I am interested in seeing everyone's tips for eating in restaurants... where do you go, what do you order, and how do people generally react?

To start things off, my suggestion is to Pick the Restaurant!
My best experiences have always been in places that I am certain what to expect. The biggest no-brainer is Spanish tapas, where you can find a multitude of LC dishes a la carte, but stay away from the potato-laden tortilla. This is quickly followed by sushi... try sashimi (without the rice) instead of the rolls, and try pickles, soups, and many serve grilled meats, again a la carte.
In these settings, I am eating no differently than any other customer and I get a night away from cooking!


I have questions about Indian and Chinese--- Beyond the obvious of not ordering naan, rice, or noodles, what about the whole cooking processes? Was that Saag Paneer made with cream or buttermilk? Spare ribs sound great but often have a sweet sauce, meat is covered in cornstarch before being stir fried, and sugar is often a 'secret' ingredient. I feel a bit funny asking how everything is made. Am I being paranoid?

What are everyone's favourites?
thanks!