News So when do people stop going out to eat?

**fan4ever** · 02-21-2023, 05:51 PM

I have a customer who owns 5 Mexican Food Cafes here in the Phoenix area. The past few years we've reprinted their menus 6 times...always to accommodate higher prices. Their typical cost now is about $18.00 per entree...Mexican food.

On a personal note I stopped by a McDonald's today and paid $4.96 for a large order of fries. There's got to be a breaking point for most folks.

**Rain Man** · 02-21-2023, 05:59 PM

I'm aghast at the prices of most restaurants these days. I'm in a touristy area right now, and I paid something like $28 for a burger, Dr. Pepper, and sweet potato fries yesterday.

My breaking point is about where we're at now. I'm actually eating out a bit less these days purely due to prices. I still go out semi-frequently, but I'm actually thinking about budget impacts these days whereas it's never been an issue in the past.

Jewish Rabbi · 02-21-2023, 06:00 PM

I don’t go to restaurants anymore but I still eat out your mom on the reg

Mecca · 02-21-2023, 06:00 PM

Grocery store prices are up to, we're all just gonna starve.

Skyy God · 02-21-2023, 06:06 PM

1) Fast food is for suckers these days.

2) American portion sizes are too large.

3) Recently bought a nice toaster oven. Total game changer. Just eat half the portion of something reheatable and double up.

**Ming the Merciless** · 02-21-2023, 06:07 PM

Its a really good question. I live in a touristy area, and a lot of places (bars, restaurants, taprooms , grills etc) are closing... because the costs of their supplies keep going up, and they can't afford to sell the food without making a profit...and yet no one wants to pay 22$ for a burger

The other part of the problem is labor. If you can find someone worth a damn, you're gonna have to pay them decent money even to flip a burger. I think even burger flippers get like 17-22$ an hour where I am at.

The 10 years of insanely low interest rates also made rents skyrocket because property values went up WAY higher than they should. If you look around and house prices have doubled in the last few years, then rent has also doubled.

Your question is a very good one, but if you see restaurants closing, you'll have your answer. Unfortunately that has already started happening here. Tourists are still coming, but a lot of local places are under extreme pressure.

carcosa · 02-21-2023, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

I don’t go to restaurants anymore but I still eat out your mom on the reg

Very generous of u!

**TimeForWasp** · 02-21-2023, 06:08 PM

We will all eat shit and die..

KCUnited · 02-21-2023, 06:08 PM

I know the majority here can't relate but don't even get me started on the price of a haircut these days.

**Rain Man** · 02-21-2023, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cave Johnson

1) Fast food is for suckers these days.

2) American portion sizes are too large.

3) Recently bought a nice toaster oven. Total game changer. Just eat half the portion of something reheatable and double up.

I've noticed this strategy in a few restaurants where I'm a repeat customer. They're holding the line somewhat on prices but reducing the portion sizes.

My initial reaction is to frown at smaller portion sizes, but then I realize that past portion sizes were way too big. I'd much rather get smaller portions for the same price in most American restaurants, than to pay more for the previous large proportions.

I might make an exception for reheatable food like Thai food or Italian. But in those cases I know that I'm buying two meals at once.

**fan4ever** · 02-21-2023, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

I don’t go to restaurants anymore but I still eat out your mom on the reg

Bon appetit. Nice to see you serve a purpose.

Wisconsin_Chief · 02-21-2023, 06:14 PM

We have already cut way back, not so much because of the prices (although that certainly is a consideration) but simply because of the hassle. Everywhere we go, there’s staffing and quality issues. It’s really just not worth it anymore, especially since the cost has gotten ridiculous. I don’t find it enjoyable to pay 100 bucks for a meal when I’m just disappointed the whole time.

Much more enjoyable to cook at home. I’ve really expanded from just smoking/grilling to making a lot of meals on the stove the old fashioned way. We’ve been getting into some deep frying too which has been delicious.

**Easy 6** · 02-21-2023, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fan4ever

I have a customer who owns 5 Mexican Food Cafes here in the Phoenix area. The past few years we've reprinted their menus 6 times...always to accommodate higher prices. Their typical cost now is about $18.00 per entree...Mexican food.

On a personal note I stopped by a McDonald's today and paid $4.96 for a large order of fries. There's got to be a breaking point for most folks.

Seems to me $18 for an entree at a genuine restaurant in a large metro area is extremely reasonable, but yeah $5 for a McD fry is a disgrace

And its basically the same here, fast food prices are COMPLETELY out of control, I can easily spend $20 at Taco Smell or wherever else if I really wanna stuff myself with crap

Yet if I just plan ahead a little bit and call ahead, I can go to our best Mexican joint and get a monstrous chimichanga, fajita platter etc with rice, beans, sour, guac, salsa and a large bag of fresh made chips for $15-16

Good hearty real food, its two meals if you want it to be... I wouldn't be complaining too much about $18 in the city

Abba-Dabba · 02-21-2023, 06:17 PM

$1 any size fries on the MCd's app, fam.

