Eating out no longer worth it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who else has drastically cut back on eating out? We cook our own meals often (and well, to be fair) but loved the occasional night out as a couple/family, or just me to go out to lunch with friends.

Just can’t anymore. Prices have increased so much and service/quality has decreased. It’s just no longer enjoyable nor economically feasible.
Even our favorite places have been slipping for the past year or so.

stopped all Starbucks, and Fast Food. still do dinners but limited. no more high end Ruth Chris nonsense anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WSJ touched on this theme in an article yesterday about how people are shifting to eating mainly appetizers when they eat out to save on costs and now restaurants are changing their menus. Buried in the article was that average spend per check has declined at about half the restaurants and profits have also declined.

While places may seem packed, there's clearly more to it than meets the eye.

Could you share a gift link, please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to love eating out. Restaurants were kind and of a hobby. Now, the food is ridiculously expensive and it isn’t good anymore. Even at old favorites. Restaurants were struggling over the pandemic and raised prices. They’re no longer struggling (the ones near me are packed, no matter the prices) but are still charging exorbitant prices for mediocre food. I definitely need a new hobby.

I have picked up an ethnic cooking hobby. The food is often inexpensive to prepare once you have basics, and places like Weeeee! Have terrific produce and meats cheap, shipped to your door.

[Anonymous]

I eat out 1-2 times a week still. However, it's just me and my daughter and she is not a huge eater. I do it because I am not the best cook and she will eat/try more things when we eat out. We have a few favorites that we can walk to.
It is also for when I need a break. There is a McDonald's with a play area that keeps my daughter busy for some time. I don't really eat out socially with friends anymore like I did when I was younger - that used to be expensive.
My New Years resolution is to meal plan better so I am not stopping to pick up something to eat during the work day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree. We rarely eat it. It isn’t even the price. Food quality and service is just so bad at majority of places.

The only places I will eat out in are niche casual cafes that hand make their own small, specific menu (think, make their own breads, roast their own meats, make their own dressings and sauces, etc).

I have no desire to eat the Gordon/Sysco slop majority of restaurants heavily incorporate, plus charge more (but I wouldn’t eat even if free) plus bad service.

It’s this for me. I use Gordons for a volunteer gig and it’s been eye opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WSJ touched on this theme in an article yesterday about how people are shifting to eating mainly appetizers when they eat out to save

And appetizers have gotten crazy. I used to enjoy time with friends at Coopers Hawk, but even when we switched to apps, those are $16-$19!

[Anonymous]

Agree Op. We cut back a ton, and somehow still spent $300+ on restaurants in December.

So prices are rising significantly. It’s not like we completely stayed away. (Then it would have been $0) But I thought we were going sooo few times. True, a big lessening in # of outings, but with prices going up it was still a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

Once a week for us, simply because I need the break. We spend around $60 for our family of 3. But honestly, I’d spend around $20 to cook a meal at home, so it’s worth the $40 to me.

I HAVE been spending less on things like Starbucks, random snacks when out and about, gas station drinks, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree. We rarely eat it. It isn’t even the price. Food quality and service is just so bad at majority of places.

The only places I will eat out in are niche casual cafes that hand make their own small, specific menu (think, make their own breads, roast their own meats, make their own dressings and sauces, etc).

I have no desire to eat the Gordon/Sysco slop majority of restaurants heavily incorporate, plus charge more (but I wouldn’t eat even if free) plus bad service.

It’s this for me. I use Gordons for a volunteer gig and it’s been eye opening.

Both of you posters, tell me more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree. We rarely eat it. It isn’t even the price. Food quality and service is just so bad at majority of places.

The only places I will eat out in are niche casual cafes that hand make their own small, specific menu (think, make their own breads, roast their own meats, make their own dressings and sauces, etc).

I have no desire to eat the Gordon/Sysco slop majority of restaurants heavily incorporate, plus charge more (but I wouldn’t eat even if free) plus bad service.

It’s this for me. I use Gordons for a volunteer gig and it’s been eye opening.

Both of you posters, tell me more.

I'm the PP with the volunteer gig. Before this position, I had no idea that food service stores existed. Now, I'm the one buying the soups, apps, frozen scrambled eggs, desserts, quiches, lasagnas, etc. to feed large numbers of people at my kid's club sporting events.

The food is...fine. It's prepackaged, industrial stuff but okay in its way. At least okay for our purposes. But, I can recognize it at times in restaurants. Gordon's is sold all over the place. I don't want to pay money in a restaurant for this. I could buy it myself directly from the store if I wanted at a fraction of the cost but I definitely don't want to do that.

[Anonymous]

What is Gordons? What is a food service store? Is this open to the public or restaurant supplier?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is Gordons? What is a food service store? Is this open to the public or restaurant supplier?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is Gordons? What is a food service store? Is this open to the public or restaurant supplier?

+1

NP here. Have you ever seen a Sysco truck behind a restaurant. Seems like it’s a large food supplier. I assume the same for Gordon’s
I think what pp was is that so many restaurants are serving prepped stuff. Reheat and done.

Why eat out if we can reheat groceries at home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was going over this year's expenses. We spent $4K going out to eat/takeout last year. That's absurd. The worst thing was there was only one memorable meal.

Our family gets takeout/eats out about once a week. This is going away in 2024. I'm going to start making dinners to pop in the freezer, or just stock up on Costco frozen stuff when I don't feel like cooking.

I got an instant pot on sale and find it handy and quick for weeknight meals.

I've been fighting this because I don't want another appliance for my small kitchen, but I may give in and buy one (or an air fryer!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who else has drastically cut back on eating out? We cook our own meals often (and well, to be fair) but loved the occasional night out as a couple/family, or just me to go out to lunch with friends.

Just can’t anymore. Prices have increased so much and service/quality has decreased. It’s just no longer enjoyable nor economically feasible.
Even our favorite places have been slipping for the past year or so.

We completely agree with you. Even delivery has gotten too expensive and often isn't tasty.