A BAKER’S DOZEN OF THINGS THAT SENIORS LIKE IN A RESTAURANT!

We are retired and eat out frequently; especially when on vacation in Florida. I got to thinking about what I liked in restaurants, given my age of 78. I like small French, Mexican, Italian and Chinese restaurants. I like table cloths, cloth napkins and water. I also realize that I am inconsistent, so you should take this list of a baker’s dozen with a grain of salt. Trust but verify, a senior’s mantra!

1. Quiet – The app Soundprint registers noise in restaurants. I, like many old people, am deaf and it is hard to hear in a crowded restaurant where the tables are close together or where you are seated near a large group of people.
2. Share a plate  – We don’t eat as much, so if we can share a plate, even for an extra charge, that is great.
3. Smaller portions – We don’t need huge portions, or all you can eat buffets.
4. Water – some of us drink a lot of water, and I, at least, judge a waiter by whether or not my water-glass is kept full.
5. Parking – easy access and spaces wide enough to get in and out of the car with ease.
6. Uber or Lyft – Uber or Lyft is great for old people. They are fast, convenient and allow us to have a glass of wine, without worrying about drunk driving. Nothing like a newspaper article that describes me as “elderly.”
7. Enough light to read the menu – Not only am I deaf, but I have trouble seeing in dim light.  My i-Phone, with its built-in flashlight, has been a boon to my old age. Until you are old, you don’t realize how hard it can be to see in dim light.
8. Simple choices – My mind is not as quick as it used to be, so the fewer, easier, and simpler choices, the happier I am.
9. Doggy bags – if we can’t or don’t share a plate, a container to take half of our food home is great; even if we don’t have a dog.
10. Non-fried preparation – Digestion can be a problem; and, of course I am very conscious of the life expectancy tables. I like to keep my options open.
11. Easy access  – I need to get to my table and to the men’s room. Stairs, rugs, close tables, servers, folding tray tables, and using the hall to the men’s room for storage can lead to falls and always makes me nervous. Remember, falls are the leading cause of …….. for seniors.
12. Bargain – a price I think is fair,
13. Non-processed food – Too much food today is processed – at my age not only do I not need it, it is bad for me.

One French restaurant that I like is Chez Colette’s in Belleair Bluffs, Florida, which meets all my criteria.

THINK OLD!