quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:

I'd rather go to BJs on Wednesday for their burger special for $11 and drink water.

There are a few Sonny's BBQ locations not far from you (one in Apopka, too). Try their big burger ("steakburger") for $10.50. One of the best restaurant burgers that I have had. They will do it medium rare on request.

Report back after you try it.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
Fast food has gotten expensive but I think we are kidding ourselves to say sit down is the same price, I wish. lol

You have to compare apples to apples.

For the price McDonald's or BK now wants to charge for a Big Mac or Whopper meal, you can get a better burger, fries and drink at Chili's or Applebee's or a diner now. Not full meals.

I hear you. Around here eating a Chili's burger, fries, soda, 15% tip is still going to cost at least half again more than a Big Mac combo meal. I can't speak to where you live. Sit down meal prices down here have gone through the roof as much as fast food prices so you won't be saving money in Florida.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
I hear you. Around here eating a Chili's burger, fries, soda, 15% tip is still going to cost at least half again more than a Big Mac combo meal. I can't speak to where you live. Sit down meal prices down here have gone through the roof as much as fast food prices so you won't be saving money in Florida.

Use the app and do pickup, Chili's has them at every location in the area, tipping is up to you depending on the pressure you feel at pickup...

JMO, Chili's burger and fries will be significantly better than a Big Mac

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

JMO, Chili's burger and fries will be significantly better than a Big Mac

No comparison. Chili's burger is actual food; Big Mac is <???>

Watch how you actually order any thing from any fast food joints.. Example--McDonalds # 1 meal vs a big mac /fries and drink. Both are exactly the same except the way it is ordered and placed into the computer But they are not the same price... ......... drill sgt.

In the future, all restaurants are Taco Bell.

quote:

Originally posted by mcrimm:
We generally stop at Chili’s, Culver’s, In ‘N Out, or Jersey Mikes. Service is excellent at all of these and the prices are reasonable.

Everyone defines those things subjectively; got it. But you are close to $15 for a regular sandwich combo at Jersey Mike's. This is for cold cuts, folks. Not reasonable in my mind. Subway isn't far off, either.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
In the future, all restaurants are Taco Bell.

Someone explain the three seashells to me. I still don’t understand.

Here are prices as of 5 minutes ago:

I downloaded the app and the cheapest burger for carry out from Chili’s is $13 without a soda. Using the McDonald’s app, a Big Mac, large fries and large soda is $10 before using the 25% off coupon, so $7.50 after the coupon. Looks like a burger, fries, and soda at Chili’s would be at least double a Big Mac meal here.

On the other hand, $12.50 at the Burg’r Bar gets you a better burger and fries than Chili’s.

They are all pricing themselves out of my market.

Fourteen or so of the local McDonalds are owned by a former CFO for McDonalds Corp. Before COVID, the service was really good, but took a severe turn for the worse during COVID and has not recovered. It isn’t worth my time and effort to go there.

No way, they are doing fine just fine here .

In fact five new places have come in near us . (20 mile radius)

We used to eat for $7.00 a piece now it's up to $14.50 each plus tip.

The food offerings are better, most of the time the service is better.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bendable, April 27, 2024 06:13 PM

Fast food used to be the fast, simple, cheap option. These days it is no longer that. Society can't just order off the menun...it all has to be customized to their preference and the expectation is perfection.

Back in college (20 years ago), I ate a lot of McDonalds. Not because it was what I wanted, but I was working through lunch breaks trying to squeeze in 30+ hours at work and a full class schedule, basically broke, and there was a McDs right across the street from the office. For $3 +tax I could get 2 Double-Cheeseburgers and a McChicken and be back to work in less time than most people's smoke breaks. Even when the line was long, you barely stopped moving...you rolled through, talked into the crummy speaker, they packaged up your crappy food from under the heat lamp, tossed it in a bag, took your money and you were on your way. No, it wasn't gourmet, but it got the job done. If you wanted something better, you could go somewhere else.

These days you sit in line for 20 minutes behind a soccer mom special-ordering every item down to the finest detail for each of her picky little rugrats, wait for them to make her order, wait for them to make yours, pay $15-20, and end up with basically the same crap I was getting for $3 back in the day. The demands of the customer base have destroyed the product. Thankfully I never eat out any more.

quote:

These days you sit in line for 20 minutes behind a soccer mom special-ordering every item down to the finest detail …

As for the OP, no, they won't go extinct, but are getting - and will continue to get - more expensive, and in the highest cost of living states, there will no doubt be some restructuring, including but not limited to more mechanization. Some stores that were already marginally profitable to begin with will get closed.

Sadly, that's a real thing. We do actually get those calls. That dispatcher was awesome, lol.

quote:

Originally posted by hudr:
Also bear in mind….the same generation that stares at their phones and ignores customers are also, from what I have seen, unable of cooking anything that requires anything more complex than a microwave.
They will continue to pay these prices for fast food and complain about capitalism.

Not ALL kids are like this, but there are a bunch of them.

They also don’t mind waiting because they just stare at their phone and don’t want to interact with anyone in person. I think people would be surprised how many people think fast food is just a food bill and will actually pay to get a burger or tacos delivered to their place.


My wife has to look at mesical bills from people looking for a break and the people will be hones since they are trying to show how little extra cash they have at the end of the month. I asked her what percentage are in financial trouble because of eating or drinking away from home. She said if “I said 80% it would probably be low”.

Because of those things I don’t see it slowing down much.

Chili's is smart for doing this if you ask me as people get more and more price conscious in this era of inflation:

Chili's takes aim at McDonald's with new burger to rival the Big Mac

quote:

Chili's is taking on McDonald's with the launch of a new 'Big Smasher' burger to rival the Big Mac.

The Texan restaurant chain launched the Big Smasher at the end of April in an attempt to offer a cheaper and heftier alternative to its fast food competitors who have hiked prices.

A Big Mac Meal in Branford, Conneticut, costs $14.69, according to the McDonald's app. At a nearby Chilli's in East Haven, a Big Smasher - with fries, a drink and a starter - is $10.99 when as part of the '3 for Me' value meal.

The Big Smasher also contains nearly half a pound of beef - almost twice as much as its McDonalds competitor, according to Brian Paquette, Chili's director of culinary.

I do not eat fast food. Lots of reasons why. I think I ate fast food in college. We never did when I was a kid. Always ate at home.

Locally, if I take my wife to McD's, it costs 25 bucks. If I take her to Cattleman's for a similar meal, it costs 28 bucks plus tip, great service, a comfortable environment, etc. I'll lay out the extra 3 bucks and maybe eat out a bit less. One yeah, the other McD's in town in drive thru only. I WILL NOT get in a drive thru line.