Meet Your Early Bird Diner Guides: Andrea and Rich Spitzer

We met in 1960 at age 15, and we've been sharing meals together ever since—65 years of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners as of 2025! Now in retirement, we're dining out earlier more often.

Over the decades, we've had thousands of meals while traveling, working, with friends, or enjoying dinners for two. We're always hunting for new restaurants—not just for dinner, but for every meal. While we have our favorites, discovering food experiences has become a part of our life adventure.

Friends often tell us, "You pick—you always know the new spots!"

Like most diners, we search the Internet, read reviews, and collect recommendations. Some dining discoveries are great, many are inconsistent , others disappoint and we don’t plan to return.

The truth is, we eat at home a lot too. Fortunately for Richard, Andrea is an exceptional cook. Her cooking is often our benchmark for when we dine out.

Still, dining out offers something home cooking can't: the social connections, cultural discoveries, and an experience of place and ambiance that can make a meal memorable.

We're not sophisticated foodies chasing Michelin stars. We simply want good meals that are well-prepared and reasonably priced. We'll splurge occasionally, but for everyday dining, we seek simplicity, convenience, and genuine value.

We're launching our early bird dining adventures in the Chicago area and will share discoveries from our travels near and far.

Let's make early dining special again!