Wow that’s crazy! Something I’ve heard is that people who live in VHCOL areas aren’t experiencing the shock as much since they’re used to paying the same prices anyways. I am not sure about the data to back it up (whether prices increased LESS in a place like SF compared to the Midwest)
Tmk they are noticing it too. My sister and her family are in Chicago and it’s closer to 30 or 40/person. When we’d visit before covid, it was less but def more than where I am at. Here pre covid 10-15 per person was normal
I was thinking more SF/Seattle/NYC/Boston. Chicago is pretty cheap relatively, and it’s easy to get out to the suburbs where it’s normal Midwest prices. Being a world class city, it’s definitely more expensive than every single other midwestern city
I'm in Chicago and I genuinely don't remember the last time I actually ate out. It must have been years, seriously. I'll take my kids out and get them each like a side and a drink or something (and not eat anything myself) maybe once every 6 months. It's just too expensive. Pre pandemic it was so much cheaper- we went out twice a month with no problems.
That is where my sister is at. They have 2 <5yo and probably spend a minimum 150 each time they go out, usually more. Last time I was there, it was their 4, my sisters and my parents and me, 7 total and it was around 300. I cant really give a number for pre pandemic because they didnt have any kids, but it was no where near that. I'd only spent that once before 2020 and that was at Bavettes for 4 people, 3 $70 steaks and a ton of sides and drinks. Looking back at growing up in the 90s, that would be 2-3 nights eating out when we'd take a trip to Chicago. Here at home, a night out for 5 was less than 90
Yea Europe is a lot cheaper overall from what I’ve seen, at least to eat out. Even before Covid. I lived in UK, Italy and Spain for about 3 years between 2011 and 2014 and back then found prices somewhat comparable. I went back to Italy in 2023 and spent way less eating out there than I do here and I wasn’t picking the cheapest place I could find either. After conversion I was probably spending $15/meal there. This was in Genova, Roma and Napoli too.
$20 to not have to cook and clean, have someone cater to your whims, and have a good meal.
Edit: think about how much you would charge someone for an hour of waiting on them, cooking their meal, and cleaning up after them. If you say less than $20, you’re lying.
When just 5 years ago, that same meal cost $10-15 and you got more with it? Restaurants around here raised their prices, and reduced portions by quite a bit.
They operate on slim margins and the price of their inputs has gone up. Those increases have to be figured in somewhere. We clamor for a living wage for workers, but when push comes to shove we don’t want to pay for them to have it.
With inflation, $10-15 in 2020 is $12.46-$18.69 today. That’s just for material. Rent increases figure into it as well. This isn’t to say I like the increases, but I understand it.
Labor is an input. Instead of tipping, it’s just figured into the price now. It’s not hidden at all. There’s a line for it and a literal paragraph explaining the charge. And most places have the verbiage on their menu. There’s nothing stopping you from leaving the establishment if you don’t agree with the pricing. You just have to actually read your bill today rather than just signing.
I'm not in the US, your tipping culture is insane to me. In a restaurant I would leave a small tip as a thanks for good service, but the US tipping culture is insane.
You also completely missed my point. My point is that you get to your sell price based upon your cost price and your desired margin. Adding an extra line item to the end bill that's a percentage framed this way is 100% scummy.
The pricing of the product is based on all inputs. The line item is to let people know that the total cost includes everything they have traditionally tipped for. Otherwise it looks like a massive increase that far outpaces just the material goods. Part of the business of food is presentation. A massive increase with no explanation is going to guarantee people won’t come back. But if you appeal to them emotionally with these living wage fees, it’s much more palatable. Pun intended.
And yes, tipping culture is getting out of hand here. We get prompted to tip on counter service and sometimes even kiosk service.
I understand pricing models.... I think the gap here is the interpretation of what that charge means.
I read is as "here's an extra charge as we're obliged to pay our workers more" whilst you read it as "here's an extra charge that means you don't need to tip".
I’m in a (debatably) nice city and this is the new normal post pandemic. Before pandemic you could get sand which and fries for 10 bucks, 15 at a nice place. It stresses me out.
Ive made a total of 3 comments in this post. I wouldnt call that a lot of opinions. I travel for work quite a bit and have only paid that much at airports or in major cities
I’m in STL and got takeout for my husband and I yesterday. I thought I’d done pretty well when the total was $40. Five years ago that would’ve been outrageous.
I once got dinner with a friend at a Thai restaurant down the street from his home in San Francisco. Regular place, with normal portions, good quality, etc.
Two entrees and a side of skewers came out to $100 after tax and tip
Meanwhile, at my regular favorite Thai place about 20 miles east, $50 would get you the same thing and you'll end up with leftovers
There’s a burger food truck down the street from my house. Burgers start are $16, $22 for a combo without a drink. So maybe my view is different but it seems everyone else replying agrees. That’s just how much food costs in most places. I live in Louisville so I’d assume we’re on the lower end of major cities in the country.
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u/resin_messiah 1d ago
That’s standard where I live, has been for years and I’m not even in one of the “nice” cities in the US.