Eating Out
Jan 30, 2024 08:06:47 #
Rich2236 wrote:
I agree with everyone, eating out these days really sucks! For my wife and I at a local Greek restaurant here is what we paid: 1 small Greek Salad, $16. 1 Meatballs, (there were 6 1" meatballs in a sauce) $18. 1 Baklava, $12. 1 gelato, $12. 1 double espresso, $6. the total plus tax came to $69.44 + tip...About $12. So, now we get $81.44. You are right, in todays inflated economy, very few can afford to eat out! I know I cannot.
Actually, inflation is rather low.
The current U.S. inflation rate is 3.4% for the 12-month period leading up to December 2023. The rate of inflation was up 0.3% in December from the previous month, according to the latest release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
[i]Inflation closed out 2022 with a 6.5% annual reading, as measured by the consumer price index, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday. It was in line with economists’ expectations.[/]
I think a lot of the price increases, especially at restaurants, are the result of the bandwagon effect. "If the place down the road is charging $20 for a meal, why should we charge $15?"
Jan 30, 2024 08:07:26 #
Triple G wrote:
One of the best lunch combos! The only combo lunch that is better is grilled cheese with tomato soup.
Jan 30, 2024 08:08:58 #
The Lemon Drop in Anderson, best hamburgers in Indiana, in my opinion: onionburger, french fries, and a Coke for $10 and change. A regular hamburger is less. It's a 50s style diner that has won the best in Madison County for years and years running.
Jan 30, 2024 08:10:04 #
MosheR
Loc: New York City
jerryc41 wrote:
I don't eat out as often as I used to, but last ni... (show quote)
Just try that same meal in Manhattan!
Jan 30, 2024 08:12:27 #
MosheR wrote:
Just try that same meal in Manhattan!
Yes, I've done that.
Jan 30, 2024 08:17:08 #
MosheR wrote:
Just try that same meal in Manhattan!
A few years ago Iceland was maybe $50US for lunch and $100+ for dinner.
(Glad almost every place there takes cards.)
Jan 30, 2024 08:44:18 #
bobups
Loc: Bath pa
9.00 dollars and change for 2 large fries at McDonald’s and people are still buying
Jan 30, 2024 08:58:44 #
bobups wrote:
9.00 dollars and change for 2 large fries at McDonald’s and people are still buying
Yup.
We grew up with MUCH lower prices, but the "kids" of today only basically know the current prices....
To them that's "normal".
Jan 30, 2024 09:53:27 #
Jan 30, 2024 10:09:05 #
We stopped eating hamburgers out 35 years ago. Our local super market has fresh ground chuck for $2.99 lb on Tue. No pre packaged meat, all fresh at the “old fashioned” meat counter. I cook most nights. Cooking is easy!! I sauté onions too. 😀
Mark
Mark
Jan 30, 2024 10:20:21 #
markngolf wrote:
We stopped eating hamburgers out 35 years ago. Our local super market has fresh ground chuck for $2.99 lb on Tue. No pre packaged meat, all fresh at the “old fashioned” meat counter. I cook most nights. Cooking is easy!! I sauté onions too. 😀
Mark
Mark
As with you Mark, we don't eat out very often now either. We, meaning I, LOL, do the shopping, and we buy mostly chicken, some meat, and fresh veggies as our mainstay. I do most all the cooking in the house, (when I was a kid I had to do the cooking as my mom was not able to at times because of Bursitis.) I love to cook, hate to clean up, but love to cook. I mostly use a wok, and the air fryer. That way, I don't use a lot of oil, which is really not good to use a lot.
Jan 30, 2024 10:28:23 #
Longshadow wrote:
Wow. inexpensive?
One special place near us where we get two burgers, fries, cup of a fantastic soup, and two cheesecake deserts was about $60.
One special place near us where we get two burgers, fries, cup of a fantastic soup, and two cheesecake deserts was about $60.
That's about right for here too.
Jan 30, 2024 11:11:24 #
Jan 30, 2024 11:12:31 #
StanMac
Loc: Tennessee
jerryc41 wrote:
I don't eat out as often as I used to, but last ni... (show quote)
Every eatery’s chef/cook tries to make their burger unique to their venue. You end up with a burger that is too full of “stuff” and so thick it won’t stand on its own nor fit in your mouth. I make a better burger at home so I don’t go out for a burger anymore.
Stan
Jan 30, 2024 11:25:23 #
Warhorse wrote:
Just last night I ordered Chinese takeout from a local restaurant, they charge ~$15 a meal, but that meal is enough for two people.
Warhorse and all!
Here in Manhattan, NYC, one can have a Chinese "Lunch Special" for less than $12 an entree plus a bowl of soup and a side of white, brown or "veggie" rice and a fortune cookie :-). Compared to an evening "dinner" portion, it is about 75% in amount.
On Mondays, I pick up 2 lunch specials to go with an additional portion of veggie rice for an additional $3.50 which is close to a dinner portion @ $9.50 and with my wife can make two meals out of it!
Another thing I've noticed is that several restaurants are adding a separate 3% credit card charge if the check is not paid with cash. I thought that was against a bank's credit card rules.
Be well! Happy New Year (Chinese)! Ed
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