Doesn't Anybody Go Out to Eat Anymore?

I've noticed that meal prices at restaurants, has increased. One thing we need to do, is, tip 15% rather than 20%, as we've been doing. We eat out, maybe once a month.

Ordering a coffee that's refillable for free, makes a difference too.
 

Here in southeastern BC, some towns more than others experienced closures of local-owned restaurants during the Covid years. The city (large town) we visit most frequently has had loyal clienteles for most of its restaurants, cafés, and main pizza shop, from 2019 until today. The fast-food franchises there that were previously doing the briskest business, before, still seem to be doing okay.

(Different topic, but DW shouted to me as I was writing this and I came downstairs quickly to learn there was a year-old bear in the yard that I had to chase till it climbed over our fencing into the tree grove.)
 
Mobilman44 said:
Not all that long ago, the restaurants around here (north Houston area) were booming businesses. There was always a line at the cafeterias, Cafe Express, Jason's Deli, etc. for lunch. And come dinner time, the Outbacks, Red Lobsters, Carabbass, TGI Friday's, etc., etc. were mobbed.

Now, and for the last few years, those restaurants are gone or just barely hanging on. Even taking into account the horrible impact of Covid, what happened?

As I've been told, "young folks" today just don't care to eat in restaurants. They do take out or more likely, have food delivered. That does explain a lot, but what about everyone else? And is it the same in other cities?

I've been told by more than a few parents of young folks that "today's kids don't date, don't marry, don't eat in restaurants, and are not that keen on learning to drive". I just don't understand all that, although I do keep in mind that my views are from 30-50 years ago, and not the current environment.
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Talking with a friend, his grandson & the grandson's G/grandma .... it seems that a portion of the younger set just does about anything to separate from us. [Baby-boomers]

He [grandson] says that many his age [early 20's] just seem to believe that we did & do everything wrong?

I do remember most of it, but to be truthful, @ this moment I just do not feel like typing that much, as it was a long talk/discussion.

He [grandson] did though say that since he's now three years in the military he has changed his own somewhat negative view of us.

His grandpa is in his 60's , and G/grandma is 85. Again he says we "boomers" get most of the blame .
 

rgp said:
Talking with a friend, his grandson & the grandson's G/grandma .... it seems that a portion of the younger set just does about anything to separate from us. [Baby-boomers]

He [grandson] says that many his age [early 20's] just seem to believe that we did & do everything wrong?
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That's both interesting & sad, but I don't have any idea how widespread that attitude may be. Expressions of that sort may hurt our feelings, and hence have an out of proportion, weightier impact for us than warranted.

I know that I wasn't spending much money in restaurants and cafés until I was in my 30s and could afford to do so more often. I do notice that the reasonably priced local places in my area have young patrons, as well as middle-age and older.
 
I just did a carryout/[delivery] pizza.

Large deluxe thin crust, $11.00 with delivery fee $400 added it was of course $15.00 , and then I paid with a 20 dollar bill, and gave the change as a tip.

Now I can no longer eat a large at one sitting, so I will get another meal from it later this week.

So all-in-all , not too bad ?
 
Because of my very bad back I just don't cook any more. We are lucky that our son who moved in with us to help cooks usually a couple of times a week. So we eat a lot of fast food (no Mc Icky!!). We are going to get a Wendy's(if we live that long.) and soon a Popeyes, so it will be something fairly different. Wendy's has a varied menu, so I look forward to that.
 
I don’t eat fast food anymore and I don’t want takeout as it’s not hot and fresh by the time I get home. I like to eat at restaurants that have big portions because even though I paid 20 plus 5 tip for the meal I have a meal to take home.

When I eat somewhere with cheaper lunch options such as Olive Garden I tip $5 even though $3 is 20 percent. The waiter puts as much effort into it as they would if I paid more.
 
VaughanJB said:
From what I've read, there are three levels of eating out. Fast food, casual dining, and gourmet. With the economy being as it is, the market is getting squeezed. As such, the low end is falling off, while the middle is doing better. So perhaps it's just a market adjustment.

You know, perhaps the time for fast food has come and gone. It was grossly unhealthy, low paying, and the level of service wasn't terrific. Perhaps it really is time to move on?
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We've heard something similar before. I think it went "Let them eat cake!"
 
Having been born during the War, I don't consider myself a "baby boomer" - but I do tend to identify with them. That said, I've read/heard many comments on how the "kids" blame us for "everything" wrong today.

Well, in one sense I agree with that statement, in that we spoiled our kids - conditioning them to believing they deserved all there is, without working for it. We parents had good intentions of course, wanting to give our kids good lives and not having to go thru the grind that we did to get through life and make something of ourselves.

Well, in many instances (NOT ALL), our good intentions backfired, resulting in the fact that many young people just want it all, they want it now, and they are entitled to it.

I do have to laugh though, for "we have all the money".....
 
Mobilman44 said:
Well, in one sense I agree with that statement, in that we spoiled our kids - conditioning them to believing they deserved all there is, without working for it
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Really? Even wracking my brain, I can't bring to mind anyone I knew who did that. Our kids got jobs during HS, same as DH & I (and our friends and cousins) did. When too young for that, they got paid for doing extra chores at home or for one of our neighbors.

