Knives for dinner out

[jackknifeh]

If I was at a very nice place and the knife was especially dull I would pull out a knife of mine. I would have one that looked nice. I'd probably take a Gayle Bradley if I thought I might use it to eat. I've used it at home for eating and it is a nice steak knife. I would also mention it to the waitor because if I was having a difficult time cutting a nice and expensive steak it would take away from a nice experience. I think that is trivial and whiney maybe but I don't care. If I'm paying for the best in food, surroundings, etc. I expect to at least have a sharp knife. I would think an establishment that didn't care or think about that to be below the standards of a nice place. That's just me though. Having to work at cutting a good steak is rediculous when in public or at home. If I were at a "standard" place like Ryan's or something along those lines I'd use my knife and not care which one it is. Maybe the Manix2 would come out. If I thought I may get "looks" I might take a tactical, military looking fixed blade. I figure if I'm going to get "looks" I may as well get some good ones.

A.G. Russell has a couple of folding steak knives for just this purpose as well as others I'm sure. Two I rememer is one for around $25 and the other was around $100.

Jack

[The Deacon]

I've done it more than a few times. Mostly when I was working and a few of us would go out to lunch on payday. Knife I used most often was my lignum vitae Stretch.

I sure wouldn't unless you are all close friends. Business dinners are sometimes awkward already.

The only time I might use a Spydie at dinner is if at a BBQ or burger place, something informal. Just me personally; do what feels right.

I could be wrong, but the way read it "the boss" the OP is referring to is his wife.

[dj moonbat]

Plates are hell on an edge. If they supply a knife, I use theirs.

[BadFish]

When out it's obvious I have a edc on me. Usually I've never needed to use it for cutting food. When I eat out and order a steak it's usually so bloody rare it pulls apart with the fork. Now if a time comes when my edc needs to be used you can bet that I won't be shy to use it nor will I find it tacky.

[D1omedes]

Use the Supplied flatware.....

Anything else is incredibly tacky to say the least....

That is unless one is eating at a place were they serve on paper plates and most of the people there are wearing wife beaters....

While I agree, there are times that warrant the use of your Spydie. I was at Panera and had to cut something. The knife provided was beyond dull. I got annoyed and used my Caly 3. Got some looks but it was fine by me.

[ChapmanPreferred]

I have a pair of AUS8 SE Delica's that I bring along when we go out for steaks. However, the steaks we order would not "require" a really sharp cutting edge but we use them anyway.

[sharpguitarist]

hey guys,
i've used my zulu at texas roadhouse before.
fell through my medium rare fillet with hardly any effort.
the waiter even made a comment about how well it seemed to work.

later,
don

[bh49]

I never had a problem to use provided steak knife at any decent place around here. If knife would fail to cut, I would rather ask a waiter a different knife that pulling out my EDC.

[CWO]

I can't imagine doing that.

[rondv]

I never had a problem to use provided steak knife at any decent place around here. If knife would fail to cut, I would rather ask a waiter a different knife that pulling out my EDC.

I'd ask the waiter for a different steak. If I'm out for a nice steak and have to use a to cut it I went to the wrong place.

[BadFish]

I'd ask the waiter for a different steak. If I'm out for a nice steak and have to use a to cut it I went to the wrong place.

My thoughts exactly

[deputy tom]

I have used an Endura in the past and will do it again if needed.Usually at a BBQ/steak fry,etc.YMMV.tom.

[Ankerson]

If I was at a steak place and the knives they suppled wouldn't cut it then I am really at the wrong place all the way around so I would just get up an leave and never go back.

If a steak is cooked properly one should be able to cut it with a butter knife, if not then it's not worth eating in the 1st place.

I NEVER have had to use my personal knives in any restaurant EVER.... That's here in the States and abroad when I used to travel a lot.

[Rockcrawler]

If I was at a steak place and the knives they suppled wouldn't cut it then I am really at the wrong place all the way around so I would just get up an leave and never go back.

If a steak is cooked properly one should be able to cut it with a butter knife, if not then it's not worth eating in the 1st place.

I NEVER have had to use my personal knives in any restaurant EVER.... That's here in the States and abroad when I used to travel a lot.

+1 on properly cooked steak! Heck if its just right even the side of a fork will almost do it.

Though I often bust out my Spydie at the cafeteria at my work simply cause its more fun...

[Anonymous]

If the people you are with wouldn't think it was odd and the knife provided was dull then go for it. Frankly, I don't care what strangers think. If you try to impress everyone you will never succeed.

[Halfneck]

Used my SE ZDP-189 Delica a few time for exactly that.

Fully agree that if my steak was a good cut & properly cooked, I should be able to easily cut through it. But there are those times you end up eating somewhere because it was picked by someone else. Regardless, most times I just cut stuff with the side of my fork. Of course, since I can only use 1 arm/hand, my situation is a bit different.

[DRKBC]

On 1st dates or job interviews I usually pull out my Warrior at the finer dining establishments ... I haven't had a need for a 2nd date knife yet and I am currently unemployed.

[Tank]

Oh yeah! I love busting out the Millie or Stretch for steak or pizza.
hickster

I use one of these two when going out to dinner as well. I have never had anybody give me strange looks or say anything so I dont worry about it.

[psychophipps]

You guys all obviously have very different outings experiences than I have had in my life. Whenever I go out to a church function, a family BBQ out at a camp site, or any other outside eating activity the A#1 thing that gets overlooked is decent knives. Oh, they usually have some war club that will mash the french bread into a pita and is good for slathering peanut butter/jelly and not much else. Now add that the most common item to get the heave onto the floor at a restaurant due to an unfortunate series of events is the knife they gave you because you set it aside, usually close to the table edge, during the appetizer and salad portions.

So you have the option of sitting there like a putz because you might hurt some weinnie's feelerz because you carry a decent cutting tool just for such occasions and the thought of a pocket knife or small fixed blade makes them wake up with a loud gasp and cold sweats. Or you whip out the tool that you bought for "separating things" ,like Sal says, and calmly hand it over to the lady that needs it so everyone can get a decent piece of french bread or so people don't stare between you and their cooling food while you try to flag down your waiter for another steak knife you might get in next 5-10 minutes because they feel bad starting before you do.

I was raised to do three things whenever they came about:
1) To lift heavy things when a woman needs it.
2) To take care of "alarming things" when a woman needs it.
3) To always have a sharp knife handy when a woman needs it.

If a man can't handle these three basic duties, well...they were simply raised differently than I was.

I have the tools I carry handy for a reason. This doesn't mean that I toss a proffered steak knife, or any other suitable tool, over my shoulder and whip out my Street Beat like a wanker every chance I get, guys. Having done it in the past and doing it constantly to "show off" are completely different things.

[INFRNL]

Wow, I did not expect this many responses. But it turned out really well and I have enjoyed reading them all. Some good stuff posted.

I agree that restaurants should either cook the food properly, but hard to find unless its a 5star place or supply you with adequate utinsels.

If I was with friends out camping; I would not hesitate; especially since we always tend to forget things like cutting tools.

I have only used my cat once at a fairly fancy pizza place. This is the only pizza I eat using a knife for some reason. I was just lazy and didn't go back to get a knife. Didn't care cause the beer had taken over. My wife got a kick out of it too and thought I was crazy/silly