Anonymous
Post 11/12/2025 10:46     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:I have no idea OP, I just assume they are all making a lot more money than we are.



This.
Anonymous
Post 11/11/2025 09:10     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:Man I went to a diner this morning (in Portland Maine not DC) and was like wtf. Omelets starting at $15 before the cheese. $100 to take my kids out to breakfast at a diner. And not like a high end diner although it is a bit of a touristy place. Honestly could not believe y it.

We ordered:

Kids French toast (side of two fried eggs)
Two kids pancakes (side of sausage, side of bacon)
One eggs Benedict
One mozz sticks
1 milk, 2 juice, 1 unsweetened ice tea

$84 pre tip


Becky’s diner? If so, that’s worth it!
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 22:11     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Man I went to a diner this morning (in Portland Maine not DC) and was like wtf. Omelets starting at $15 before the cheese. $100 to take my kids out to breakfast at a diner. And not like a high end diner although it is a bit of a touristy place. Honestly could not believe y it.

We ordered:

Kids French toast (side of two fried eggs)
Two kids pancakes (side of sausage, side of bacon)
One eggs Benedict
One mozz sticks
1 milk, 2 juice, 1 unsweetened ice tea

$84 pre tip
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 20:47     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Pandemic. Doge. And this longest shutdown all hurt restaurant businesses. Fitting for a felon who would rather eat chips as a meal. Not sure how long it's going to take for restaurants to bounce back if they ever do.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 20:27     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:OP,

There are a lot of wealthy people on DCUM.

We're frugal, and usually cook from scratch. We noticed inflation at my son's favorite fast food place and have stopped getting the (already rare) fast food burger. We noticed the switch to cheaper ingredients at our favorite Indian restaurant and have stopped going there because it doesn't taste as good. We order at places that seem to be worth the price. For Valentine's Day, I ordered a $130 sushi platter for the family, and added a 15% tip because I like the owner, who is Japanese like me. His food is worth it (Kanpai Sushi on MacArthur, if you want to try).



Kanpai Sushi is excellent! And the owner is very nice.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 17:39     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most people are terrible with money and live beyond their means. And then complain they can't afford things.


In wealthy DC enclaves? Cope all you want, those are actually people who have more money than they can spend. And restaurant tabs are on a company credit card or written off at the end of the year.


The number of people who put their meals on a company credit card or write them off is very, very small - even in DC. Lobbyists, a few big accounting firms, etc. My DH works for a high profile bank as a top executive and this kind of entertainment does not happen much anymore.


I think the real restaurant money is in catering, not 2 to 4 person sit down diners. My boss blows so much freakin' money on catered food and we're just a random small office with a couple dozen employees.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 16:22     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most people are terrible with money and live beyond their means. And then complain they can't afford things.


In wealthy DC enclaves? Cope all you want, those are actually people who have more money than they can spend. And restaurant tabs are on a company credit card or written off at the end of the year.


This is why people don’t like the rich. There is no reason these costs should be written off. Tax the rich up the wazoo.


Restaurants would all die if you couldn’t use company cards and write-off tabs and catering orders. Only total saps are regularly spending their hard-earned taxed take-home pay on restaurant food.


This is not the case.


We know but let the blabbering fool continue
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 15:18     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most people are terrible with money and live beyond their means. And then complain they can't afford things.


In wealthy DC enclaves? Cope all you want, those are actually people who have more money than they can spend. And restaurant tabs are on a company credit card or written off at the end of the year.


The number of people who put their meals on a company credit card or write them off is very, very small - even in DC. Lobbyists, a few big accounting firms, etc. My DH works for a high profile bank as a top executive and this kind of entertainment does not happen much anymore.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 14:30     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
We almost need to at this point. I see restaurants offering support to those who have been furloughed, which could put their own biz in harm's way. I don't see a lot of other businesses that have the same margins, or even larger margins, doing this right now. If it's not a budget issue, go eat at these places.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 14:23     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most people are terrible with money and live beyond their means. And then complain they can't afford things.


In wealthy DC enclaves? Cope all you want, those are actually people who have more money than they can spend. And restaurant tabs are on a company credit card or written off at the end of the year.


This is why people don’t like the rich. There is no reason these costs should be written off. Tax the rich up the wazoo.


Restaurants would all die if you couldn’t use company cards and write-off tabs and catering orders. Only total saps are regularly spending their hard-earned taxed take-home pay on restaurant food.


This is not the case.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 14:22     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:I have pretty much quit eating out all together. I can no longer justify spending $17 for a wrap or sandwich from a truck even, $25 dollars for a plate of food that was $12 or $14 three years ago and that doesn't include tips. Also you're now expected to tip for even takeout. It used to be an occasional treat going out, but now it seems like a depressing experience. I am pretty much done with eating out these days. On the bright side, I am learning to cook just about anything I want. It's not perfect but close enough that I don't miss those things I used to get going out. To that I am wondering who here can still afford to eat out, and if so, do you feel like you're getting ripped off?


I agree with you. We used to go out a few times a month. We have money, we tip well, but I can't help but notice that a meal that "should" cost ~$60 is now $150. And then there's a weird service fee taht doesn't count as a tip, and a suggested tip based on the cost + service fee + tax, and it's just ridiculous. Not worth it.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 14:19     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
I have no idea OP, I just assume they are all making a lot more money than we are.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 14:19     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Even setting aside the cost increases, it just isn't even worth it. I have plenty of $20 bills but I'm not trading them for a cup and a half of chicken and rice.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 12:55     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most people are terrible with money and live beyond their means. And then complain they can't afford things.


In wealthy DC enclaves? Cope all you want, those are actually people who have more money than they can spend. And restaurant tabs are on a company credit card or written off at the end of the year.


This is why people don’t like the rich. There is no reason these costs should be written off. Tax the rich up the wazoo.


Restaurants would all die if you couldn’t use company cards and write-off tabs and catering orders. Only total saps are regularly spending their hard-earned taxed take-home pay on restaurant food.
Anonymous
Post 11/10/2025 08:28     Subject: How are people still able to afford eating out?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most people are terrible with money and live beyond their means. And then complain they can't afford things.


In wealthy DC enclaves? Cope all you want, those are actually people who have more money than they can spend. And restaurant tabs are on a company credit card or written off at the end of the year.


This is why people don’t like the rich. There is no reason these costs should be written off. Tax the rich up the wazoo.