A British view: "When the Obamas go out for dinner ..."

What happens when the president of the United States fancies going out for a meal? He brings a lot more burly men in black suits than our prime minister. According to the Washington Post, when the first family visit a restaurant, they eat quietly, say hello to the chef and leave a "nice, but not crazy, tip". It's the Secret Service who really go to town.

(...)

"We only found out about 48 hours before," says Lee Bennett, executive chef at London's Le Pont de la Tour, where in March last year, Gordon Brown ate one of his last meals out as prime minister. Visits to the restaurant bookend the Labour years; shortly after his election in 1997, Tony Blair and wife Cherie dined with Bill and Hillary Clinton there. Bennett was surprised by "how little security Brown had...

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/27/obamas-dinner-secret-service

so this is not surprising, but an interesting read. "a Quick Bite Out" means more to the Obama's than it does to the rest of us.

Of all the things I can criticize the "Obama's" about....I give them a break on this. Thanks for the Post ...because it's good for us to see how they are dealing. It gives them a "human face" which has been lacking in much of their behavior that isn't geared towards their "Pump Us Up" website which fawns and grovels over them, showing Michelle's "FAB FASHIONS" and the GLITZ and BLING of the two daughters who are just little elves...showing off.


They ARE REAL...this is what they have to do. Glad the Guardian put it out there in just "news form."

Glad to see them out trying to be as "normal" as they can.

Their girls have school and such, but they are virtual prisoners of the White House. They need and they should get out to the real world more and meet and greet the people in those restaurants. It is good for their souls and good for them politically to see and hear what the common folk are thinking.

Good idea.

It didn't work for Harry.
But you never know.

You are correct, it is a sad state when they can't get out and mingle.
But, I can't think of the last President who did. I know Andrew Jackson did.

British leader was assassinated.

Anna Lindh was Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs

British queen can ride down the thoroughfare in an open carriage.

on that page, a Guardian article from March 2010. I hadn't seen it before
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/08/obama-secret-service-bodyguards?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487