The price of restaurants! Ridiculous but I get it.

[Aunt Bea]

I think that my priorities have changed as much or more than the prices.

I look at all of the other possible uses for the money and rarely see enough bang for the bucks.

We’re all too old to bother doing things that we don’t enjoy.

 

[OldFeller]

I think that my priorities have changed as much or more than the prices.

I look at all of the other possible uses for the money and rarely see enough bang for the bucks.

We’re all too old to bother doing things that we don’t enjoy.

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I was going to say something along the same lines. At the old affordable prices I could overlook a mediocre eating out experience but at these prices today, every experience is a let down.

 

[TinaM]

When my mom was alive, we went out to eat a various restaurants once a week - usually Saturdays. I don't eat out anymore, it's like paying double for overpriced food. When I prepare my meals, at least I know what goes into it and under what conditions.

I always cook my own food but with short term company, we wanted to do something special.

 

[dilettante]

Even the prices at food trucks is out of control, and they have just about the lowest overhead there is in food service. Ingredients, power, fuel, repairs, cleaning, and labor have all skyrocketed post-pandemic.

 

[Twostep]

I always cook my own food but with short term company, we wanted to do something special.

That may be a reason to cook your food for them. There are plenty th of restaurants where they are heading. As expat I know how difficult it can be to just get ingredients.

For giggles - Mumsy visited us in DC. We did the whole tourist attraction including invitations from Vietnamese friends to private dining rooms and chef's table at a vinyard. It took her two weeks to inquire about the pyramid of polished apples in the kitchen. Applestrudel! The real stuff! She taught SO to pull the dough so thin that you can see the moons of your nails. He taught me. Food is connection to home.

 

[TinaM]

That may be a reason to cook your food for them. There are plenty th of restaurants where they are heading. As expat I know how difficult it can be to just get ingredients.

For giggles - Mumsy visited us in DC. We did the whole tourist attraction including invitations from Vietnamese friends to private dining rooms and chef's table at a vinyard. It took her two weeks to inquire about the pyramid of polished apples in the kitchen. Applestrudel! The real stuff! She taught SO to pull the dough so thin that you can see the moons of your nails. He taught me. Food is connection to home.

I also cook for them several times a week.

 

[OldOld]

When my mom was alive, we went out to eat a various restaurants once a week - usually Saturdays. I don't eat out anymore, it's like paying double for overpriced food. When I prepare my meals, at least I know what goes into it and under what conditions.

I don't eat out either. Reasons: over-priced food. And over-tipping seems normal and expected now. And I am more picky on the quality of food ingredients than how the food tastes now. I don't think restaurants would bother to get the best quality ingredients, but they will make the food taste good. I always make my effort to buy organic food ingredients.

 

[againstthegrain]

I had a chile relleno for lunch today at my favorite restaurant(really the only restaurant that's provides any value at all in town.) After I wiped out the relleno and black beans I asked the waiter to bring out the person that makes them.

The cook comes out from the kitchen and because saying it was excellent or outstanding simply wasn't high enough praise I told him that "I don't think it's possible to make a better chile relleno." He and the waiter were pretty happy and I got handshakes and made friends.

US$ 17.50 including tax and $5 tip. Well worth every penny. 5 years ago it was $10.99 + tax + tip.

I almost went there on the way home and had another one!

 

[Lethe200]

Yes, it's become increasingly expensive to dine out. It's my major hobby, and now that we're retired we dine out on a regular basis. We can see the increase in prices everywhere, including small ethnic restaurants. We enjoy being able to eat different cuisines or try creative cooking.

I'm a good cook, but I'm over it. I've been running a household since I was 11, and I'm going to be 75 in a couple of months. Been there, done it, still do it most of the week (figure 2x daily, 4-5x per week). Now I just cook dishes that are difficult to do well/profitably in a restaurant kitchen. If it weren't for my spouse, I'd probably go out 6 days out of 7, LOL.

We are lucky to have sufficient discretionary income to dine out often and tip well. We have seen a lot of restaurants and good chefs fail, or simply retire/pass away. People who work in restaurants are often very good workers and work hard - my spouse worked as a waiter when he was getting his hotel & restaurant management degree. My career as a white-collar worker was a whole lot easier, more lucrative, with better benefits!

 

[OldOld]

I am not a foodie, so I don't feel I am missing out if I don't eat out often or try many different restaurants.

 

[TinaM]

Yes, it's become increasingly expensive to dine out. It's my major hobby, and now that we're retired we dine out on a regular basis. We can see the increase in prices everywhere, including small ethnic restaurants. We enjoy being able to eat different cuisines or try creative cooking.

I'm a good cook, but I'm over it. I've been running a household since I was 11, and I'm going to be 75 in a couple of months. Been there, done it, still do it most of the week (figure 2x daily, 4-5x per week). Now I just cook dishes that are difficult to do well/profitably in a restaurant kitchen. If it weren't for my spouse, I'd probably go out 6 days out of 7, LOL.

We are lucky to have sufficient discretionary income to dine out often and tip well. We have seen a lot of restaurants and good chefs fail, or simply retire/pass away. People who work in restaurants are often very good workers and work hard - my spouse worked as a waiter when he was getting his hotel & restaurant management degree. My career as a white-collar worker was a whole lot easier, more lucrative, with better benefits!

I agree with you 100%. I love to cook, always have, but now that I’m 67 and live alone, dining out with a group of other women is a 2x monthly treat that I don’t want to give up. But I worry about those that can’t really afford it any more. Are they just left behind? That might be one of the reasons we have so many seniors that are isolated.

 

[Oldeagle66]

I still go to Little known local diner type places where you can get great food and tons of it for less than $16. I'm not into fancy and good looking food. It's food.