Eating out at Tampa restaurants is something that we all like to do. For others, this is a rare treat that they can only enjoy once in a while, so a lot of preparation has to be done in order to make sure that they get as much out of the experience as possible.
There are dozens of online guides that help you with advice and tell you what to order at restaurants so that you get the best experience, but something people don’t really talk about is the things that you should avoid ordering.
While all food items available at Tampa restaurants are certainly edible, some food items are less appealing than others. Here is a simple guide on what not to order when eating out at restaurants.
Wedge-salad
Wedge salads are a quarter of an entire head of iceberg lettuce, doused with dressing, and served as a classy salad.
While the presentation may seem impressive, it really isn’t the best meal for your dollar at restaurants. Iceberg lettuce is the cheapest kind of lettuce that you can buy, and restaurants tend to sell them at a significant markup.
Add in the fact that it’s hard to properly clean a quarter of iceberg lettuce because of how the leaves stick together, and it’s a dish that you’re better off staying away from.
Free bar snacks
If you’re waiting at the bar for your cocktail, you might feel like lazily munching on that bowl or peanuts or pretzels that the bartender set in front of you.
It’s tempting, but you really shouldn’t be eating those. These complementary snacks are offered to everybody, and you don’t know how many people have picked through this same bowl of peanuts.
Over-sauced food
While that braised meat sounds great, you have to be wary of ordering it, especially if it’s been served as a special. Restaurants tend to over-order supplies in order to avoid a shortage of food during rush hours, so there is usually a lot of leftover food.
When that happens, they tend to offer it the next night in a saucier alternative to hide the fact that the ingredients used in the dish aren’t exactly fresh. This is something to look out for, especially if it’s a dish that uses expensive ingredients in a sauce.
Seafood from a barbeque joint
There’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh seafood, which is why it is such a favorite among Tampa restaurants diners.
However, never make the mistake of ordering seafood from a restaurant that doesn’t specialize in seafood and specializes in meat or pizza. It is an even bigger red flag if the area isn’t known for its seafood.
This is the fastest way of contracting food poisoning because these ingredients are rarely served fresh. If you’re at a steakhouse, you order the steak, not the oysters.