Dining out is so stupid these days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minimum wages have increased. That money doesn’t come from no where. They must increase their costs.

People keep repeating this as a reason for high prices. but the fact is that corporate profits are sky-high.

Local places aren’t corporations. They’re still gouging consumers through the nose with prices. Keep on blabbing about nebulous ‘corporations’….meanwhile the stupid restaurant owned by a local is charging you $20 for 8 chicken wings before tax and tip.

So what? That's what it costs. They don't get any corporate incentives. They charge what they have to charge to stay open. But at least money made in the community stays in the community and gets reinvested into the community. I'll take that over a big corporation any day

They're price gouging you and your response is 'so what'? No, I actually feel less ripped off going to a Chipotle or Chick FilA than I do when I go to the local establishment charging $22 a burger, $16 for a cocktail, and $9 for a beer. Local places are such a ripoff.

[Anonymous]

All the things listed above

But much of this comes down to restaurant ownership. They've always been narcissists. But during covid, many developed hero complexes. Ant they became accustomed to cheating everyone - their employees, their customers, delivery drivers - for the "greater good." And they never adjusted to a post covid world.

70 percent of DC area restaurants need to die. Creative destruction. Let a new generation of restauranteurs come forth. Because dining out sucks in the DC area right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the things listed above

But much of this comes down to restaurant ownership. They've always been narcissists. But during covid, many developed hero complexes. Ant they became accustomed to cheating everyone - their employees, their customers, delivery drivers - for the "greater good." And they never adjusted to a post covid world.

70 percent of DC area restaurants need to die. Creative destruction. Let a new generation of restauranteurs come forth. Because dining out sucks in the DC area right now.

Agree

[Anonymous]

What’s happening now..in the restaurant industry, cars, grocery store food etc is that the owners are trying to hang on to their profit margins. Some businesses are trying to recoup lost profits from the pandemic and other are learning that it’s more profitable to sell less at a higher profit margin than sell more at lower margins.

For restaurants, prices will not go down until the restaurants start losing money. There is simply no competition with lower prices.

Cars are really interesting. Car dealers stopped ordering entry level models because there were enough customers willing to buy up at full list if there were no other options. Now car manufacturers have dropped their entry level models in response. Car dealers are selling fewer cars but making a higher profit. They are banking on the idea that people will accept much higher service and maintenance costs because it’s a nicer car. If customers don’t they are screwed because lower volume means less service contracts which is where they used to make their money.

On restaurants, many will die. It’s taking longer because until interest rates come down fewer new restaurants will emerge. The pre pandemic ones who are carrying a ton of debt are surviving on high prices and profit margins. If enough old debt free new restaurants emerge and consumers reject the high prices, the new restaurants will be able to lower prices but that won’t happen until there is enough competition and consumer demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Biden is responsible for inflation and the recession we are in, not Trump. So yes, elections have consequences. Remember that when you vote in November 2024.

I’d rather pay more for a burger than have a president who emboldens and invites white nationalists, racists and anti-Semites to destroy our country. That’s what I’ll be remembering in 2024.

First of all, how very out of touch and privileged of you to have that opinion. Second, Trump is not a racist, but there are plenty of clips of Biden saying very racist things, so be careful about using the racist claim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Biden is responsible for inflation and the recession we are in, not Trump. So yes, elections have consequences. Remember that when you vote in November 2024.

I’d rather pay more for a burger than have a president who emboldens and invites white nationalists, racists and anti-Semites to destroy our country. That’s what I’ll be remembering in 2024.

First of all, how very out of touch and privileged of you to have that opinion. Second, Trump is not a racist, but there are plenty of clips of Biden saying very racist things, so be careful about using the racist claim.

MAGA got triggered.

[Anonymous]

It’s the rise in quick-service restaurants that gets me. My standard Sweetgreen order is $20. For a salad! Potbelly used to be a cheap lunch, but now a sandwich alone is over $12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s the rise in quick-service restaurants that gets me. My standard Sweetgreen order is $20. For a salad! Potbelly used to be a cheap lunch, but now a sandwich alone is over $12.

Same. I got a standard size, no extra meat/cheese/specialty topping Potbelly yesterday and it was almost 13 dollars. It used to be like 6! Pret a Manger also shocked me. I got 3 of their half sandwiches (so basically 1.5 sandwiches and it was around $25. That's ludicrous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minimum wages have increased. That money doesn’t come from no where. They must increase their costs.

People keep repeating this as a reason for high prices. but the fact is that corporate profits are sky-high.

Local places aren’t corporations. They’re still gouging consumers through the nose with prices. Keep on blabbing about nebulous ‘corporations’….meanwhile the stupid restaurant owned by a local is charging you $20 for 8 chicken wings before tax and tip.

I think some local restaurants adopted this attitude during Covid like they should be treated like a non profit or a charity. Like "we're a struggling local business, you need to help us out." Because during Covid when everything got shut down, workers and businesses really did need help to get by (and got it in the form of federal and local assistance, unemployment, etc.). But now everything is open and it's still like "come on, you have to help us out with these fees and paying these super high prices, we're a restaurant during Covid, we're still struggling." And I'm like... ok but you are open for business. If people aren't showing up or you still can't pay your bills with what's coming in, at this point it's no longer a "help us out" situation. Either your business is viable or not. You are a for-profit business, not a charity.

