What’s Your “Stand in Line” vs. “Fuck This, We’re Leaving” Over/Under?

WHAT’S YOUR “STAND IN LINE” TIME LIMIT?

Call this a food line over/under poll.

A few nights ago, Marieta and I made a rare venture to Downtown Las Vegas. We wanted to dine at Tony Roma’s, inside the Fremont. Years ago, the classic rib joint had been one of our frequent go-to’s, but then we stopped going around the time COVID hit, and haven’t been back since then. So, we were looking forward to “reconnecting” with a couple of full racks slathered in bbq sauce. Call it rekindling a romance.

We walked into the casino and arrived just as they opened up at 4:30. Tony Roma’s doesn’t take reservations. We were stunned and disappointed when we saw 100-150 hungry customers standing in line. Maybe more, it was hard to estimate. The line went from the front door all the way into the sportsbook. No doubt, if we joined the line, we probably wouldn’t make “the first seating.” Ah yes — “the first seating,” which sounds like a chapter in the food bible. That meant the next batch of customer-losers would be forced to wait in holy hell purgatory until at least one round of diners had finished up, paid the bill, and were out the door. Man, screw that.

Staring at that long line snaking slowly into the door, one party seated at a time, was like food torture. Marieta and I were crushed. And starving. Nothing whets the appetite more than denial. We stood there pondering the best move (a $20 bill might have bumped us into the “VIP” line in the Old Las Vegas, but that era is long gone). We agreed no meal was worth the wait.

This got me to thinking about how long we are willing to wait in lines and how our tolerance differs depending on each situation. Obviously, in some instances like airports, lines are unavoidable and must be factored into the travel time. However, what about optional circumstances? How much is your time really worth?

Repeating for emphasis–How much is your time worth? I’ve already attacked the Costco gas hogs who wait in lines to save .20 a gallon, idling for several minutes….so I surely am not *standing* in any damn lines in the middle of a casino.

I’m having trouble coming up with a number. What’s your O/U? Like all things Las Vegas, this is a city where the answer to any question is — it depends.

Question #1 — How long would you wait in a line for a solid “go to” meal (think of a place like Tony Roma’s)?

Question #2 — What if it was a first-class restaurant and someone else was paying or the meal was free? Would you be willing to wait longer?

It’s easy for me to make my own decisions, or for us to make a joint decision together when we dine out as a couple. Things can get much tricker when other people are involved or the other dining options might be limited.

As for me, I can’t imagine waiting for longer than perhaps 20-25 minutes, no matter how good it is or who is paying. But that’s just me.

Sad thing is, I doubt if we’ll return anytime soon to Tony Roma’s. I’m filing for a baby back divorce.