I still consider fine dining worth it (I enjoy the whole experience) but casual restaurants are not. My family used to go out for a casual sit-down lunch every weekend, usually in combination with whatever activity we were doing that day. Now we make more of an effort to time outings so we can be home for lunch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is just an echo chamber for shameless misers. Avoiding beverages, apps, and desserts at restaurants is embarrassing. Why bother going out at all? Stay home if you're so broke a $3 soda or sparkling water triggers you.

Why are you confused? I think this is exactly what people are saying here - staying home and not eating out.

Quite a few posts were rationalizing not ordering drinks, cocktails, apps, and desserts. Why bother going out if you're pinching pennies like that. It's pathetic.

Because for a lot of us, a meal out is an expense and a treat. What authority determined that meal has to include drinks, appetizers and desserts? Especially unwanted ones? I have never ever been an appetizer person and I don't always want a drink or dessert. You do you and let others do them according to their preferences and means.

I could take my family on a driving distance vacation for $2000. One meal? No thanks.

My neighbor is in alcohol sales and says his company recently laid off a bunch of people because sales have been trending steadily down since covid. So there's a data point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that drink prices are ridiculous now. $4-5 for a soda really adds up.

Are others still tipping 10-20% on takeout at places like Panera or Cava? I’m starting to question it with prices up. Often I’m ordering on a screen.

You don’t tip at take away places. These servers are not on tip based salaries.

Found the cheapie here!

DP. Did you consider these people "cheapies" before COVID when these places did not automatically ask for or suggest tips on their credit card terminals? Tipping at these places only came on the scene in recent years. Service has not changed (other than less of it). Why should I have to now provide a tip?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that drink prices are ridiculous now. $4-5 for a soda really adds up.

Are others still tipping 10-20% on takeout at places like Panera or Cava? I’m starting to question it with prices up. Often I’m ordering on a screen.

You don’t tip at take away places. These servers are not on tip based salaries.

Decent people tip a few dollars in recognition of the person who packed up their order, ensured it was correct, and rang it up. Do you literally have to? No. Are you a decent person if you don’t take a moment and a few measly dollars for this act of kindness? Also no.

Uh, no. Packing up the order, ensuring it's correct, and ringing up my purchase is not only their job, but THE BASICS OF THEIR JOB. And often, they have not done it well or correctly. "A few measely dollars" to me may be more precious than they are to you. Glad you can be so generous for basic services that are not traditionally correlated to tipping. I can't afford to. But I still believe I'm deserving to treat myself to take-out v. cooking my own meal once in a while.

I kicked out UPFs and sugar 10 months ago. It’s good for the wallet and amazingly beneficial for our overall health.

Anonymous wrote:Lunch at work. I actually had McDonalds the other day because I didn’t want to pay $20 for a sandwich. I need to get back into the swing of bringing a sandwich from home.

Fast food has gotten too expensive v. its value. The point of fast food was always quick and cheap. When our kids were younger, our whole family could eat at McD's for under $20. Now it's $30-40 at such places. I was in a rush and drove-thru BK recently. A chicken sandwich and a milkshake cost me almost $14. Meanwhile, if I had gotten one of the "specials" on the menu, I could have had two sandwiches, or sandwich and fries and soda, for $7.

Anonymous wrote:Agree that drink prices are ridiculous now. $4-5 for a soda really adds up.

Are others still tipping 10-20% on takeout at places like Panera or Cava? I’m starting to question it with prices up. Often I’m ordering on a screen.

Absolutely not. But I generally don't think these types of places warrant "tips" in the first place. Nothing special is being done for me by taking my order (if that) and handing me my food. A sit-down restaurant provides more "service" and therefore is more appropriate for tips. That said, I do very occasionally add a small tip to the Panera-like bill. Call it succumbing to societal and technological pressure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As food prices soar and will most likely do so given the impact that policies will soon deeply harm the immigrant community, what is no longer worth it when it comes to dining out or picking up food?

1) Chinese food (at least in my area); quality has been on the decline for years, but last night was the final straw at what used to be our semi-decent local place. The Crab Rangoon was cloyingly sweet on the inside, to the point of being inedible. The noodle dishes and meat dishes alike were greasier than usual, and the quality of meat was sub-par. The dumplings are super thin and don’t hold their shape; I love thick dumplings. Just not worth it anymore, unfortunately, though maybe I can find better Chinese food when visiting friends or traveling. I do love it every now and then!

2) Fast food or quick serve drinks of any sort. We’re going to stick with waters or drinks we bring on road trips, or drink iced tea, soda or alcoholic beverages at home when we bring food home. No alcoholic beverages or lemonades or anything at sit-down meals, unless it’s a very nice restaurant for a special night out; no drinks with casual dining.

What habits have you changed? What’s not worth it to you anymore?

If you are going to be so concerned with cost that you are not even going to have a "lemonade" at a sit down restaurant, just don't go. Or go less often and worry less about what you are ordering and it's cost. That is next level nickel-and-diming.

