Dining out is so stupid these days

[Anonymous]

Preach.

We're headed to a cabin for the next four days and I am packing 4 days' worth of food. Not even thinking about going out.

Total cost of food for the entire trip: Less than we'd spend for one night out.

[Anonymous]

I still like to go out to eat, but only to places that have a fun or scenic vibe. I love rooftop restaurants and places by the water. To save money, DH and I share food, which works well since portions are invariably oversized. Neither of us drinks alcohol, which also helps keep the price down.

[Anonymous]

I know a young family, parents 30-40 yrs old w/ two little kids, and they eat fast food and order dinner delivered literally at least 5 days a week and then complain that they are having trouble paying rent and other bills. It's like they cannot put 2 and 2 together. I think lots of people are doing this and then wondering where all their money went. While they drink their Starbucks coffee.

[Anonymous]

Eat out but skip the drinks and appetizers. That’s a good way to keep costs down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll still go out for steak bc we can’t get it as tasty. However with a family of 6 it’s always about $200+ so have cut back too.

Reverse sear, my friend. Penzey's Chicago seasoning. It was a pandemic thing of mine to learn how to make a perfect steak. Obviously the cut of meat matters and we spend on some very pricey ones now that I can cook it at home to perfection.

$200 for 6 people all getting steak seems not bad at all so maybe the above doesn't help. But if you, "can't get it as tasty" try the above.

[Anonymous]

OP specifically mentioned Asia, so I'll chime in and say that's why I love traveling to SE Asia. I can spend less in 3 weeks (including hotels and food) than I would staying home with just grocery bills and gas.

Yes, I stay at cheap places

[Anonymous]

Prices are crazy. There is a new restaurant in Falls Church that has entrees in the $50+ range. Went to Jinya recently and ramen is $20. And nothing is that good. I need to get more disciplined and cook more often. I used to love eating out but between the high prices and the lower quality, I need to stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eat out but skip the drinks and appetizers. That’s a good way to keep costs down.

This is part of the eating out experience. If I want a meat and starch and veg with water I can eat at home!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dining out has gotten stupidly expensive. We are eating out way less than we used to.

What I don't understand is why dining out in other first world countries is often cheaper than here. When we go to Western Europe we're always amazed at how much more reasonable it is to have a nice meal out.

Part of the reason is that EU subsidies for agricultural products are nearly twice what they are in the United States.

[Anonymous]

I’m ok with paying more if the food is high quality and tastes good. Most restaurant food is now made with terrible ingredients and inedibly salty/greasy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eat out but skip the drinks and appetizers. That’s a good way to keep costs down.

Drinks are the only thing that restaurants serve that are as good as or better than what people can get at home, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I switched to takeout/delivery almost completely. Chinese isn’t cheap anymore! Mexican is the cheapest (and pizza but that’s for the kid). Indian and Vietnamese are two other options. The rest is ridiculously expensive and frankly not interesting.

Yep. I just order ethnic food these days or eat at similar Asian / Mexican / Indian restaurants

I can make basic American or Italian food at home …tastes just as good as most restaurants and a fraction of the cost!

Even ‘cheap eats’ are now expensive. The Mexican food truck thst came to our neighborhood the other day was charging $15 for 3 tacos. TACOS! Just cheap meats like chorizo or chicken….$15 for a single set. Tacos are now $5 each.

And don’t even get me started on Italian, French, etc. You better have a hefty ass bonus check to get any decent Italian meal because they’re gouging you $30-40 per pasta dish these days. And that’s completely ignoring a typical meal where you’re supposed to order a salad, first course, and entree. Better gave $200-300+ just for two for Italian or French. So overpriced.

Lol what counts as an ethnicity?

[Anonymous]

(precious comment was meant for "ethnic" commenter, not the person who replied.)

[Anonymous]

Service is crap now. Restaurant wait times have increased and/or you need a res two weeks before. Many dishes are gone from the menus. The quality is lower. The prices are higher. The portions are smaller.

So yes we eat out waaaaay less than we used to.

We only eat out fast casual when we have to (need groceries, evening extracurricular activities, etc.). I don’t enjoy that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elections have consequences

This. And raising minimum wage so the prices would go up for restaurants and fast food. Dumb. Tired as I am some days, it’s not worth the cost. Food is expensive enough from the grocery store. Wake up people.

You're complaining about grocery store prices, but you know the people who pick the produce are mostly immigrants, and some illegal, because according to the farmers, Americans don't want the job at $10 to 15/hour.

So, election does indeed have consequences. When you vote for an anti-immigrant, worker visa, you get produce rotting in the fields, and higher food prices.

https://www.npr.org/2022/07/18/1111768365/immigration-bill-food-prices-farmers-h-2a-visas-republicans