Inflation has hit everything HARD this year and I’m starting to see it eating out at places where I knew the old prices.

There’s a little Chinese hole in the wall takeout place near work I used to run out to every once in a while for a fast and (then) cheap lunch: two eggrolls and a pint of wonton soup. I distinctly recall it costing 4 dollars and change in years past. Went there this week for the first time in about a year and picked that up. You know how much it cost me this time? $7.89 And the eggrolls were not the usual big fat ones either now, they were smaller and skimpier almost the size of spring rolls.

A few months back my wife and I went to a local craft beer place called Sly Fox; it’s actually their brewing facilities where they have a tasting room where you can get all their beers, pizzas, sandwiches, wings etc. They were known for their large, juicy wings roasted in a wood pizza oven so we ordered some. You USED to get a full dozen of nice fat wings and drumettes for around $12 as I recall which even then seemed a little pricy but hey wings are popular and supply & demand and all that. We were served just nine of THE scrawniest, sorry little wings you ever saw. Price? 19 DOLLARS.

I really wonder how many restaurants are going to go under during Biden’s administration because people stop going due to these prices. It’s not gonna be pretty.

Totally agree.

On the subject of chicken wings, it’s hard to even find frozen ones to make in my air fryer at home.

We have pizza Friday at home every Friday. It’s movie and game night and pizza chow down.

My wife spent 44 dollars on 2 pizzas from a local place. Prices have always been great at this especially for the amount of food you get. Those same 2 pizzas used to cost 29 and change just a few months back.

Those are pick up prices not delivery so there’s no tip there.

During the pandemic years we stopped going out to restaurants. This last Cinco de Mayo we ordered take out from a local Mexican restaurant for four adults here at home. We try to be conservative with our finances but our bill was $70 before tip.

We talked about next year prepping homemade dishes before hand for Cinco de Mayo.

Guess our restaurant days are over ... with the exception of the breakfast mornings with the local Sig Forum guys.

This week I went to Freebirds (a burrito place in Texas that has expanded rapidly).

I got a regular burrito bowl with chicken. I added guacamole and an iced tea. $18! For a fast-food burrito joint.

Not their fault, of course. I had my dad in town this past weekend and every morning I took him to a different place for breakfast. Every single one of them had someone apologize up front that they were short staffed and if things took longer they were sorry.

At an Original Pancake house - two people having breakfast and coffee. $40. For an omelette for me and French toast for him.

Yep. A local burger drive-thru used to have a cheeseburger, fries, and medium drink for four and change. Now it's seven and change, and the burger is the same thickness as the cheese slice.

My coworker and I were saying the other day that it’s $20 for lunch out now. Used to be $8 to $12.

quote:

Originally posted by h2oys:
Totally agree.

On the subject of chicken wings, it’s hard to even find frozen ones to make in my air fryer at home.

I saw an article the other day that many places are putting wings at "Market price" on their menu.

Market price means fish or lobster tails, not chicken wings!

My coffee that I would buy for $16 per 12oz bag is now $21. Boom. Just like that. Had to drop down to their house blend for my "good" cup of coffee that I treat myself to twice a day on the ship.

Gustofer, you made me laugh!

quote:

I really wonder how many restaurants are going to go under during Biden’s administration because people stop going due to these prices. It’s not gonna be pretty.

^^^^^^^^^^^^
Some will, but the creative restaurants will survive. The Carter years were worse but we made it through. A change in Administration would help.

Local lunch prices without drinks start at $10.99 now or more. Buffets start at $14.99.

I like McDonald's fries and Coke. The basic dollar menu is gone. What used to be around a $4.30 lunch is now nearly $7.00. The local sandwich shop no longer has lunch or senior specials and has raised prices significantly.

It's not that I can't afford the prices, but I'm not going to pay cloth tablecloth, real silverware, and crystal goblet dinner prices for fast food.

People have been eating out multiple times per week for years. Very few people take the time to cook nice meals at home. I think people will complain about it just like gas prices and will keep driving big SUV's on the way to their favorite restaurants.

I don't see prices ever going back down. I really only go to two restaurants and they are both just as busy as they have ever been. No need to reduce prices they are making money hand over fist.

Went to mind of a dive place for a burger tonight up by wife's dad's place. I don't know what it used to cost for a burger and fries there, but it wasn't the $14 it was tonight. I was a little surprised. Quality was still very good, though.

Restaurants are passing on the same rising costs you see in the grocery store. Food shortages are coming. Biden told us so. He was right about the largest and most comprehensive voter fraud system ever put in place so I'd heed his warning on this. Keep your freezers and pantry's full as possible. Prices in stores have been and will continue to rise. This bird flu is causing farmers to slaughter and dispose of millions of chickens and turkeys. Farmers in the midwest are having difficulty getting into fields for spring planting due to rains and fertilizers if the seed gets in the ground are getting very difficult to come by. Oh and food processing plants seem to be catching fire on a regular basis recently.

All Putin's fault of course.

A burger, fries and bottle of water cost me over $20 at Five Guys this week. It used to be $12-14.

Time to buy several 15 pound bags of rice at the Asian store.

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
This bird flu is causing farmers to slaughter and dispose of millions of chickens and turkeys. Farmers in the midwest are having difficulty getting into fields for spring planting due to rains and fertilizers if the seed gets in the ground are getting very difficult to come by. Oh and food processing plants seem to by catching fire on a regular basis recently.

Yep. We're seeing it locally on a small level. It will be getting much worse in the months/years to come.

Texas Roadhouse used to have the Roadkill for $9.99 and it's now $13. Not a big deal, but it's basically a burger. Their smallest ribeye went up $6 to $21. Nothing crazy, but they are going up.