Eating out

[backmarkerducati]

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We go out to eat on average twice per week. Some weeks more some weeks less.

We have a good range of places (pubs, ethnic, fancy) all walking distance (few blocks) and we typically range from $70 to $150 for my wife and I with drinks but it can go much higher at the nicer places (less often) or if the (now teenage) kids are with us. We will also take the subway to BWV every so often. We started to go out more, just the two of us, once we didn't have to take the kids with us, which also luckily time aligned with no mortgage and that freed up a huge amount of walking around money, otherwise we would not be able to do it. We also typically hit the half price wing nights, buck(ish) a shuck, etc.

 

[guzzirider]

I used to eat 3 meals a day in restaurants when I was in my thirties because it was cheaper than buying/cooking as a single.
A few years ago I was diagnosed as getting OLD along with complications such as hi blood pressure and diabetes.
Now I only have 1 or 2 meals a month in restaurants.
It has been almost a month since my last visit to Tim's!
My sister organizes a friends meal once a month at Rhodes in Kingston.
Cheap meals with no MSG but I am sure they will card you if you look younger than 60.

 

[GreyGhost]

The irony is these places are always full with people waiting to get in when we leave ... I don't get it.

There are some people that have huge cashflow. There are many people living the HELOC life and the budget will balance itself. That works until it doesn't. Some have horseshoes where the sun don't shine and never hit the wall.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

Too many shenanigans/DGAF nonsense going on on the other side of the counter now. I don't need the aggravation.

 

[Jampy00]

For the few times we dine out we look for smaller restaurants that have a specialty.
But expect to pay. We avoid big chain restaurants.

 

[nobbie48]

There are some people that have huge cashflow. There are many people living the HELOC life and the budget will balance itself. That works until it doesn't. Some have horseshoes where the sun don't shine and never hit the wall.

If your income would have been sufficient to save for a house the number in that group has significantly diminished. So many "YOLO" and enjoy the day.

 

[GreyGhost]

If your income would have been sufficient to save for a house the number in that group has significantly diminished. So many "YOLO" and enjoy the day.

It's also easy for most people to justify as a need or something they deserve. Need/deserve are responsible for almost as many failed dreams as the libs. If you don't have the pain today, you'll have it twice as bad tomorrow.

 

[nobbie48]

The last 2 times we 2 ate out is was $140+ after taxes and tip ... crazy!

Last weekend at a seafood place in Vaughan. Nothing crazy like lobster or crab and no dessert or coffee but 2 small (6 oz) glasses of the house wine alone were $28. Last time there ... wasn't worth it.

The last time I ordered a meal combo from McD's it was about $13-14. Today is Whopper Wednesday at BK and it's about $16 for two.

Both chains are offering mini combos for about $6-7 a piece. It's a better deal as few really need the extra fries.

The next step up is the sit-down diner. Before Covid bacon and eggs I left a $10-spot and it covered the meal, tax and tip. Now it's $20.

I explained to a relative visiting Canada, that celebration places start around $100 a plate and go up like a five speed transmission at $100 a gear.

The best deals to me are the Mediterranean indies.

At a nearby Greek place I get a large take-out lamb souvlaki dinner that feeds the two of us with enough left over for the lunches next day. About $36.

Monday, I took my daughter to State and Main and, because neither of us were particularly hungry, we just ordered four apps and two soft drinks. Wings, Dragon boats (Really good), Calamari and Brussels sprouts with bacon. With tax and tip, it was just short of $100. Soft drinks were $4 each. The good part was the time spent with my daughter and the money well spent IMO.

The tipping really bothers me. Since it is a percent of the food tab, when the food cost has gone up 50% to 100% the tip amount has gone up similarly. The minimum suggested is typically 18% instead of the old 15%. Then there have been changes in the minimum wages. What are the expectations in a run of the mill restaurant?

I would like to think that top end places are more Euro in concept with the wait staff considering the job a career.

A neighbour used to go out once a week to a roadhouse level eatery. Then they discussed it and decided to only go out once a month but to an upscale posh place. Same monthly budget but enjoying it more.

 

[nobbie48]

It's also easy for most people to justify as a need or something they deserve. Need/deserve are responsible for almost as many failed dreams as the libs. If you don't have the pain today, you'll have it twice as bad tomorrow.

Agreed. A couple going out 3-4 times a week can very easily go through $500 a week. Thats over two grand a month. How much mortgage does that buy? Then there's the upgraded car, a couple of trips a year to get out of the apartment, the designer pooch,

 

[FullMotoJacket]

The tipping really bothers me. Since it is a percent of the food tab, when the food cost has gone up 50% to 100% the tip amount has gone up similarly. The minimum suggested is typically 18% instead of the old 15%. Then there have been changes in the minimum wages. What are the expectations in a run of the mill restaurant?

