While eating out isn’t as expensive as it used to be, it’s no longer as healthy as it was in the past either. Back in the day,restaurant meals had smaller portions and healthier ingredients. Now, as many restaurants have focused on serving people quickly and keeping the menu items (and their components) convenient and cost-effective, eating out isn’t as good an idea as it was decades ago. This is particularly true for those who choose to follow a special diet to avoid gaining weight or have to eat healthy for some other reason.

With that said, dining out still has its advantages. There’s no meal prep involved. You don’t even have to enter the kitchen or preheat the oven. In addition, there’s a certain amount of ambiance involved. Whether you go to a fancy, white tablecloth, candles on the table place, or prefer to eat at a more casual location, you still get to enjoy the atmosphere. And the best part? No clean up! We say hallelujah to that!

But let’s be honest, sometimes it’s nice to stay in. Thankfully, it’s possible to create all of this athome for dinner, minus the “never entering the kitchen” part of the equation. Here’s how.

Dining in Or Eating Out? 

There are a number of pros and cons to both dining in your own home, as well as splurging at a restaurant. Let’s go over them:

Dining at a Restaurant:

Pros:

• No meal prep needed.
• Someone brings you your food (after someone else cooks it).
• Lots of options.
• No clean up.

Cons:

• Portion sizes are huge.
• The meals trend towards the unhealthy (especially if you clean your plate).
• Can be expensive.

Dining at Home:

Pros:

• Control your portion sizes.
• You don’t need to do meal prep.
• Much more cost-effective.

Cons:

• You have to serve yourself.
• You have to pick up your kitchen.

Did you read that twice? Yes, you did. The “you don’t need to do meal prep” appeared on both lists as a “pro.” And that’s correct. You really don’t need to do meal prep at home after work. Not when you’re a pro who sets everything up on the weekend and has your veggies precut, sauces pre-measured, and everything else ready to go. That’s the first step towards making your home dining room feel like you went out to eat instead. Also, there’s more…

Making an At-Home Meal Feel Like a Restaurant One 

It doesn’t take much to make your at-home meal feel like you’re in arestaurant instead. You just need to set the scene. Luckily, we have a few suggestions:

• Set the Ambiance: Restaurants tend to have a few nicer things going for them, such as their ambiance. Simply copy this by using a tablecloth (one made of real cloth, for the record), as well as dimmed lighting and some quiet music. Don’t forget to turn off the television and make everyone put away their electronic devices.
• Use Your Good China and Silverware: Have you noticed that restaurants tend to serve their meals on nice plates and with shiny silverware? Many of them do – and you can do the same. Rather than bust out your old beat-up plates, silverware, and plastic cups, bring out your nice china instead. Whether you save that china for specific occasions, like Christmas or Thanksgiving dinners, or refuse to eat on it at all doesn’t matter. Use it now.
• Don’t Forget the Cloth Napkins: Cloth napkins are one thing that many restaurants use – unless you’re at one of those relaxed, family-friendly places. By using cloth napkins instead of paper towels, you’ll definitely feel like you’re at a restaurant. Just forget the fact that you’ll need to wash them later.
• Enjoy Your Meal: Finally, everyone enjoys their restaurant meals. It’s a good time to get the family to talk to one another about their days, what they did, and even joke about things with each other. Treat this meal in your home dining room the same way. Once you’re enjoying your meal and the company around you, you’ll forget that you’re at home.

Meal Suggestions 

On top of setting the atmosphere and making your dining room feel as though it’s in a restaurant instead of your own home, you need to make theright meals. These suggestions are easy to prep ahead of time, so all you need to do is toss them in the oven or sauté them in a pan.

Lasagna 

There’s nothing quite like a good lasagna. The main problem is that theprep work takes some time, so it’s not something anyone wants to do after work. Instead, prepare this meal on the weekend and then freeze it so that all you need to do is pop it in the oven. How, you ask?

Start by preparing the sauce. Take a pound of ground beef and sauté it in olive oil that’s been heated. Add in a diced onion and some minced garlic, as well as salt and pepper, and a little oregano (toss some basil in as well if you’d like). Once the meat is cooked, drain it thoroughly to remove any excess grease, then pour in a jar of sauce. Use sauce from the grocery store or any kind that you make and jar yourself. While it heats up on low, cook your noodles according to the instructions on the box.

Once the noodles are done, layer some sauce, noodles, some ricotta cheese, and then shredded mozzarella and parmesan over and over until the pan is filled. Cover it with a lid and allow it to cool. After it’s cooled, place it in the freezer until it’s time to cook it. Bake on 350-degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the entire lasagna has been properly heated. And voila! A gourmet dinner at home.

Lobster Tails and Veggies 

Seafood is one meal that many people prefer to enjoy in a restaurant, simply because it can be tricky to prepare. However, since they sell frozen, as well as pre-separated lobster tails in many grocery stores, it’s possible to save money on this dish and make it yourself.

Just steam the lobster tails as you would a whole lobster, melting some butter (very slowly) while you do so. Serve the lobster tails with some butter and chives on top, as well as plenty of melted butter on the side. The veggies can be sautéed on the stove in some ghee or cooking oil. Once they’re properly softened and slightly browned, they’re ready to go.

Prep these ahead of time on the weekend simply by cutting them up and placing them in air-tight containers. Looking for vegetable inspiration? Consider broccoli, yellow squash, zucchini, carrots, bell peppers, and mushrooms, or simply serve the whole thing (veggies, lobster, and all) on a bed of rice. Is your mouth watering too?

Chicken Breasts With Cheese and Peppers 

Now, this one is a real delight! Over the weekend, thaw out one pound ofboneless chicken breasts. Slice them thin widthwise, making them easy to roll up (you read that right). At the same time, dice some red peppers, as well as arugula, and portion out your cheese (a nice goat cheese will work) according to your taste levels.

When it’s time to begin making this dish, lay some plastic wrap flat on your work surface. Place each chicken breast on it, one at a time. Use a mallet to flatten them further, if necessary. Spread the cheese onto the chicken breast and top with salt and pepper, as well as some dried garlic and onion. Place the diced red peppers, arugula, and any other seasonings (green onion works well) on top of the cheese. Roll the chicken breasts so that the cheese mixture is on the inside. Use a toothpick to hold them in place, then brush a little pesto over the exterior of each.

Place on a greased pan and bake for 30 minutes (or until the chicken is completely done) at 400-degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the toothpicks and serve. Either slice each rolled piece of chicken before serving, or just have the person eating it handle that task. Don’t forget about the rice. This dish goes great with rice pilaf or a simple bed of unseasoned rice.

In Conclusion 

It’s easy to make meals that are restaurant-quality in your own home. Preparing them ahead of time (or at the very least, prep some of the ingredients ahead of time) can make it even easier to get them ready to eat. This way, you won’t have to spend time after work slaving away in the kitchen. Because let’s face it, that’s no fun.

Sure, you’ll need to cook a little, but this minimal amount, when combined with the ambiance provided by everything that you’ve set up in the dining room, can really make it feel as though you’re in a real fine-dining restaurant. Even better, this way, you’re in control of your own ingredients and proportions, ensuring that you’reeating healthily. Bon appetit!

Sources:

The Real Problem with Eating Out | Tufts Now

The History of Gourmet Lobster | Business Insider

Chicken and Roasted Pepper Roll-Ups | Better Homes & Gardens