I would probably just say "it's fine." The word satisfactory sounds too proper and negative...
Q: My wife and I frequently eat at restaurants. It is common for waiters - or even the manager - to ask during or after the meal whether we like the food. Sometimes, when the food is not good, I say so. What usually follows is an overblown show of concern that I find disingenuous and unproductive. Eager to avoid this sort of scene, I often lie and say "everything is fine," even when it isn't. This works well, but my wife and I are expecting our first daughter soon, and I don't like the idea of casually lying in front of her once she is old enough to understand. What is a polite, truthful way of answering the question of "How do you like the food?" without instigating an overblown response?
A: "It is satisfactory, thank you." Presumably this is truthful, because you are eating the food, and if it were unsatisfactory, you should have sent it back. Such a tepid comment will expose the question for what it is - brazen fishing for compliments.
-From WPost's Miss Manners (July 29, 2009)
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I agree. According to some dictionaries, "satisfactory" means adequate or acceptable, both of which have more negative connotation than positive in everyday use.
I may even say "it's okay" to show less enthusiasm than “fine” or “good,” if I want to send off the vibe that I am not quite happy with the meal.
It occurred to me as I was writing this, however, that it is perhaps the tone of our speech/delivery, which sends the message, rather than what we say.
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