Unfortunately, prices have SOARED since COVID, and we haven't been eating out much (only a few times a year!) since then. As an example, our local Chinese food restaurant was never cheap, and we didn't mind paying a premium for premium cuisine, but our usual take-out order (for three!) went from around $45 to about $85, and we scaled way back since then. Granted, all of us could eat three times on that order, but the pricing is out of control.

Same thing for a local Mexican place. The entrees used to be reasonably priced, and the food was extremely fresh. It was really good Mexican food, and the service was excellent but since COVID the menu prices have literally DOUBLED.

Honestly we've scaled WAY on all restaurant food/eating out as it seems the prices went up everywhere, and at the same time, the quality declined almost universally as well. I generally get better food at home than in most restaurants anyway!

Matt Walsh did a story on why I quit going to restaurants. I think most peoples taste buds have been destroyed by fast food and restaurants have slowly devolved into pure garbage so the people that go all the time don’t even realize how bad it is. In every chain you are essentially getting a dolled up tv dinner supplied to you by one of only 3 main suppliers.

The mom a pop restaurants are your only hope and even most of them use prepackaged for some things to remain competitive.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpypxJlt_8

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 1s1k,

No kidding. Went to a taco joint with the wife. We each had some tacos...nothing special. We had water for drinks, chips with some guacamole. With a tip, $54 for lunch. Yes it was better than Taco Bell...but not that much better.

Local Mexican and Chinese seem to have avoided significant price increases. At least not enough to really notice. Of course the Chinese place is run by Fujianese people and I've been told by other Chinese they engage in money laundering so the food prices aren't the major income source.

Fast food places have gotten out of control. To feed two people it's around $20-$25. Five Guys is like $40-$50 for two. And they got lots of business during COVID because they were open for take out and set up well for it. They raised prices due to the labor shortage that increased wages, but that should have adjusted back now. Same for increased ingredient costs like eggs.

Most sit down chains are warmed over pre-prepared meals from a central kitchen. Glorified microwave meals. The worst is Yats where all they do is pour a bag into a chafing dish and ladle it some over rice. Just sell me the bag I can heat it up myself!

There's a Cooper's Hawk near me that is pretty good, but not cheap. They can't cook a steak right consistently enough to justify the $50 they charge for an 8 oz Fillet. Texas Roadhouse and Outback are the best price/quality for steaks among all the chains.

I eat out a lot during business travel and they raised our guideline from $50 to $75 a day which helped.

Don’t forget the tip cup at Mc Donald’s.

Four restaurants that we have visited have closed
In the last 16 months

I went to Cheesecake Factory tonight in Fort Lauderdale with my GF and actually felt we got a very good meal for $86. 1 soda, chicken taquito app, seared ahi tuna salad, shrimp scampi, and 1 slice of cheesecake.........It's the first meal in a while I felt like I got my moneys worth.

Wife loves Maggiano’s which used to be pretty solid for a chain Italian place, we went this past week for a date night.

It’s been about 2 years since our last visit and it was noticeably different and not in a good way. They got rid of the crusty Italian bread with olive oil and give you these disgusting sweetish fluffy rolls like big Hawaiian rolls with butter. Clearly made in house now by some line cook as they’re barely above biscuits.

Portion sizes were far smaller on much smaller plates and prices were really high and the menu appeared to have been chopped in half with a lot of favorites missing.

Overall the experience was not great and I’m not sure I’ll ever be back.

We tend to prefer to avoid chains, and our area has a ton of great independent restaurants.

Sit down knife and fork meals are going to run 60 bucks minimum.
Take out in a wrapper and a bag still runs half that.
My favorite “ fast food” chain, Culver’s with a military discount runs us just shy of 30 for two of us

For people like my wife and I we don’t eat out much - we volunteer on Friday nights to serve dinner at our VFW post so obviously eat there ( even we have had to increase meal prices - we charge $16 for our fish fry, $25 for our ribs but you get a huge portion, plus dessert all included)
People coming out to support our post ( dinner and drink sales is what keeps the lights on) has slacked some. I just don’t think people have the money

I did something uncharacteristic of me. Yesterday after a shooting match I was headed somewhere to watch a football game, so decided to spin through a fast food drive through to grab something. A burger fries and a drink ( not supersized just regular) was just under $15. I sound like an old man now, but doesn’t seem so long ago a cheeseburger from McDonald’s was 99 cents

We hit In N Out burger about every 10 days. Good burgers, great service and a very clean store. She gets a single with fries and soda, I get a double with fries and soda = $21.85. It just went up a buck. Always fresh and hot.

Culver’s is about $4 higher.

Where I live restaurants are busting at the seams. Every night of the week they’re full. I have no idea how so many people afford it.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Wife loves Maggiano’s which used to be pretty solid for a chain Italian place, we went this past week for a date night.

It’s been about 2 years since our last visit and it was noticeably different and not in a good way. They got rid of the crusty Italian bread with olive oil and give you these disgusting sweetish fluffy rolls like big Hawaiian rolls with butter. Clearly made in house now by some line cook as they’re barely above biscuits.

Portion sizes were far smaller on much smaller plates and prices were really high and the menu appeared to have been chopped in half with a lot of favorites missing.

Overall the experience was not great and I’m not sure I’ll ever be back.

Same thing here in Chicago. We USED to go to Maggiano's all the time. Last time we went it was as you said. I doubt we will go back.

quote:

Originally posted by sigspecops:
Where I live restaurants are busting at the seams. Every night of the week they’re full. I have no idea how so many people afford it.

They can’t. 70% of Americans don’t have $600 for an emergency.

quote:

Originally posted by sigspecops:
Where I live restaurants are busting at the seams. Every night of the week they’re full. I have no idea how so many people afford it.

Easy, credit cards, and debt. They refuse to buckle down during covid, inflation, or anything else. They refuse to change their lifestyle.

Many people are lifeless creatures. They have no hobbies so dining out, sports bars, gambling, whatever, it’s like they have to do it. They go stir crazy too. Can’t relax at home, constantly having to be driving here or there, again they have no hobbies.

And many people are just fat and lazy to cook all their own meals. Nothing wrong with going out a few times a week..I’m talking about people who hit the drive thru breakfast, then go to lunch out, and dinner. Cooking most of their own meals in their own kitchen might as well be hiking Everest without a Sherpa.

quote:

Originally posted by sigspecops:
Where I live restaurants are busting at the seams. Every night of the week they’re full. I have no idea how so many people afford it.

I imagine it can vary by region and the type of restaurants you frequent.
I am seeing more where many of the fast food joints are experiencing a shake out due to high pricing.
One can see going into a restaurant with a better product and increase in service where one can on occasion "splurge" for a lack of a better term.
One thing is for sure that many of us have cut down a LOT because of the inflation.
Doesn't mean everyone doesn't partake every once in a while.

In my area, both at lunchtime, and at dinner time, all the restaurants and fast food stores are busy.

Two bottles of beer and one taco bowl and tip was $40 at Chuy’s last night. Service poor. Table location poor. Food poor.

Here’s a good one. McDonald’s is getting absurd with the prices they’re charging and it’s biting them in the ass:

Lunch today, drove down to McDonald's near my work and go in and use the kiosk as the drive thru was too long. There was a deal for a Filet O Fish for $2.99 so I picked that and an iced tea. Total was like $5.50

The screen says “would you like to add a large fries with that?” So I’m thinking it’s another 2-3 bucks right?

Oh no.

They wanted $4.89

For French fries. You know like 20 cents worth of potatoes?

Yeah that’s a no from me.