Honestly, most of the "gaming" comes from (quoting from another response in the thread) decision fatigue. For example...
My wife absolutely hates seafood. So, if I don't want to pick I just start heading in the direction of somewhere like Red Lobster and she'll always think of something else rapidly.
She'll do the same to me with something like a vegetarian place.
What's hilarious is when one of us starts heading somewhere we think the other won't like and they don't change it. We end up eating there and usually have a great time anyway. I've learned to like eggplant that way, and she's started growing more fond of Thai food.
I guess that stuff can probably only work in US of A. Wherever I am going, regardless of the transport method, there are multiple places where we could go in the same direction. You wouldn't be able to find out wherever one is going until the last minute or so.
Not applicable to everywhere in the US, I live in a rural area with 3 population centers that are all roughly equal in distance and each has a variety of restaurants bundled closely, so any counter-ideas would have to come in early or risk wasting time and gas. Although, one could compromise by the driver picking the area and the passenger picking the restaurant once you’re there.
My wife absolutely hates seafood. So, if I don't want to pick I just start heading in the direction of somewhere like Red Lobster and she'll always think of something else rapidly.
She'll do the same to me with something like a vegetarian place.
What's hilarious is when one of us starts heading somewhere we think the other won't like and they don't change it. We end up eating there and usually have a great time anyway. I've learned to like eggplant that way, and she's started growing more fond of Thai food.