100% agree. During lockdowns and such, I was happy to pay more and tip high because I knew they were struggling. Now they’re not but they want all the same grace plus extra fees and worse service with your messed up orders. No thanks. If you can’t operate a restaurant without running like that, don’t open a restaurant I guess

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Biden is responsible for inflation and the recession we are in, not Trump. So yes, elections have consequences. Remember that when you vote in November 2024.

Actually, the Republicans in Congress and their obstructionism are responsible, not Biden.

And we won’t be voting for Trump, or DeSantis, or any of the other We Have No Platform Republicans in 2024. Never fear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minimum wages have increased. That money doesn’t come from no where. They must increase their costs.

People keep repeating this as a reason for high prices. but the fact is that corporate profits are sky-high.

Local places aren’t corporations. They’re still gouging consumers through the nose with prices. Keep on blabbing about nebulous ‘corporations’….meanwhile the stupid restaurant owned by a local is charging you $20 for 8 chicken wings before tax and tip.

So what? That's what it costs. They don't get any corporate incentives. They charge what they have to charge to stay open. But at least money made in the community stays in the community and gets reinvested into the community. I'll take that over a big corporation any day

Then they don’t need to stay open, because that’s absurd. They can close their restaurant (there are already far more than we need) and go work for someone else. Done.
L

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Biden is responsible for inflation and the recession we are in, not Trump. So yes, elections have consequences. Remember that when you vote in November 2024.

I’d rather pay more for a burger than have a president who emboldens and invites white nationalists, racists and anti-Semites to destroy our country. That’s what I’ll be remembering in 2024.

First of all, how very out of touch and privileged of you to have that opinion. Second, Trump is not a racist, but there are plenty of clips of Biden saying very racist things, so be careful about using the racist claim.

You’re insane. I bet you actually believe the total BS you just typed.

[Anonymous]

Clydes has a 3.75% surcharge. They claim it’s because of higher food costs, higher wages, and supply chain issues. Isn’t something like that supposed to be included in the price of the food? There’s not a separate charge for rent or utilities.

The prices of the entrees are up and the portions are smaller. I’m expected to tip 20%. A burger starts at $16. By the time you add in surcharge, tip, and tax, the $16 burger becomes $20. That might be reasonable for dinner for one but when it’s dinner for 4 it’s not sustainable for most families. For $80 at the grocery store I can buy 8-10lbs of ground beef. Assuming 1/2lb patties that’s 16 burgers at home instead of 4 at Clydes.

Growing up dining out was reserved for a special occasion. I’ve definitely gone back to that philosophy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minimum wages have increased. That money doesn’t come from no where. They must increase their costs.

People keep repeating this as a reason for high prices. but the fact is that corporate profits are sky-high.

Local places aren’t corporations. They’re still gouging consumers through the nose with prices. Keep on blabbing about nebulous ‘corporations’….meanwhile the stupid restaurant owned by a local is charging you $20 for 8 chicken wings before tax and tip.

So what? That's what it costs. They don't get any corporate incentives. They charge what they have to charge to stay open. But at least money made in the community stays in the community and gets reinvested into the community. I'll take that over a big corporation any day

They're price gouging you and your response is 'so what'? No, I actually feel less ripped off going to a Chipotle or Chick FilA than I do when I go to the local establishment charging $22 a burger, $16 for a cocktail, and $9 for a beer. Local places are such a ripoff.

This is how they get away with it. Americans are completely conditioned to be taken advantage of by the government and corporations and if you ask for absolutely anything , some people are too happy to be boot lickers and say we don’t deserve for the government to actually care for society or for corporations to not extract every last cent of profit possible at the expense of human beings who have to pay for food and housing as like, part of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clydes has a 3.75% surcharge. They claim it’s because of higher food costs, higher wages, and supply chain issues. Isn’t something like that supposed to be included in the price of the food? There’s not a separate charge for rent or utilities.

The prices of the entrees are up and the portions are smaller. I’m expected to tip 20%. A burger starts at $16. By the time you add in surcharge, tip, and tax, the $16 burger becomes $20. That might be reasonable for dinner for one but when it’s dinner for 4 it’s not sustainable for most families. For $80 at the grocery store I can buy 8-10lbs of ground beef. Assuming 1/2lb patties that’s 16 burgers at home instead of 4 at Clydes.

Growing up dining out was reserved for a special occasion. I’ve definitely gone back to that philosophy.

There is a cost benefit analysis to be done by anyone when eating out. Most families eat out when they want a break from cooking. A $50 dinner is worth that break sometimes. A $10 burger might be worth it. The more and more expensive that one meal gets, the lower the cost:benefit ratio. I might not want to cook, but I’m also not so unwilling to cook that a $23 hamburger x four people is worth it.