My wife told me yesterday her favorite fast food is mcd's. After 24yrs I could have saved myself a fortune.

**fan4ever** · 02-21-2023, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RubberSponge

$1 any size fries on the MCd's app, fam.

My wife told me yesterday her favorite fast food is mcd's. After 24yrs I could have saved myself a fortune.

That's gotta be temporary, right?

02-21-2023, 05:51 PM
fan4ever Supporter Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $4244389	So when do people stop going out to eat? I have a customer who owns 5 Mexican Food Cafes here in the Phoenix area. The past few years we've reprinted their menus 6 times...always to accommodate higher prices. Their typical cost now is about $18.00 per entree...Mexican food. On a personal note I stopped by a McDonald's today and paid $4.96 for a large order of fries. There's got to be a breaking point for most folks.
Posts: 9,382

02-21-2023, 05:59 PM	#2
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-442449 VARSITY	I'm aghast at the prices of most restaurants these days. I'm in a touristy area right now, and I paid something like $28 for a burger, Dr. Pepper, and sweet potato fries yesterday. My breaking point is about where we're at now. I'm actually eating out a bit less these days purely due to prices. I still go out semi-frequently, but I'm actually thinking about budget impacts these days whereas it's never been an issue in the past. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,236	1 0

02-21-2023, 06:00 PM	#3
Jewish Rabbi What's up braj? Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Placencia, Belize Casino cash: $-1556750	I don’t go to restaurants anymore but I still eat out your mom on the reg
Posts: 16,909	30 0

02-21-2023, 06:00 PM	#4
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-482950	Grocery store prices are up to, we're all just gonna starve.
Posts: 115,243	1 0

02-21-2023, 06:06 PM	#5
Skyy God 11-5, baby Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Livin the dream Casino cash: $2191557	1) Fast food is for suckers these days. 2) American portion sizes are too large. 3) Recently bought a nice toaster oven. Total game changer. Just eat half the portion of something reheatable and double up.
Posts: 22,416	6 5

02-21-2023, 06:07 PM	#6
Ming the Merciless Emporer of Mongo Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Milky Way Casino cash: $-472444	Its a really good question. I live in a touristy area, and a lot of places (bars, restaurants, taprooms , grills etc) are closing... because the costs of their supplies keep going up, and they can't afford to sell the food without making a profit...and yet no one wants to pay 22$ for a burger The other part of the problem is labor. If you can find someone worth a damn, you're gonna have to pay them decent money even to flip a burger. I think even burger flippers get like 17-22$ an hour where I am at. The 10 years of insanely low interest rates also made rents skyrocket because property values went up WAY higher than they should. If you look around and house prices have doubled in the last few years, then rent has also doubled. Your question is a very good one, but if you see restaurants closing, you'll have your answer. Unfortunately that has already started happening here. Tourists are still coming, but a lot of local places are under extreme pressure. __________________ ---- 2018 Adopt-A-Chief : Chris Conley 2017 Adopt-A-Chief : FRANK ZOMBO Click here-->*The Holy Chiefsplanet Lexicon **
Posts: 46,209

02-21-2023, 06:08 PM	#8
TimeForWasp Sprinkle in some Mahomes Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Butte Montana Casino cash: $7658507	We will all eat shit and die.. __________________ Posted via Slingshot using Rocks eBay sniper
Posts: 8,271

02-21-2023, 06:08 PM	#9
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $-1381756	I know the majority here can't relate but don't even get me started on the price of a haircut these days.
Posts: 36,839	2 0

02-21-2023, 06:14 PM	#12
Wisconsin_Chief MVP Join Date: Aug 2019 Casino cash: $-859600	We have already cut way back, not so much because of the prices (although that certainly is a consideration) but simply because of the hassle. Everywhere we go, there’s staffing and quality issues. It’s really just not worth it anymore, especially since the cost has gotten ridiculous. I don’t find it enjoyable to pay 100 bucks for a meal when I’m just disappointed the whole time. Much more enjoyable to cook at home. I’ve really expanded from just smoking/grilling to making a lot of meals on the stove the old fashioned way. We’ve been getting into some deep frying too which has been delicious.
Posts: 9,696	4 0

02-21-2023, 06:17 PM	#14
Abba-Dabba MVP Join Date: May 2001 Casino cash: $3582970	$1 any size fries on the MCd's app, fam. My wife told me yesterday her favorite fast food is mcd's. After 24yrs I could have saved myself a fortune.
Posts: 18,278	2 0