Within our group of friends and relatives, our kids bought their own cars, paid for extras, etc. Yes, most of us (myself included) footed the bill for our children's educations, but our parents had done that for us.

My kids are all gainfully employed, hard workers and self-sufficient. As are my friends' and relatives' kids. I never thought or implied that my kids "deserved" anything. They knew if they wanted something they'd need to work and/or sacrifice to get it.
 
StarSong said:
Really? Even wracking my brain, I can't bring to mind anyone I knew who did that. Our kids got jobs during HS, same as DH & I (and our friends and cousins) did. When too young for that, they got paid for doing extra chores at home or for one of our neighbors.

Within our group of friends and relatives, our kids bought their own cars, paid for extras, etc. Yes, most of us (myself included) footed the bill for our children's educations, but our parents had done that for us.

My kids are all gainfully employed, hard workers and self-sufficient. As are my friends' and relatives' kids. I never thought or implied that my kids "deserved" anything. They knew if they wanted something they'd need to work and/or sacrifice to get it.
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Shame on you for not turning into a grumpy, old sourpuss who complains about the younger generations! :D
 
Mobilman44 said:
Having been born during the War, I don't consider myself a "baby boomer" - but I do tend to identify with them. That said, I've read/heard many comments on how the "kids" blame us for "everything" wrong today.

Well, in one sense I agree with that statement, in that we spoiled our kids - conditioning them to believing they deserved all there is, without working for it. We parents had good intentions of course, wanting to give our kids good lives and not having to go thru the grind that we did to get through life and make something of ourselves.

Well, in many instances (NOT ALL), our good intentions backfired, resulting in the fact that many young people just want it all, they want it now, and they are entitled to it.

I do have to laugh though, for "we have all the money".....
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I'm a boomer born in the 50's ... and I certainly wasn't spoiled by my parents who were born in the 20's and 30's....... good lord far from it.....and neither did I spoil my daughter a now hard working independent Gen X baby
 
Whoa folks, my comment was meant to be about the younger generations - NOT those born in the 50s - 60s. AND, the comments are generalizations from my experience. Your part of the world could be totally different, and frankly other's in my part of the world could be very different.
 
How did age come into Eating Out? Are we complaining now that the meat is too tough or not cut up small enough for us to gum and gulp down any more... or what?
 
Mobilman44 said:
Whoa folks, my comment was meant to be about the younger generations - NOT those born in the 50s - 60s. AND, the comments are generalizations from my experience. Your part of the world could be totally different, and frankly other's in my part of the world could be very different.
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Hmm... Not sure how old you think I am. I'm a boomer born in the early 50s.

The people I was talking about (my children and most friends' children) were born in the 70s and 80s, My siblings' and cousins' children were born between about 1970 - 2000. So Boomers, Gen X, Millennials (AKA Gen Y) and Gen Z.

My parts of the world are East Coast and So Cal US.
 
Someone should tell my DD, DSIL and her three kids to eat out less. They are foodies and make up for everyone else who is eating out less. She wasn’t raised that way. I had a tough time stretching the budget as a single mother. The thing is, she’s an excellent cook and can whip up a great meal.
 
Mobilman44 said:
Yikes, I fell into the trap of "generalizing", and shame on me cause I do know better.
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And I apologize for overreacting. During my youth it frustrated me to hear my entire generation dismissed out of hand by older folks who painted us as overhaired, underwashed, unpatriotic (because we objected to the Vietnam war, spoiled, idle, etc.

It's equally unfair when I hear many of the very victims of those 1960s-70s generalizations apply similar ones to younger generations because they're largely comprised of "kids" who work hard, pay their bills, volunteer in their community, and stay out of trouble.
Mobilman44 said:
Forgive me folks, for yesterday was father's day, a holiday I dread, and one that is always a very difficult day for me.
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I'm sorry to hear that FD is a difficult holiday for you. Hope today is a little better.
 
Mobilman44 said:
Not all that long ago, the restaurants around here (north Houston area) were booming businesses. There was always a line at the cafeterias, Cafe Express, Jason's Deli, etc. for lunch. And come dinner time, the Outbacks, Red Lobsters, Carabbass, TGI Friday's, etc., etc. were mobbed.

Now, and for the last few years, those restaurants are gone or just barely hanging on. Even taking into account the horrible impact of Covid, what happened?

As I've been told, "young folks" today just don't care to eat in restaurants. They do take out or more likely, have food delivered. That does explain a lot, but what about everyone else? And is it the same in other cities?

I've been told by more than a few parents of young folks that "today's kids don't date, don't marry, don't eat in restaurants, and are not that keen on learning to drive". I just don't understand all that, although I do keep in mind that my views are from 30-50 years ago, and not the current environment.
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In my area the young people MUCH prefer organic, vegan, locally sourced, foodie-fan food. Those places are doing well.

The large chain restaurants are not faring so well: Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Marie Calendars, etc.

For some reason, the 24-hour places are doing fine - Norm's and Denny's. Denny's in particular is insane on Sundays after church.

FISH places also do well here and that includes sushi places.

McDonald's is still doing fine. So unhealthy but still thriving. Quite a mystery.
 
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