Good Dining Out Experiences

[SteveFromIowa]

I had a couple of good dining out experiences over the weekend when my wife & I along with three of our kids and their significant others enjoyed three days in the big city together. (Des Moines ;) )

I thought I might start a thread to share these with everyone in hopes that as you all find a good meal out on the town, you could do the same.

On Friday, we ate at Red Robin. While my family enjoyed their really good looking burgers, I was absolutely satisfied with a fantastic blackened chicken/blue cheese salad. I skipped the standard western dressing asking for some Italian on the side. This salad is NOT on their regular mene. It was a "special" they have running right now. My BS didn't even notice an hour later.

On Saturday, we ate at HuHot. This is a very unique Mongolian style dining experience. There are three stations. You pick up your bowl and choose your meat/seafoods/starches at Station 1 by filling your bowl with the ingredients of choice there. Then at Station 2, you put your veggies of choice on top of the meat/starches, then at station 3 you pour flavored sauces and oils on top. Then you take your bowl to the chef's who empty the contents of the bowl onto a big grill and cook the contents of your "mixture" in front of you and hand it all back to you on a fresh plate. I skipped the noodles and rice in the starch section and used cabbage from the vegetable station in it's place. After two large plates (you can return to the stations for another round as often as you like), my 1 hour sugar level was 119. It was super delicious and sparked a bunch of ideas I plan to use in my home-cooking.

HuHot's aren't all over the U.S. yet, but I see on their web-site that they cover a large geographical area of the U.S. and seem to be spreading.

So lets hear from you! What successes did you have while dining out recently?

[KentT]

Went to the local Meat and 3 vegetable palace yesterday for lunch with a client of mine (radio advertiser). I go through the line with him, we order our lunch. We eat and I pull out my meter and pump and prepare for bolusing. He pulls out a meter and a pump (I didn't know my advertiser had D). We get our business done and agree to meet for lunch regular and discuss pumps and pumping together and arrange some workouts. I just gained a workout partner and fellow pumper. Some days are jewels.

[KentT]

Went to the local Meat and 3 vegetable palace yesterday for lunch with a client of mine (radio advertiser). I go through the line with him, we order our lunch. We eat and I pull out my meter and pump and prepare for bolusing. He pulls out a meter and a pump (I didn't know my advertiser had D). We get our business done and agree to meet for lunch regular and discuss pumps and pumping together and arrange some workouts. I just gained a workout partner and fellow pumper. Some days are jewels. He's a new pumper at that. Owns a local farm supply store. Our restaurant has a new smaller portion menu and also has sugar free desserts (very nice ones). Service is outstanding.

[macker]

I have been on 2 trips in the last month--Las Vegas and San Antonio--ate all different places--if I had info from a particular place, used it and some common sense and had a great time and kept BS in good vacation shape--never saw a number over 200--I tested more than usual to stop any pumping errors from getting out of hand.

The problem in Vegas had more to do with getting low from the walking up and down the strip--always in search of a good slot machine--I've yet to find one!

[DannyK]

Steve....

From your description, I would love to visit HuHot's. Sadly, the nearest one to me, in the Houston area, is in San Antonio.

Hopefully, one will "pop up" around here soon... Sounds delicious, and fun.......:)

[Granny Shanny]

Totally agree with Steve about HuHot's . . . splendid mongolian bbq and if you're counting your dollars, go for lunch instead of dinner. Yes, do tiptoe past the noodles station & just load up on the meats, seafood & veggies. The sauces are delicious & if you check their website, I think they give a few hints about various combinations of sauces. After you get your plate of cooked food, there's one more counter of crisp noodles, seeds, coconut, etc., that you can sprinkle on top. It's really outstanding!

If you aren't near a HuHot's, try any mongolian bbq . . . the concept is the same.

Today's "foraging" (:D ) took us to The Armadillo (http://www.armadillorestaurants.com/), a small chain of restaurants along the Colorado Front Range. We've been fans since the original one opened in LaSalle CO, about 1970-something. I had a half order of their burrito supreme, it was perfect & barely budged my meter.

[Patient254]

Wow - HuHot looks awesome! None in PA though. Although, I'm a native Houstonian and I love San Antonio - next time I'm down there I'll have to try it out.

[Funnygrl]

I like Red Robin cause you can get their burgers made with turkey instead of beef.

[Granny Shanny]

Update on Mongolian BBQ . . . we had lunch in Denver the day we flew out to return home, & found another good one: BD's Mongolian Bbq (http://www.gomongo.com/index.php) (BDifferent - Go Mongo!)

