$18 for a freakin’ B.L.T. sandwich? These cafes and restaurants have lost their minds

[Anonymous]

A slice of Sbarro vegetable pizza costs $5 at my work cafeteria. I brown-bag my lunch.

[Anonymous]

Yeah we are relatively well-off and honestly food prices didn't bother me until recently.

Like I used to get a cheese sandwich from Wagshals and I went recently for the first time in a while - a cheese sandwich, can soda and bag of chips was $20+. Crazy!

[Anonymous]

Don't go to a bar and order a drink.

[Anonymous]

Are you all in DC? The minimum wage went up.
I have been in restaurant business since 1997 and it has never been so busier. Not sure how fast food is holding up but sit-down restaurants are very busy.
Please stay home whether it's too expensive or whatever your reasons are. I don't care if some close the shop. There is so much work out there right now for low income workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We pretty much stopped eating out because restaurant prices are crazy expensive.

+1
And I'm consistently disappointed with what we get for the inflated prices.

[Anonymous]

I paid $6 for a lemonade and then they turned the iPad towards me so I could tip 20 percent on counter service.

Boy do service people love that iPad—“just answer two questions,” they say.
One is how much are you tipping…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you all in DC? The minimum wage went up.
I have been in restaurant business since 1997 and it has never been so busier. Not sure how fast food is holding up but sit-down restaurants are very busy.
Please stay home whether it's too expensive or whatever your reasons are. I don't care if some close the shop. There is so much work out there right now for low income workers.

Really? because the few times we have been to a restaurant they have been empty. Just last night we went out for dinner, a treat, and this restaurant used to always be full but last night it was empty, except for maybe four parties.

[Anonymous]

CA is bumping up the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20/hour. Your Big Mac will cost you $10.

[Anonymous]

We have also really cut back on take out. When we do, we know which places have deals on certain nights or have figured out orders that are big enough to split or will do like an entree + app instead of 2 full meals.

The other disappointing thing is that the quality of service has gone down despite wages going up. It seems like almost every single time we take out there is an ingredient missing, or the portion is skimpy, or something else wrong that we didn’t catch at the time we took the food home. You would think with online ordering things would be more accurate, but somehow it’s like no one actually pays attention.

I feel like if the quality of the experience was improved the price hike would hurt a little less. But we’re just constantly being expected to pay more for smaller portions and worse service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Same. I just saw that a chicken wrap at a lunch place near my job costs $16. I thought it was a typo but no. $6 for a slice of pizza.

It's a shame for small businesses and all of us that costs are rising and driving away customers. I'm very concerned that as these close shop, power is being even faster concentrated in the hands of the few international companies.

But I also can't justify paying $16 for a sandwich to support small shops. To keep the "vote with the wallet" going, I'm buying direct from farmers with good practices, like Polyface Farms.

In other words you're cooking at home? Why not just say that.

[Anonymous]

If feel better paying more if the money did go to servers and they didn’t work off tips. So done with tipping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you all in DC? The minimum wage went up.
I have been in restaurant business since 1997 and it has never been so busier. Not sure how fast food is holding up but sit-down restaurants are very busy.
Please stay home whether it's too expensive or whatever your reasons are. I don't care if some close the shop. There is so much work out there right now for low income workers.

Well this makes me feel better. I’m not willing to pay these prices, but if other people are then.. good!

[Anonymous]

I am embarrassed to admit that I paid for a $16 hamburger and fries today. DD wanted one so we split it … it was good but it’s not a regular occurrence!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you all in DC? The minimum wage went up.
I have been in restaurant business since 1997 and it has never been so busier. Not sure how fast food is holding up but sit-down restaurants are very busy.
Please stay home whether it's too expensive or whatever your reasons are. I don't care if some close the shop. There is so much work out there right now for low income workers.

Really? because the few times we have been to a restaurant they have been empty. Just last night we went out for dinner, a treat, and this restaurant used to always be full but last night it was empty, except for maybe four parties.

I mean, on Monday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t forget the 25% tip for the cashier!

It was to-go. I paid with a $20 bill, so I let the cashier keep the change — $1.xx — and I legit think they were pissed off. I am done.