Local cafe trying to cash in...

[Wombat]

Just as a matter of interest. In the USA, is it expected that you tip Maccas staff (or any fast food staff) when you buy a burger etc?

Just curious. If you do tip, is it paid separately or included in the bill?

 

[Babs2u]

It’s expensive here too.
View attachment 480403
Two hotdogs, French fries, and a beverage $14.95 plus 8% sales tax.

I’m ok but it makes me wonder how parents and grandparents manage when they want to take the kids out for a treat or when a neighborhood dad wants to treat the little league team after a game.

Pizza is looking more affordable.

 

[Sunkist]

Just as a matter of interest. In the USA, is it expected that you tip Maccas staff (or any fast food staff) when you buy a burger etc?

Just curious. If you do tip, is it paid separately or included in the bill?

I've heard some fast food places are trying that, but I've never experienced it.

 

[Wombat]

I've heard some fast food places are trying that, but I've never experienced it.

So it is not normal to tip at Maccas in the US?

 

[Sunkist]

So it is not normal to tip at Maccas in the US?

Not the last times I went there.
Tipping- the last I knew- is for sit-down restaurants, not take-out.

 

[Sunkist]

I can't get all of the specs, but in list of ingredients it includes 'beef disc'.. HUH???!

I wonder if it's their way of saying it's too thin to be called a hamburger?

 

[RadishRose]

I wonder if it's their way of saying it's too thin to be called a hamburger?

well there's no ham in a hamburger....

 

[Rae]

I does seem the take out prices are too high, so I am fixing lunch for us at home. The groceries are costing us more but hope the savings of eating out compensate for it.

Five Guys here is way too expensive and I read they are closing stores nationwide due to their high costs for burgers and other type of sandwiches.

 

[Flarbalard]

well there's no ham in a hamburger....

How about some percentage of Perry Mason's judicial opponent?

 

[Sunkist]

How about some percentage of Perry Mason's judicial opponent?

Yup.. 'Ham' Burger

 

[RadishRose]

Original Hamburger Restaurant in New Haven, CT | Louis' Lunch

According to the Library of Congress, “Louis’ Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut, is recognized as the birthplace of the hamburger sandwich.”

 

[StarSong]

Pizza is looking more affordable.

Granted, I make pizzas in bulk, meaning at least a dozen pies if I'm going through the effort, so my costs reflect quantity preps. Nevertheless, any way you slice it (pun intended) pizza is cheap to make.

Ingredients to make my 14"-16" pizza pies at home:
Crust - 20¢
Tomato sauce - 25¢
Good quality mozzarella cheese (6 oz) - $1.00
Other toppings, if desired $1.00

That comes to $1.50 for a basic cheese pizza. Up to $3.50 if you load on the cheese plus another topping. Even overestimating the cost of running the oven at 50¢, it's between $2 - $4.

Price out the door for an XL (20") cheese pizza at my local pizzeria? $34.95.
Domino's is $21.89 for a 16" plain cheese pizza.

Topping ingredients don't spoil easily, either, so pizzerias don't deal with the costly waste other food places suffer.
And people wonder why there are so many pizza joints around.

The best buy on pizza has to be Costco's take and bake or food court. $1.99/slice or $9.95 for an 18" pie at the food court, not sure of the price on their take-and-bake but it's probably in the same range. As I recall, their pizza is quite tasty.

 

[JustDave]

2 slices of "luxury" ham, 1 slice of cheese, between 2 slices of bread, toasted.
$14

I always suspect merchants of using inflation to increase profits, but without actual books and records, I don't know if they actually do, even though I think they do.

In the end, I stopped trying to speculate on motives, because even if I prove I'm right, it changes nothing. So what I do is ask myself if it's worth it to me. In some cases like two hot dogs, french fries, and a soft drink, I simply can't justify eating something costing $15 that isn't good for me, no matter how tasty it looks. That one is a pass.

A few months ago, I decided to give one of the still remaining post COVID restaurants in a nearby town a chance to test pricing and quality of the dinner. I spend $24 including the tip for a less than average dinner that I didn't find satisfying. A waste of money, and another pass on future visits.

I've given up a lot of my past behaviors, restaurant dinners and breakfasts mostly, without any sacrifice or nostalgic memories. Those things are not necessary, and at my age, I'm eating less anyway. And I don't know why eating out seemed like such a good idea back then.

 

[JustDave]

The last time I went to my favorite pizza joint, they had only raised prices a couple of bucks. That was a year ago. It's good take out pizza, but they were now adding on the credit card surcharges, and expecting me to tip the person at the take out counter for handing me the pizza and taking my money. I don't miss their pizza anymore. Maybe just a little, but I'm not going to play their hidden costs game. I find it offensive, and I don't pay to be offended.

 

[outlander]

I never eat out. Once in a blue moon if I'm out and about and feel low on calories I'll grab a chocolate milkshake. Usually about $4 for a small.

 

[StarSong]

Original Hamburger Restaurant in New Haven, CT | Louis' Lunch

According to the Library of Congress, “Louis’ Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut, is recognized as the birthplace of the hamburger sandwich.”

Whoa... a hamburger cooked so rare that the middle is raw? That picture is probably decades old - warnings about raw hamburger started in earnest in the early 90s after the Jack-in-the-Box ecoli incident.

 

[Sunkist]

Whoa... a hamburger cooked so rare that the middle is raw? That picture is probably decades old - warnings about raw hamburger started in earnest in the early 90s after the Jack-in-the-Box ecoli incident.

There's not much that grosses me out more than any kind of meat that isn't well-done

 

[debodun]

I don't eat out anymore. Less expensive to buy and prepare your own food. Then at least you know what goes into it and that it's fresh.

BTW, Sunkist, I don't like rare meat, either.

 

[asp3]

2 slices of "luxury" ham, 1 slice of cheese, between 2 slices of bread, toasted.
$14

I know there are very special types of ham from either Spain or Italy (I forget which) that are considered very special and are not produced in bulk. Also if the sandwich included cheese that was an artisan cheese and artisan bread I could see that being a reasonable price. Quality products often cost more and sometimes are worth the added expense for some people.

Just as a matter of interest. In the USA, is it expected that you tip Maccas staff (or any fast food staff) when you buy a burger etc?

Just curious. If you do tip, is it paid separately or included in the bill?

In general most fast food places do not take tips. Some of the smaller, non chain, fast food style eateries have a tip jar near the register.

I rarely tip when not served by waitstaff while remaining sitting at my table. I do usually tip about $1 a drink when I order drinks at a bar. Also if I get excellent service or the person getting my food is exceptionally helpful I'll choose to add a tip whether on my credit card bill or putting money in the tip jar.

 

[Bretrick]

Who would have thought.
The $14 Luxury Ham and Cheese sandwich has risen in price to $15.
They are dry, with the bread starting to warp upwards, very unappetising.

 

[StarSong]

I know there are very special types of ham from either Spain or Italy (I forget which) that are considered very special and are not produced in bulk.

I believe you're referring to Spain's Iberica Ham (Jamon Iberico). It's served with just a few thin slices and is out of this world. For the past 12 years I almost never eat any beef, pork, chicken, etc., but if I happen to be in Spain I'll have a bit of this ham nearly every day for lunch.