DP. I'll defend the OP. Drinks (soda) can cost $3 or more each. Family of 4 x $3 = a quick $12 reduction in the dining bill. That's not insignificant. If you're at a sit-down restaurant, it can cover the tip. At fast food places, it depends on the fast food place and what it is you want, how many of you there are, etc. You just have to do all the math.

OP was merely citing some habits/behaviors they've changed. No need to criticize their choice to eliminate costly beverages - which is a healthy thing to do regardless of cost savings. We spend far less on soda now that I don't drink it regularly - and rarely order it with a meal at a sit-down restaurant. We'd save significantly more if my husband would give it up. Just buying it at the grocery store is so much more expensive than it used to be - and, as OP was asking - just isn't worth it anymore.

We've always been cognizant of additional costs for desserts, especially when a single slice of average quality cake costs $7, or a small scoop of ice cream $5. That's ludicrous and, as OP asks, just not worth it. I'll save that luxury expense for when it's a special occasion and a a really good dessert that IS worth the cost.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As food prices soar and will most likely do so given the impact that policies will soon deeply harm the immigrant community, what is no longer worth it when it comes to dining out or picking up food?

1) Chinese food (at least in my area); quality has been on the decline for years, but last night was the final straw at what used to be our semi-decent local place. The Crab Rangoon was cloyingly sweet on the inside, to the point of being inedible. The noodle dishes and meat dishes alike were greasier than usual, and the quality of meat was sub-par. The dumplings are super thin and don’t hold their shape; I love thick dumplings. Just not worth it anymore, unfortunately, though maybe I can find better Chinese food when visiting friends or traveling. I do love it every now and then!

2) Fast food or quick serve drinks of any sort. We’re going to stick with waters or drinks we bring on road trips, or drink iced tea, soda or alcoholic beverages at home when we bring food home. No alcoholic beverages or lemonades or anything at sit-down meals, unless it’s a very nice restaurant for a special night out; no drinks with casual dining.

What habits have you changed? What’s not worth it to you anymore?

WTF? Food prices have soared the last four years due to Biden. How do you not understand this?

Buckle up. You are in for an eye-opening next few years.

true dat. who exactly do they think is working in the back of restaurant kitchens and in the fields of the farms?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m very reluctant to order salads in most restaurants or fast casual/takeout establishments. It’s not worth it to me because I firmly believe that the lettuce and other leafy greens are not washed. I had one very bad experience about a year ago after eating a Caesar salad for lunch in a restaurant and that was it for me.

My worst experience was at a cute little restaurant in France: there was a live slug, not small, on one of the lettuce leaves. They refused to comp the meal and didn't apologize.

escargot!

haha, no, definitely a big old slug!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m very reluctant to order salads in most restaurants or fast casual/takeout establishments. It’s not worth it to me because I firmly believe that the lettuce and other leafy greens are not washed. I had one very bad experience about a year ago after eating a Caesar salad for lunch in a restaurant and that was it for me.

My worst experience was at a cute little restaurant in France: there was a live slug, not small, on one of the lettuce leaves. They refused to comp the meal and didn't apologize.

escargot!

+1 , surprised they didn’t charge you extra!!

I stopped drinking alcohol, which is good timing because that stuff gets pricier and pricier, especially at restaurants. I made it my NY resolution to drink only water, both in and out of the house.

My husband and I just had an anniversary dinner and split one appetizer (raw oysters) and each had a variation of surf and turf. No alcohol, no dessert: $250.

I will go to a local coffeehouse once every week or two and order a tea which I’ll drink there: $4. This is worth it to me for ambience (I like to write there). I never, ever order Starbucks anymore.

Casual/fast casual is really not worth it to me anymore. I can make pasta, burgers, nachos, salads etc that are SO much better than what’s around.

I am watching our spending like a hawk and have unbelievably spent about $1200 on groceries and $1000 on eating out this month. It *really* doesn’t feel like it so I’ll continue to look for ways to cut costs.

To answer your question: eating at extremely nice restaurants is still worth it to me. As is getting Indian and wings takeout. But that is about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is just an echo chamber for shameless misers. Avoiding beverages, apps, and desserts at restaurants is embarrassing. Why bother going out at all? Stay home if you're so broke a $3 soda or sparkling water triggers you.

I would also agree with this. We have been known to easily drop 2k on a meal.

Oh look, it’s the guy wearing sunglasses indoors, ordering bottle service at MMCCXXIII in 2005. We are STILL impressed!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m very reluctant to order salads in most restaurants or fast casual/takeout establishments. It’s not worth it to me because I firmly believe that the lettuce and other leafy greens are not washed. I had one very bad experience about a year ago after eating a Caesar salad for lunch in a restaurant and that was it for me.

My worst experience was at a cute little restaurant in France: there was a live slug, not small, on one of the lettuce leaves. They refused to comp the meal and didn't apologize.

escargot!