In 2009 I ate at least 138
meals out in a minimum of 48 restaurants. The places ranged from fast food
restaurants such as Burger King,McDonald's and Boston Mart to chains like Red
Lobster, Olive Garden and California Pizza Kitchen. I ate in 15 restaurants that
I haven't been into before and a few of my favorites closed. I did find two that
joined my favorites list and more than 5 that I wouldn't go back to.

 I had most of the
meals with Allen as we usually go out for lunch on Wednesday while every once in
awhile after going to the movies on Friday John and/or Gino would join us. There
were dinners out for John's, Gino's, Allen's and my birthdays plus The
Cheesecake Factory when Michael and Alfredo came to visit and when Allen's
daughter was here. There was lunch at the Tropics with Jill before we went on a
dry run of my taking care of her birds and Marilyn's cats. For the first time in
awhile I revisited some oldies but still goodies like The Sea Watch, Old Florida
Seafood House and CatfishDewey's.There were a couple of lunches with friends of
Allen and John, Allen and I went to Isle of Capri Casino Thanksgiving buffet and then Allen, Phillip, Michael and I went there for the Christmas Day
buffet.

I went to IHOP 13 times mainly when I was in the mood
for a cheese omelet with a side of pancakes and with Bennigan's closing I had to find a new place
for cheeseburgers and the Diner 24 is taking that place. I still haven't found a
new place to replace the Steak & Ale, which also closed, and their Prime Rib special bit I keep on looking.
Discovering Cheddar's I look for any chance to go to the movies out west because
it is near where Allen lives and we also discovered Scruby's a new barbecue
place.

While most of the
restaurants were in the range of being mid-priced we did go to at least two very
high priced places one being Chima's for Allen's birthday and Bova Prime on
Las Olas. The former, even with a $25 off
coupon, was not a place you go every week or even once  month but more of a
special occasion place. Allen and I went to the latter 6 times mainly because I
got either a 50% off or a $25 off coupon from the Internet.

From Thai food to pizza to
crepes at the Sage not to forget the seafood at Catfish Dewey's, Old Florida
Seafood House and the Sea Watch there was the Italian meals at Isabella's Pizza,
Humphrey's  and Pizza Fusion, barbecue ribs at Smokey's and Scruby's, turkey sandwiches, cheeseburgers,
chili, Mexican food, all sorts of different salads at Sweet Tomatoes, not to
forget the Godiva cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory the meals, foods were as
varied as the restaurants were.

Being on a very limited
income I confess that at least 75% of the restaurants I went to involved my
having a coupon but that's okay as the food tasted just as good! Most of the
coupon's were 2-4-1 deals while for the higher priced places it usually was
$25-$50 off which allowed a trip afterwards to Baskin Robbins, Stone Cold Creamery, Dairy
Queen or Kilwins for a little ice
cream.

Looking over the list I
know which ones I will go back to more often than the others and they are, in no
particular order, Cheddars, Diner 24, IHOP, Sweet Tomatoes, Catfish Dewey's, The
Cheesecake Factory, Tropics and, of course, Diary Queen, Baskin Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery and
Kilwins!!

Among other restaurants I
went to in 2009 there were Offerdahls,
Simply Delish, Skyline Chili,
Einstein's, Peter Pan, Lesters,
Victoria Park Diner, Quality Diner, Flannigan's. Outback, Blimy Pub, Courtyard Cafe, Big Louie's, not
to mention those that have already closed.

2010 has started and one thing you definitely know
about South Florida is that as many restaurants that close each year that more
will open and that the way the economy is going the coupons will be all over the
place, I will be using them and eating out every chance I can!