your tea, and refills it for you, and brings your meal.  How long has it been?

If it’s been awhile, buckle up.  Wait until you get your bill?  I don’t care what you ordered.  If there’s a drink and a meal, get ready for $20.  Oh, and don’t forget the tip.  Now, $25?

$25…for lunch!  God forbid, there are two of you.

This is not anywhere in particular, and I’m not trying to single out or pick on any restaurant, it’s just the way it is these days.

Let me mention one of my favorite lunches at one of my favorite spots, T-Bonz.  Let me be perfectly clear, I LOVE T-Bonz! I love their steak salad, their “Tommy Fries”.  I love their iced tea.  My “go to” lunch is six wings, double fried, with a side of the hot sauce and blue cheese and a side salad, with more blue cheese.  When I’m done, with tip, $25-$26.

I’m only singling out T-Bonz because I go there often.  I’m sure it’s the same story at French Market, Nacho Mamas, Whiskey Bar, Sole, anywhere.  If you’re sitting down, and being waited on, it’s going to be about that much.

Which brings me to, “how much is too much”?  How much are you willing to spend on lunch?  Do you go to lunch every weekday.  There are folks in our building that do.  I’m guessing it adds up.

Where do you draw the line?  Ten dollars?  Fifteen?  What about twenty dollars?

Are you eating out less often?  Please tell me you’re tipping the same amount.  We could have an whole other conversation on the “tipping culture” these days.

Next time, you and some of the folks in your office go out to lunch, pay attention, ask them what their bill is.  Maybe tomorrow, bring your lunch…

Has it been a while since you've taken a trip? Maybe you're daydreaming of the next spot to visit for your next getaway. Why stick with the same old same? Shake things up and consider a more unique experience.  Of course, there are unique hotels to visit all across the United States and beyond. And now with the rise of Airbnbs, there are even more interesting places to visit! Including some bizarre food-themed accommodations.

Sure, you could stay in a normal hotel or condo on your next vacation. But you could explore the area for some more interesting accommodations. It's not every day that someone can say they stayed in a shipping container that was repurposed. Yes, that's actually a place you can rent in Missouri. Not crazy enough for you? How about in Texas... you can stay in a converted gas station, complete with modern and historic decor. There's even a jukebox.

In Phoenix, Arizona, you can stay in a Wild West cottage. And just up the road in Hilton Head Island, you can stay in a treehouse with views of the marsh and a private deck.

Just a quick Google search of unique rentals will uncover so many interesting spots that could make for some great photos and conversations.  And there are a lot of themed places too, whether it's just based on certain colors or time periods. But this news from Eggo is the reason we started digging into food-themed accommodations.

It was just recently announced that Eggo is opening its Eggo House Of Pancakes in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The official opening day is February 28th, which is National Pancake Day. The rental property looks like a stack of syrup-covered pancakes. The inside of the cabin is decorated in Eggo's signature colors of red and yellow. There are pillows that look like sticks of butter, and breakfast-themed cornhole.

And of course, it wouldn't be complete without breakfast! The freezer comes stocked with a variety of Eggo pancakes, including Buttermilk, Blueberry, Chocolatey Chip, and more.

The cost per night? Nothing!  Guests just need to cover their travel expenses. Eggo is offering four, 3-night stays. This fun promotion is a collaboration between Eggo and HomesToGo.com as a way to showcase the ease of booking your vacation rental on the website. For more details on how to book your stay, click here.

Eggo isn't the first to come up with a food-themed rental, there are many others.  Check out a few of the most interesting ones below!

Don't let the name fool you on this... it's an Airbnb, not a hotel. It's located in Boise, Idaho. The Airbnb is one bedroom, one bath, and sleeps 2. As the name implies, it does resemble a gigantic spud. The 6-ton potato was once used on the Idaho Potato Commission's Big Idaho Potato Tour.  It's traveled around the U.S. for 7 years but now sits on 400 acres of Idaho farmland.

In addition to the room, there's a customized silo turned into a spa retreat. And a jersey cow will also be your pet during your stay! Get details on booking a stay HERE.

The Sweet Escape is a luxury vacation spot in Clermont, Florida, near Orlando. The estate is located on 5 gated acres. The large home sleeps 26 people with 11 bedrooms.  Every area within the estate is decorated with some sugary-themed decor. There's an ice cream cone-shaped pool, Life Savers tire swings, an M&M-themed bedroom, and more. The amenities also include indoor and outdoor movie theaters, a mini-golf course, a splash park, and more.

See photos and learn more HERE.

It's only appropriate that this Cheese Wedge cabin would be in Wisconsin! It's an A-Frame cabin that's been painted to look like a giant wedge of Swiss cheese. The cabin is located on a sheep farm, with trails to enjoy, fishing, and a firepit under the stars. This is a spot if you're really looking to unplug, because the cabin has no WiFi, no water, and uses solar-powered electricity. But access to WiFi and a private bathroom and kitchen is just a short walk to the main farmhouse.