I love eating out. I can’t wait to be handed that menu, and read through the pages like a novel. I truly enjoy the fresh ingredients and those creative combinations, but am just as pleased with the basics. The restaurant doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy, although I am easily impressed by a themed setting or unique atmosphere. I appreciate the efforts in the kitchen, and I love that I don’t have to clean up. And nothing has changed since I started following a keto way of eating… you can really eat anywhere – you just have to be a little creative!
Lobster Cobb Salad
The easiest meal to order is a salad, topped with a protein & dressed with olive oil. Cobb Salads are PERFECT (egg, avocado, bacon, tomato), but you can really enjoy any bed of greens with grilled chicken, steak, shrimp or even lobster! Get fancy & go for the Iceberg Wedge, complete with those blue cheese crumbles, or indulge in a Caesar Salad (just skip the croutons). Toppings to avoid: candied nuts, craisins or any dried fruit, carrots, beets, or other higher carb veggies.
There are tons of dining options out there… here are a few of the more popular:
Fine Dining
Go for the steak! Prime rib or other fattier cuts are great. Chicken (any way but fried), pork and almost all seafood are other fine options. The only problem you’ll run into is sides… swap any potatoes, pasta or rice for a salad or keto-friendly vegetable. And keep an eye on the sauces (creamy is usually ok, but “sweet” is not).
Sauteed Scallops over Spinach
Most chicken or seafood dishes can be made keto by simply having them served them over sauteed spinach instead of pasta. Or splurge on lobster or crab… and dip the meat in that butter for a ketolicious treat!
The Chains
Fridays, Applebees, Chilis… Options are limitless here. Salads, burgers (no bun), other meats (veggies instead of a starch for the sides), there are plenty of choices. You know what else you can have? Chicken Wings! As long as they aren’t battered in any way, chicken wings are keto approved 😉
You’ll need to watch out for sauces here too. Ribs are great, but you’ll need to get the “dry rub” as most BBQ/Teriyaki type sauces are loaded with sugar. Same goes for the wings… stick with regular Buffalo (and dip away in that blue cheese) or the Garlic Parmesan styles. Anything that tastes the least bit sweet, contains carbs.
“Low Carb” Whopper w/Cheese
Fast Food
Not my favorite option, but I have taken a liking to Burger King if I have to pick one. They offer all of their burgers as “low carb,” which just means it comes in a bowl, rather than on a roll. And at least the “Whopper” includes some veggies (lettuce, tomato, onion). Add the cheese, but skip the ketchup (loaded with sugar)… mustard & mayo (even though it’s not the best mayo) are ok. If you really need to amp up your fats for the day, just throw on some bacon 😉
Obviously you’ll have to pass on the fries & onion rings, that also goes for the chicken nuggets & any kind of fried fish. Grilled chicken sandwiches (without the roll), or fried chicken where you can remove the breading and just eat the meat, are also viable choices.
One other note on the fast food chains… they’re actually great for breakfast! Any bacon/egg/sausage/ham/cheese sandwich can be eaten without the “bread” for a relatively low carb meal.
Other Quick & Convenient Options
Pizza. Think of the crust as your plate & use a fork to eat the top right off! The more toppings, the better. This is a “before & after” of a recent Cheesesteak Slice I had 😉 Or I’ll get the “Everything” slice, loaded with pepperoni, sausage & all the veggies. Like a white pie? Load it up with spinach & tomatoes and make sure they don’t skimp on the ricotta! Remember: Cheese is your friend.
Roast Beef “Bowl”
Subs. Load up on the meats, cheeses & veggies, and use a fork to eat it out of the roll like a bowl. This “bowl” from Jersey Mike’s is one of my favorites… they also offer the option of ordering any of their subs this way 🙂
See? Not so hard! Just stay away from anything breaded or fried (I have been known to “pick off” the breading from zucchini sticks & calamari… lol), and no fries, rice, quinoa, pasta, couscous & other grains. You’re also going to have to skip desserts while you’re out, unless you can get a bowl of berries. Save your sweets for at home, where you can bake with low-carb sugar substitutes and make your own whipped cream.
Remember that restaurant meals are usually a little heavier on the calories, so you still have to watch it, but you don’t have to stay home & miss all the fun! Do I miss my nachos & would I love a grilled panini? Of course, but overall, eating out is still a most pleasurable experience for me while following keto. 😋
A few more faves…
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This classic breakfast sandwich comes from none other than the infamous 
This right here is one of the best lunches I’ve had in ages… The Lobster Cobb Salad at 
I’m giving the chef special kudos for this dinner I enjoyed at 
As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, I’ll do anything for a little taste of the tropics. Thankfully, there’s 
As a creature of habit, when I find something I like, I tend to stick with it. I originally became obsessed with this “S-Turn Burrito” and ordered it exclusively for many months. The crispy chunks of coconut-sesame battered white fish, mixed with grilled pineapple, cheese, black beans and Sriracha sauce was my be all, end all. The fresh chips and my favorite salsa were just an added bonus.
