Problems Eating Out

The cost. Closings of popular chains. What used to be a spur of the moment decision to go out for a meal is becoming a researched moment.

The cost is almost double for some restaurants; this is certainly true for the fast-food industry. Sit-down restaurants are not so bad, but their pricing is now mostly $20 or $25 dollars per person while before COVID it was 14 to 18 dollars. Dining out is becoming a serious choice to make, or not.

As a retiree living on Social Security, the choice is mostly not. Fast food spots, yes. Breakfast diners are also a yes, but they are raising prices from $8 to $16 for a routine meal, breakfast at that!

Increasingly, eating out is a treat and rare these days. I have always been a tipper of wait staff, and often have over tipped. I don’t know if the minimum wage increases of recent years has meant a large increase in wait-staff pay, but if it does, then my tips don’t matter as much as they once did. Still, I continue to tip.

Dining out is a treat when living at home. When traveling, it is a necessity. If restaurant prices remain this high, then my travel plans will continue to dwindle to nothing. Sad but true.

There are many bankruptcies being filed currently for fast food chains and dining chains. Many chains have downsized since COVID’s beginning. Consumers have changed their eating out patterns and opted for more home-cooked meals. That explains part of this situation. But not all of it.

Am I overreacting? Am I the only one recognizing this problem? Please share your comments with me so I can better understand the situation.

Thanks.

May 22, 2024

 

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