toledoblade.com --

If you absolutely can't survive without a cup of coffee or tea in a restaurant before you get home, then go ahead and spend another $2 or more.

The cost of beverages in restaurants is right at the top of my pet peeve list. Today my beef is about coffee and tea. What better way to cut back on the lunch and dinner tab than to ignore coffee and tea and ask for water? Besides saving money, you will be drinking more water, and that's a good thing too.

Notice I didn't include breakfast. Coffee for most, including myself, and tea for some people is the morning eye-opener at home or in a restaurant.

I have discussed my feelings on the coffee and tea subject with a few restaurant owners as well as diners. The responses were as expected. Restaurateurs want to sell all that they can and argue that most people have more than one cup. That is particularly true during the breakfast hours when customers at a diner I patronize spend $1.40 for coffee and stay an hour or more drinking several cups.

Last Sunday I was served coffee, and not a large cup either, that was $3.50, and seconds were not offered.

Coffee or tea is the traditional way to end a meal in a restaurant and seems to balance a piece of dessert pie or cake. It is just something we do from habit.

After deciding to have coffee at home and cut back on breakfast tabs, it was apparent how expected coffee drinking is with morning customers. At the first stop the waitress turned over the cup and began to pour until I stopped her. She asked if I was feeling OK. At another place the coffee was brought to the table before I had my coat off because I had always ordered coffee there.

Just think how many more times we could eat out if we cut down on coffee and tea orders. Most places I checked charge $1.75 and $2, but a few charge $2.25, and $2.50. With four people at the table, the check can easily increase $7 or $8 and more. I spoke to a waitress who has convinced her three children to drink water instead of $2 sodas, and wait until they get home to have all the sodas they want. She drinks water with them.

Generally, tea is the same price as coffee. At one popular restaurant coffee is $2.35 and iced tea is $2.50. I hope the added 15 cents is not for ice in the tea. Tea, hot or cold, is an abused beverage that is seldom served in a hot pot with boiling hot water, as it should be. It's surprising that devout tea drinkers continue to order hot tea, only to face a cup of hot water into which they must dangle a tea bag and then decide where to stash the soggy mess.

Eating out is an American pastime. About half of the money spent on food in the United States is spent away from home. Goodness knows I have joyfully contributed two people's share to maintain this international record, but the budget has changed. My money is going for the flavorful, exciting, substantial menu choices. The coffee pot is on at home and there are tea bags in the pantry.

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