Dining out is really costly
 

Or maybe I’m just cheap. Wifey, son and I went to a fast food Greek franchise restaurant. We only had two beef/lamb gyros, one order of fries, one soda and a kids meal (shredded grilled chicken and fries). Total before tax and tip was $41! That’s an expensive fast food lunch, IMO. The place was packed too. I know there are people who eat out often but I don’t know how they afford it. Or maybe they really can’t and shouldn’t?

As we’ve talked about before, what you pay is entirely based on location. That same meal here in Lincoln, Nebraska, would run you about $25 before the tip.That would include taxes. It seems like no matter what fast food place my wife and I go to, it always runs about $25. Oddly enough, we can go to a sit down restaurant and get a decent meal, nothing fancy, for about $35.

Around here...a lunch plate and a beer costs about the same.
Yesterday, I had a roast beef sandwich with cheddar cheese for $12 and the one beer was $10

I eat out at least once every day....I enjoy it.

I posted this in another thread and appropriate here too. We go out 2-3 times a week. Unless we go to our favorites, we are ALWAYS disappointed, even those places with good Trip Advisor and Yelp ratings. Went to a local brewery pub last night and both our dinners were phenomenal and just as important, our server was fantastic. I am writing a long letter to the restaurant later today about how good he and the food was last night.

Mongolian Beef tacos, though Indian naan was used, and rightfully so with the big chunky strips of beef tucked inside them. Pic below. NE hazy IPA was good too.

$25 Mongolian Beef tacos
$26 Steak tip salad
$8 IPA
$59 Total w/ tax was $63 We left a $20 tip. I got to try 3 different beers (enthusiastically delivered), server was friendly and made good recommendations, prompt, asked if everything was ok and so on, so he deserved the 33% tip.

Here's the thing, I am thrilled to pay $80 for a great dinner for two. But hate paying $50 for poor to average. At least in those times we get to tip 10% because the service mirrors the food.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1755363272.jpg

$41 isn't bad IMO.

I think it will depend upon where you are and what your expectations and standards are for food and service. But yes, everything is more expensive than it was 10 years ago or 25 or 35. And for many of us, our tastes and expectations may have changed, but in our heads, the value of a dollar hasn't. Welcome to being an old guy.

We go to a Jewish style deli/restaurant in an urban area about 35 minutes from where we live. It's a fairly large place and is always packed, especially at meal times and decently populated in between. I love their classic Rubin sandwiches. Years ago when I started going there, they were $8.99 for the sandwich with a side of potatoe salad. The current price for the same thing is $24.99. The sandwiches are the same but smaller now. I usually like to hit the bakery and bring home a chocolate echlair. They were $2.99 when I first started getting them, and now they are $8.99. Currently a lunch there costs us (wife & me) around $90+ with tip and a trip to the bakery. On top of that, the place is packed with oldsters like me. I always thought old people on a retired income had to watch their expenses, but maybe that's not all that true.

That really doesn’t sound too bad, considering you can pretty easily spend $20 on a Chipotle bowl. We eat out a lot and love trying new places, especially unique local ones. I will happily pay for a great meal and service, in my mind it’s worth it.

The gf doesn't cook, and she really doesn't like American food. She's from Korea, so enjoys Asian foods like pho, shabushabu, hot pot, spicy Thai... Me, I was raised on American food. I always defer to her and we end up eating the same food at the same restaurants. Usually runs $80-$100 everytime we go, which is roughly 5-6 times a week. I think it is nuts spending $2k+ every month eating out, but we do. That's the cost of the 19" outer lips I ordered for my Porsche. lol Only that much because I ordered the wrong parts first and they were non-refundable

Well I just paid $75 carryout for three entrees and sides at a good local sit down Mediterranean joint. So there’s a data point. I don’t love doing carryout but sometimes my wife just wants to hang at home.

Paid 65 plus tip for 3 sliced pork bbq dinners last night, no beer or anything just ice tea to drink

Around here, a fairly simple breakfast for 2 at a decent place, including tip, runs about $50. Hard to get away for less than $100 for dinner w/a couple of drinks.
And yes, restaurants are usually pretty busy. No wonder average US credit card debt is so high...

Being a bit Scottish I go to my favourite place each week on "two mains for the price of one" night. So that's two mains for $40.

Mind you I spend another $50 on booze.

Also four of us take turns deciding on a restaurant once a week. We tend to go to nice places other than expensive places - that's unless it's someone's birthday.

Basically, what you think should be $5 is $10.

Just came back from Vietnamese. Wife and kids had rice plate with the typical baked egg, couple of shrimp paste and couple thin slices of grill beef. I had chicken pho, like always and we shared a plate of egg rolls. 100 bucks. This is nothing fancy but the food was great. Its our go to Vietnamese. Its pretty much on par with everything else today. 100 bucks do not go far these days.

Local Mex place, two plates, chips, one beer, $41.

I go to Asian Buffet and definitely get my money’s worth.

Basically, what I think should be $5 is $20!
I rarely eat out. I just can't afford it.

Mostly, I eat better at home

One of the keys to the little wealth I have is not eating out. During the work week I never buy out. It’s all choice. Personally, I’d rather spend my money on stuff I’ll enjoy for a while. We will eat out usually once a week just to get out. If you want good food often, marry an Italian. 😀