I gotta go on an Idine diet
 

I figure that each 10,000 Idine generated airline miles is worth an extra pound, so unless I’m committed to using the miles to buy an extra, adjoining seat, I’m thinking that I better cut back on my visits, cause the “piece of pie is worth 80 points” is just too tempting.

I've almost given up on idine altogether. I've found that in general, idine restaurants happen to be lower-quality, sometimes distressed restaurants. At home, for each type of cuisine represented in my area, I have found a better restaurant nearby that's not on the list. And if I'm in a strange city, guidebooks and locals almost always recommend places not on the list, and I've had better luck going for quality over miles.

Quality over miles? I don't understand.
Actually, I find the food tastes better when I know I'm earning miles for it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Idine is really hit or miss as far as selection (luckily in nyc there is no shortage of places to eat) but i agree most of them are kinda crappy, but doable (with the exception of some really fancy spots i.e firebird, and some qualiy korean food i.e NY Kom Tang)

one thing i can say ... avoid any 20mile spots like the plague ... they must be hurting for a reason

I only really care about idine during qualifing promotions (i.e. fly faster free) otherwise its just a bonus if im in the mood for medium quality chow

channa, it's not always quality over miles!

Sometimes you can get both. This was especially true for me in Washington DC on a visit in April. I ate at six idine restaurants and they ranged from good to excellent.


Kathy

I agree Kathy - I have found some very good restaurants through the iDine program, including the 20 mile restaurants. Some of those also accept DC, so those give 40%, and come out cheaper than the cheaper restaurants. Just had breakfast at one and the $25 meal will really cost me $15, and that was for 4 people.I'm willing to try any restaurant once. If it is truly disappointing, I won't go back. Some of our favorite restaurants were found through the membership of IDine. It might vary from city to city, but I'd say we're lucky in Chicago.

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Ms.DtG

Sorry, Jailer.

Looks like we hijacked your lighthearted thread and made it serious! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif


Kathy

tony di napoli's in nyc is a great family style italian rest that is on idine

I was pretty faithfull for about four months, dining three times to get the bonus. Most places are good, some only fair. Sammy's woodfire pizza in Palm Desert is a highlight, and Red Top burgers here in Colorado Springs. You used to get some really high end places a few years ago, but it has really gone to mediocre. Good way to top off a stagnant airmile account though.

With the exception of Pancho's, a Mexican joint in Malibu, all the iDine restaurants I have visited have been a huge disappointment http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Well, if you come to SAT Mexican food is King. There are many Idine Mexican Restaurants that are fabulous. I won't eat Mexican any more unless it is Idine. Some recommendations: Picante, Los Barrios, El Jarro, Aldacos, El Mirasol, Habaneros, Salsalito and Casarita. All are excellent. Los Barrios and El Jarro are award winning restaurants that have been in business for many years and have been featured on many news shows. None of the places I mentioned appear to be struggling and all have great food. Many have been on Idine for years.

I think you just have to work the Idine program if you want miles for eating. Sure there are some loser restaurants, but for me that has been an exception.

The newly listed restarants have historically been quite good. In our area it is usually a new start up. Many of the other participants in this area are below par or very out of the way places, which we don't mind. We have fun pulling up the lists for cities we'll be visiting to get potentials.

Yes, but the reason may be other than the quality of the food.

For example, some are hurting due to out-of-the-way location (relative to where the demand is). But if the location is good for you even though bad for most other people, what do you care?

Some are hurting due to poor location for that particular cuisine (again, relative to where the demand is). But if you like the cuisine and the restaurant is convenient to YOU, what do you care (except that they're likely to close the week after you visit them, like a Persian food restaurant in Tustin which was the first 20 mile/$ restaurant I ever ate at).

Some are hurting because they're an indie and they've got brand name competition nearby getting most of the business in a traveler-heavy area (travelers being less likely to use indies than locals). If the competition is competing solely on brand name and not on price or quality, what do you care?

Some are hurting because no one from the street can figure out what kind of unusual food they serve. Since you're finding them at iDine, you get a description of the restaurant that the passerby in a crowded mall full of restaurants doesn't. If you like the unusual cuisine, what do you care that no one else who likes it has been able to find out about this restaurant and thus they're hurting?

But, yes, others are hurting because, at best, they're nothing special. One of them in OC is a most average downscale pizza joint inside a shopping mall whose only claim to fame is a semifamous owner. Not enough for me...

Still others may be hurting because they're too weird. One of them in Santa Monica is a combination newsstand/internet cafe without about 3 real food items on the menu. The irony is the food is more reasonably priced than elsewhere around there, but that means EVEN AT 20 $/MILE I can hardly earn any miles there but meanwhile I have to pay $ for parking in that area (or take a bus) unless it's a Sunday. So for me that one's not worth it either.

Still others may be hurting because they don't know what they are. Several in the West Hollywood area that are 20 $/mile are not really restaurants, they're some sort of too hip "see and be seen place" where maybe there's some food somewhere too. I can't be bothered...

The best Idine meal I had was when I was out of town entertaining a guest who picked the restaurant. Several weeks later I get an email from Idine.

Wow - it never occurred to me that you could register your DC club with iDine and get both miles and the DC 20% discount. Thanks for the great tip.