There are a number of objections to living without a smartphone. Some of these objections ring legitimate and worthy of consideration. Some of them feel frivolous.
The question of where to eat is, at heart, both.
Because while the question of where do you go to eat is so first world a problem it’s effectively a zeroth world problem, it’s also something you deal with every day.
On average, Americans eat a meal out about 5 times per week. So this is relevant.
And you probably figure it out with a smartphone. So let’s talk about how you would do it without one.
Keep a list
I think a list of your favorite restaurants is a great idea, no matter whether you have a smartphone or not.
I know that I personally can never remember where the hell I’ve been recently, and what I’ve liked. I know I’ve been to maybe a dozen restaurants in the course of a month, but I can only remember two of them in any given time.
It’s super frustrating.
This goes back to the Boy Scout-like motto of those without a smartphone: Be prepared. Have a list. Have some addresses and phone numbers. (And closing hours too, because in my hometown of Portland, I know that places close way too early.)
Ask
You can always ask someone.
Perhaps you’re at a bar or other place of business. There’s a solid chance that the people who work there live near the area and can recommend something.
And people love to talk about their favorite restaurants.
I know it sounds alien to ask a stranger anything, but I challenge you on this. It takes a bravery to talk to a stranger, and it’s a skill that we could use more of.
Yes, going out to eat in this way can cause you to be braver. Who knew?
Explore
Sometimes you are traveling, and for whatever reason you don’t have anyone you can ask.
You can always explore. Roll the dice. Take a wander.
In general, city centers are places where you are more likely to find places of the non-chain variety.
If you’re in a car, head away from the freeway and toward the city center. If you’re on foot, take a walk.
Yes, it’s a more haphazard experience, and all you might find is a dive bar serving grease bombs, but it’s not going to kill you.
NBD
I love food, but each meal doesn’t have to be the most perfect transcendent experience. It doesn’t matter that much. If you’re with other people, your company is way more important that where you eat.
And if you’re by yourself, it’s more likely that you can strike up a conversation if you go out alone anyway, if that’s what you want.
It might be slightly more inconvenient to not have access to a smartphone to look up restaurants. But is it all about efficiency? Is that the most important metric? I bet you know how I feel about that.
How about you?