Tell the wait staff your wages haven’t gone up since before inflation skyrocketed and the expected tip percentage increased and you’re giving them 15% @ the old prices. I’m sure they’ll understand.

 

[GreyGhost]

Tell the wait staff your wages haven’t gone up since before inflation skyrocketed and the expected tip percentage increased and you’re giving them 15% @ the old prices. I’m sure they’ll understand.

Cue the "if you can't afford to tip 25% at the new price, you should stay home and stop wasting the restaurant staffs time".

 

[mimico_polak]

Cue the "if you can't afford to tip 25% at the new price, you should stay home and stop wasting the restaurants staffs time".

If everyone listens to that idiotic advice...restaurant staff will just lose their jobs.

It's a stupid argument, same as that photo / meme on FB running around...

I'll see if I can find it but basically makes a 30-40% tip as mandatory.

 

[LBV]

It's enough that the tip is on top of the taxes so 18% is really 20% already.

 

[PrivatePilot]

I eat lunch out every single day given the nature of my job.

Trying to find a mom and pop greasy spoon in a lot of the places I go, and then finding one that I can park anywhere near is tough. And sometimes they're disapointing honestly - I had lunch at one last week in a little town north of Port Perry (I won't trash the place publicly) and it was just kinda gross - store bought hamburger patty and mediocre french fries - $20 after the tip.

So, I often end up eating at Subway instead. It's probably the "healthiest" option while on the road, and you can still get a solid lunch for $10-$12, often including a free side and drink if you use their app as there's almost always deals in there.

I do however get to write off all my meals, so in the end eating out every day costs me basically $0, so there's that. Yeah, I could pack my lunch every day seeing as how I'm home every night, but that really limits what you can eat, and cold/soggy sandwiches or lukewarm soup gets tired after a few decades. There's a lot to be said for something fresh and hot.

As for eating out with the wife and friends, usually 3-5 times a month. But we're still reasonably frugal where we go - little indy breakfast places where you can both eat for $30-$40 including tip, and some of the indy dinner places (Teddy's in Oshawa, IYKYK), and yeah, sometimes the chains like East Sides - Canadian company and still fairly reasonable for what you get with the unlimited soup, salad, and homeloaf.

Bigger fancier dinners like the Keg or whatever? A few times a year. I never feel like you get value for money honestly, so it's a special occasion thing in the end.

Speaking of value for money, My son is moving out and we took him and his SO on a shopping spree to ikea on the weekend to kit out their new place. After spending $800 in Ikea itself we decided to go up to the restaurant for a "cheap" lunch. It was $83 lol.

 

[nobbie48]

If everyone listens to that idiotic advice...restaurant staff will just lose their jobs.

It's a stupid argument, same as that photo / meme on FB running around...

I'll see if I can find it but basically makes a 30-40% tip as mandatory.

Could I tip myself at the grocery store self checkout and take 40% off the bill

 

[MCT]

Anyone else cutting back on eating out?

I look for value and I like eating where I pick up my food at the bar or cash when my buzzer lights up. This 18%, 20% and 25% tips that are on the charge card device, I mean are you effing serious for 2 minutes worth of work. Sorry, not going to happen!

Why I liked Fat Freddy's Sports Bar and the Burleigh Bears League Club. Pizza and a jug (1.140 L) of James Squire 150 Lashes beer for $25 tax in, no tip.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

Cue the "if you can't afford to tip 25% at the new price, you should stay home and stop wasting the restaurant staffs time".

Everyone says "You know what, that's sound advice. Thanks." and stays home. Restaurant closes due to lack of traffic. Wait staff gets laid off and goes on EI @ the going percentage of minimum wage. Karma moves on it's next victim.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

So, I often end up eating at Subway instead. It's probably the "healthiest" option while on the road, and you can still get a solid lunch for $10-$12, often including free toe jam.

FTFY

 

[FullMotoJacket]

Could I tip myself at the grocery store self checkout and take 40% off the bill

Yes. You just bypass that pesky scanner thingie on $40% of your items.

 

[MCT]

I'll see if I can find it but basically makes a 30-40% tip as mandatory.

As for these "mandatory tips", although it never happened to me where I was eating I have heard about them. And if it every does happen to me if the restaurant does not advertize it in big writing, I am walking right out without paying.

You know, I spent big bucks getting my Private Pilot Licence, my Commercial Pilot Licence and my Flight Instructors Rating all to make near minimum wage and less than half of what a city bus driver makes with no benefits. Besides, I can drive a bus with no training, I highly doubt he can maintain the runway centerline in a landing with a stiff crosswind. Hell that Delta 4819 flight in YYZ with DEI pilots couldn't.

Do you think I ever got a tip from my students and I wasn't just moving dinner plates around?

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