When I’m feeling a bit on the plump side, I opt for this gluten-free favorite called The Bali Bowl. It features coconut steamed vegetables & grilled chicken, drizzled with a sweet Thai chili sauce over TropiCali rice with a side of blue corn chips. I always feel a little healthier when I eat it (since it doesn’t have any cheese… lol) but it certainly doesn’t lack any flavor or leave me feeling hungry.
Another “light” option is the Oahu Wrap (again pictured in the Tortilla Bowl, but comes standard in a spinach wrap). It features the most delicious piece of teriyaki-seared tuna served with sliced avocado, a mix of black beans, chunks of mango, Mandarin sesame slaw & romaine lettuce. If you’re a big tuna fan, this one will not disappoint.
For those who are not so adventurous (like my 10-year old son), this “Tahitian Fish & Chips” is a tried and true favorite. Crispy coconut-sesame fish fingers are served with Fins tortilla chips and a side of Wasabi Passion dipping sauce. It’s a good size portion, even for an adult… I’ve rarely seen any leftovers from this one. 🙂
Arriving at prime time on a Sunday morning (around 10am), we were told there would be a 15-20 min wait. Luckily, they take your cell number & text you when your table is ready, so you’re free to roam around Asbury Park while you’re waiting. Once we got our call, we were seated quickly & handed the delicious menu to peruse.
The food took a little while to arrive, but we enjoyed the bustling atmosphere and our warm drinks (a tasty Pumpkin Spice Latte for me) while we waited.  And it was worth it…  My two over-easy eggs, covered in Mexican cojita cheese, sat upon a crispy tortilla surrounded by a delicious variety of beans, tomatoes & fresh cilantro. Every bite was a treat. My son devoured a giant Belgian waffle topped with fresh strawberries, and my friend enjoyed her “Bacon & Brie” omelette. Delish!
Now the reason I’m excited about this, is because I found a mix that seems not only healthy, but let’s me put my own spin on the recipe (which I often do anyway). Â The secret ingredient is “Krusteaz Organic Whole Grain Muffin Mix” – sounds perfect, right? Â And it is! Â A plain, health-conscious batter that you can doctor up any way you like & call it your very own. Â All it takes is 2 eggs, a little oil & some milk (and you can even substitute the oil with applesauce if you’re really on the wagon). Â Then you simply add whatever you like… fruit, nuts, etc., and voila… you’ve created your very own specialty muffin. Â By the way, if I have to crack eggs & measure ingredients, that’s certainly baking to me.
After sampling the Chimichurri Style Seitan Sticks, the Crispy Baked Tempeh Buffalo Wings & the Loaded Nachos (which were amazing), I decided to play it safe and get the “Pad Thai” for my entrée. I have to say that I enjoyed it more than my usual “Thai” Pad Thai. It wasn’t as spicy as I usually like, but it was loaded with vegetables (carrots, cabbage, celery & broccoli) and the peanut tamarind sauce was delicious. Topped with toasted peanuts & beautiful, fresh sprouts, I tried not to feel too guilty about the huge mound of stir-fried rice noodles I also consumed.
I had a hard time narrowing it down, but finally decided on the “Pico de Huevos” – a version of the Mexican dish, huevos rancheros, that sounded delicious. The perfectly poached eggs were served on a grilled cornbread muffin & topped with a chipotle hollandaise sauce. Add chorizo, pico de gallo & sliced avocado to create an amazing combination of flavors and textures. And the side of “spuds” were a pure bonus… who doesn’t enjoy a crisp pile of salted chips? Meemom’s is a definite winner, although I have to add that it took over 30 minutes for our food to arrive and like I mentioned, there is oftentimes a substantial wait. Hopefully you can time it right & enjoy this great breakfast & lunch eatery.
On this night, however, we were drawn into 
We started with the Antipasta – a full board of Italian meats, cheeses, bread, olives and roasted peppers. I was in heaven. Next, we went with the “Agrodolce” salad – a delicious blend of baby lettuce, arugula, radicchio, roasted beets & goat cheese with a balsamic vinaigrette – delish. And finally we succumbed to the pizza… the classic Margherita which we jazzed up with some spicy Italian sausage – perfecto! Â Add a few beers and the meal was complete – I cannot wait to go back!!!
Trips and Tastes 