[Euched]

Update on Mongolian BBQ . . . we had lunch in Denver the day we flew out to return home, & found another good one: BD's Mongolian Bbq (http://www.gomongo.com/index.php) (BDifferent - Go Mongo!)

We have BD's Mongolian here in Cincinnati too... That place is great....pile on the meat and veggies and enjoy... They have tortillas on the table which I usually skip, but sometimes if I think about it I bring along one of my low carb ones from home to enjoy with it. They also offer both white and brown rice on the table, so though they are carbs you can eat a bit healthier if you want the brown rice...

[Gozelle]

I love steak an have found the waitress at the three places where we had gone out to eat have worked with me. I eliminate the potates and ask for a double serving of veggies on my plate or mushrooms and onions. Since I do not see the potatoes, I have less of a battle. Have also learned I can have 2 bites of my husbands dessert. :)

[inkvisitor]

Aw, I was in San Antonio over the weekend - wish I would have read about the mongolian place before I left!

[SteveFromIowa]

On Sunday in Quincy, IL

1st time at Ruby Tuesday's for us.

Chose a grilled chicken entree with steamed brocolli and I substituted green beans for the potato's. I added the endless salad from the garden bar.

The chicken was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Veggies were great. And the salad was killer good with their house Italian dressing. I stuffed myself and had no BG spike.

I started this thread so everyone could share their good dining experiences. Share your reviews and BG results for any restaurant (chain or local) so we can all benefit from your experience when seeking decent diabetic dining options.

[ShottleBop]

Took our grandkids to Palm Springs for the weekend. (They start school tomorrow; the timeshare we traded into had an awesome pool arrangement with slides, etc.) We left Friday afternoon and returned this afternoon. A weekend of (much) eating out:

Friday evening: Mrs. ShottleBop took a nap; I took GKs to Coco's. I had a Cobb Salad, with plain olive oil dressing. Before eating, BG was 88; 2-hour PP was 100. (Two hours after that, at bedtime, it was 96.)

Saturday breakfast and lunch we bought at Ralph's the night before. Breakfast was my usual: unsweetened almond milk, walnuts, and a low-carb shake. Lunch was salmon (1 pound frozen was $3.99!), sliced provolone, sliced hard salame, and another low-carb shake. (I meant to buy some greens, but forgot.)

For dinner, we met some old friends of my folks at Islands. I had a black pepper burger wrapped in lettuce, with a side salad. Before eating, BG was 88; 3 1/2 hours later, at bedtime, BG was 97.

Brunch today at Elmer's. I had an omelette with chives, bacon, and jack and cheddar cheese, topped with sliced avocado and sour cream. It came with a biscuit and hash browns, which I didn't eat. Before eating, BG was 100 (this was "second breakfast" for me, at nearly 10 a.m., a few hours after my "usual" breakfast; FBG this morning was 90). We drove home, so no 2-hour reading. Before lunch, four hours after eating, BG was 106.

Took one of our sons out for dinner tonight, to Claim Jumper. We split an appetizer of seared ahi tuna, then I had the rotisserie chicken with grilled asparagus and roasted veggies. I gave my biscuit to my son. He had dessert; I didn't. Before eating, BG was 86. Right now, an hour or so after first bite, BG is 104.

[HealthierMe]

I definitely want to try Mongolian now!

My main problem with eating out is the portion size and SALT. Oh, and all that delicious looking hot bread that I can't have - why is fluffy white bread sooo appealing.
So if we get take away I make two or three meals out of some restaurant portions.

favorite take out/ Restaurant food - Logan's baked sweet potatoes and grilled chicken (def. 2-3 meals here) or salmon (3 meals worth) with ceasar salad or vegetable skewer (ask for no seasoning on skewer), Chastain's mahi mahi, Picadilly's broccoli and roast chicken breast and fruit salad (grapes, cantaloupe, and a strawberry) and Mashed :) Potatoes, Popeye's catfish and mashed potatoes (yeah, I know, but it doesn't raise my bp or my bg), Wendy's mandarin chicken salad with almonds and a plain baked potato (2 meals out of this), Subway roasted chicken breast 6 inch whole wheat with all the veggies and no cheese or condiments, wok delight chinese buddah's delight - love broccoli and carrots and tofu- if I measure out 1/3 cup rice I'm okay.

edited - I forgot to add that Picadilly always has sugar free jello and sugar free PIE, which I looked at but didn't know how to count the carbs!

[lark 27]

So lets hear from you! What successes did you have while dining out recently?

I've enjoyed reading this thread. Eating out is a problematic area for me, so it's encouraging to read of other's successes. Here's a recent one for me.

Flat Top Grill is a small chain with one in Wauwatosa, WI west of Milwaukee. It's a place where you get to pick all your ingredients and then take them to the chef to cook. I've only eaten breakfast there, but look forward to a lunch or dinner sometime because you can do stir fry type things similar to Hu Hot's that you mention. Breakfast is great because you can load up an omelet with all sorts of veggies and meats and have a completely satisfying meal without all the carbs and the great thing is they won't even bring you potatoes and toast unless you ask for it. This for me is easier than going to other restaurants where you have to tell them not to bring the carbs or even worse have to have willpower to not eat them when they come on the plate! The place is cool too because they have the nutritional info of the sauces they use for the lunch/dinner sauces up on the walls in plain site.

[jer.lawrence]

This is a fantastic thread idea as well.

My wife and I went to O'Charley's the other night. It's always been one of my favorites, however I put this out there with a warning. They bring bread before the meal, and their bread is SOOOOO good, it's very hard to resist. I had one roll, while my wife ate the other three.

Anyway, we didn't check out any of the nutrition information before going, which is rare for me. One of the dishes they offered, though, was a Cedar Plank Salmon -- a decently sized serving of Salmon (can also do Tilapia if you prefer) cooked and served on a Cedar Plank with a side of steamed Broccoli. I tested 106 before, and around 134 afterwards... I know that was because of the Bread, though.

They have several good, low-carb choices. The food is always delicious.

[ShottleBop]

Flat Top Grill does sound like it makes it easier! Makes me want to visit Wisconsin! (I guess I have relatives in Illinois, too, but I was born in WI, and Mrs. ShottleBop, whose parents are from there, has 150-some first cousins spread around the state.)

[HealthierMe]

not technically dining out... but had good results with delivery pizza. We got a thin crust pizza from Papa Johns. I had tomatoes, onions, and chicken. 107 before, 129 at one hour after, 112 at two hours. I even ate the cheese this time. When we make pizza at home I usually make a section of no cheese for me. And of course piles of veggies. Papa Johns needs to add artichoke hearts to the menu of toppings.

[Granny Shanny]

Papa Johns needs to add artichoke hearts to the menu of toppings.

OMG - if they did that, I'd be there every day! I'd just have to slide the crust out from under & eat the toppings alone. :D :D :D

[freebie]

We have in-n-out burgers here California that is really good. I get a protein style burger no sauce which means it uses lettuce as a bun.:D

[Moonpie]

Olive Garden has a dish called Venetian Chicken, its chicken in an apricot sauce & i s served with veg only ( no pasta or pots) according to Calorie King it is only 20 carbs lunch & 30 carbs dinner. I had it for dinner a few weeks ago & it came with 2 pieces of breast chicken, so I ate one & brought one home for lunch the next day.
I am also considering hitting Boston Market for a take out, & get a meat plus two veggies for sides.

[SteveFromIowa]

Olive Garden has a dish called Venetian Chicken, its chicken in an apricot sauce & i s served with veg only ( no pasta or pots) according to Calorie King it is only 20 carbs lunch & 30 carbs dinner.

YEAH!! Good to know! I've avoided Olive Garden assuming pasta and bread would be the only choices. Thanks Moonpie!

[Larry H.]

Around here the Applebees has a good grilled salmon that I ask for without the garlic butter and get a side of bar b que sauce. It comes with vegetables over rice, which I mostly avoid, or you can ask to have no rice and extra veggies. Doesn't budge my numbers at all.

[ShottleBop]

I'm in New York for a meeting, right now. This morning I walked over to my son's office to have lunch with him. Pre-lunch BG was 88. We went to a nearby Greek restaurant (Uncle Nick's Greek Cuisine). I had grilled sardines, which came with stewed veggies. They turned out to be tomatoes, potatoes, and zucchini; I picked out the zucchini, and left the tomatoes and potatoes. Two hours after lunch, BG was 98.

Mid-afternoon, I had some pork rinds. Late in the afternoon, I walked over to my dinner. I took about an hour and a half to get there, just to be out walking. Pre-dinner BG was 81. During the cocktail reception, I had a gin on the rocks, turning down the crabcakes and eggrolls several times. At dinner, I asked for a dry salad, to avoid the dressing. I had the filet mignon without sauce, asked them not to serve me the polenta, and picked the green beans out of the veggies they served. Had them hold the dessert (apple crumb tort), as well, and had pulled some walnuts and almonds out of my bag, instead.

Two-hour PP was 85. I was still a little hungry, so popped into the diner next door to my hotel and bought a small salad made of feta, olives, grape tomatoes, herbs, artichoke hearts, and pasta shells. I picked out the pasta shells and ate the rest. Now, an hour later, BG is 98, and I'm relaxing, watching the Charger game.

[Granny Shanny]

That "diner" salad sounds delicious!

Dare I ask how the Chargers are doing? They were leading last time I checked . . .

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/sneezytwo/msdenverbroncos.gif

[ShottleBop]

Four points behind, now. Broncos have been dominating the second half.

[ShottleBop]

This trip to New York has worked out pretty well. I averaged 89 for Monday, and my 7-day average is 94. It would be a little lower, except for a couple of experiments:

lunch at the airport on Sunday was a grilled chicken salad with pecans and dried cranberries, and I chanced eating about a dozen of the cranberries. I went from 106 to 122 at 1 hour (back to 106 after 2 hours). Ruined what otherwise would have been an average for the day of 96 or so.

lunch at the conference I went to is always box lunches (sandwich, apple or pear, potato chips, cookies); typically, I bring along an extra protein shake and some nuts, take a turkey or roast beef lunch box, eat the meat out of the sandwich, and give the rest away. Yesterday, I tried the veggie wrap. Dutifully left the wrap alone, but the veggies included roasted peppers. (I can do fresh bell peppers, but the roasted ones do a number on me.) Up from 95 to 114 within an hour, and was still there after two hours.*

_____________________________
* Dinner, on the other hand, was fine: I walked from my hotel to my son's office, then we walked down 7th Avenue to Madison Square Garden (his employer has season tickets to the Knicks games (Knicks and Celtics, pre-season), and, after we set our dinner plans, he won a pair of seats, in the fourth row at one end of the court. It was my first-ever professional basketball game). We stopped along the way to eat; I had a salad of mixed greens with wild salmon and basil pesto dressing. Pre-meal BG, after the walk, was 83; two-hour PP was 95. Kept my average for the day below 100, at 98.

[brucekc]

Do they have Wheat rolls, I'm trying to stay away from White rolls.

[jer.lawrence]

My wife and I went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner last night. I tried a new meal that I hadn't tried (since I knew I was diabetic, anyway), and had the Spicy Cashew chicken with broccoli. Usually it's served on Rice, I subbed the broccoli in for the rice. As it's a spicy mandarin sauce (and loads of it), I figured I'd be experiencing quite the spike afterwards.

The meal was delicious! Very spicy and very much like I remember it from before, just without the rice. I also had a very small piece of their bread before the meal, and three of my wife's french fries as well.

I was SURE it was going to spike me, so I tested a lot afterwards. I didn't test pre-meal, but my pre-dinner numbers are typically in the 90-110 range.

0:45 - 111
1:30 - 131
2:15 - 132
2:45 - 106

Very decent, stable ranges after the meal. I'll probably be getting that again, even though I do prefer to stay BELOW 130 after meals.. that isn't nearly as bad as I would have thought it would be. So, a very pleasant evening, all in all. :) I even woke up this morning at 87, so a good number in the morning too.

[ShottleBop]

My son and I went to Claim Jumper's last night--a chain that I have found to be pretty low-carber friendly. (The drinks menu that sits at each table, for example, includes calorie, sat fat, and carb counts for their food items.)

We shared an appetizer of marinated, fire-roasted artichokes. (Listed as totaling 84 grams of carbs, but a lot of those must have been fiber--not separately identifed in their nutritional information--or in the mayo dip, which I didn't use.)

I had an albacore tuna salad sandwich with avocado. Got the fresh-baked herb bread, but gave that to my son--scraped off the tuna salad. For $1.95, I substituted grilled asparagus for the side (could have had a side salad without paying more, but I'm a sucker for grilled asparagus.

One-hour PP was 96; two-hour PP was 103. Then I had a bike ride, and went to bed at 74.

[Granny Shanny]

More artichokes! Yippeee . . . !! :D :D :D

[ODAR]

We have a restuarant downunder called " Sizzlers" where I take the kids and DH for Dinner. It's all grilled meats/fish/chicken & seafood. Salads /Breads/ Pasta/Soups and dessert -all smorgasboard style- so you can eat as much as you like.
Salads are really fresh and lot's and lots of variety in the greens.
You order your main and they cook to your specification - sides are all on the main table - and is constantly refreshed.
Serving sizes of the meats are generours - usually T-Bone / Rump/Poterhouse etc- good quality cuts of meat. I always skip the dessert as I'm too full! and now with D - I don't go for the soups or pasta but load up on the greens.:)