Why resteraunt chains are closing, want a franchise.

[Surf Cat]

I did see where Olive Garden is experimenting with small portions and smaller prices. Probably a wise thing to do.

This is where McDonald's shot themselves in the foot. They shut the door on the budget conscious, lower income population. McDonald's was always the go-to bathroom stop, get a snack for the road.

There's way better alternatives now if I'm going to pay that much for a crappy burger. I don't even look at McDonald's anymore, I just drive right by them.

 

[alebrewer]

My wife and I seldom go out to eat. It is, in my opinion, a waste of money.

Agreed that (assuming one is a pretty fair cook) one can probably do better at home WRT quality, than in most restaurants. We tend to only go out to restaurants that specialize in cuisine that would be challenging to make at home. Pho, Indian, tagine, bar-b-que, etc. That said, I don't see how restaurants can turn profit in the current environment. Food overhead has to be just crushing everyone - and they can't just raise the price to cover the higher costs - restaurants are very susceptible to price elasticity.

 

[ucbruin]

People should ask The Donald....
To make Micky D's lower their prices....
Or at least make Ronald send everyone a secret sauce stimulus check....

 

[Fernando]

The restaurant business has probably the highest rate of fail of all small businesses. My wife and I seldom go out to eat. It is, in my opinion, a waste of money. The only time we do so is if we are dead dog tired and we just want to chill and not cook, or if we are traveling. And even then, we bought a 12V cooler and take our food with us.

I did see where Olive Garden is experimenting with small portions and smaller prices. Probably a wise thing to do.

I grew up in which my parents hardly go out and eat at restaurants (still don't go out).
Since marrying my wife, we have gone out to eat whenever she didn't feel like cooking. Problem is not eating out is not the healthiest but is convenient.
We like to try different food especially when new restaurant opens nearby.
Also dining out, I see the character of a person.
Like with relatives and friends, their manner in treating waiters and what they order (most expensive entree when I'm paying) and conversing reveal a lot about someone.

 

[Airstream]

This is where McDonald's shot themselves in the foot. They shut the door on the budget conscious, lower income population. McDonald's was always the go-to bathroom stop, get a snack for the road.

There's way better alternatives now if I'm going to pay that much for a crappy burger. I don't even look at McDonald's anymore, I just drive right by them.

I just ate at McDonalds for the first time in a long time. I was doing some appraisal work 4 hours away, and it was right across the street from the motel. Didn’t feel like getting in the pickup and driving anywhere. I ordered 1 quarter pounder, 1 small fry, and 1 small milk. It was $10.50. I thought….this is ridiculous. I recognize that expenses have gone up, but I think about 3 years ago I could have gotten that for about $6.00. So if a family of 4 goes to McDonalds there is a high likelihood that when they are done it is a $50 bill. I remember (and this was a long time ago) get a burger, fry and drink for less than $1! But that was even cheap back when wages were far less than today. In fact I have 5 children and we could feed the 7 of us on a trip for under $30 easily. Again, not going back to those days…but I think the point is fast food isn’t all that good and really isn’t all that inexpensive any longer.

But I also realize that if I went to a restaurant and ordered the same thing it would likely be twice that amount.

But I typically head to Culvers. They aren’t cheap, but have better food (IMHO.).

I think part of the problem is some of these places try to have too large a menu. The old McDonalds didn’t have half the choices of today. And that has to raise costs if one has to carry a more varied inventory.

 

[Elliott]

My brother-in-law looks like an old man, he has lost 50-punds in the last 4-months. His son, a doctor, put him on the 'fat-shot' (soon to become a pill). Well, if "Bill" is eating less, along with a few million Americans, it is sad news for the Food Industry. He was telling me over the holidays that 'this will mean all kinds of improvements in heart disease, kidney disease, etc.." I thought, it will means lots more 'elder care' and Alzhiemer's. I had a grandfather who died at 58, my dad at 62 (heart).

I've lost 50-pounds too, but the old fashion way, Covid I, Covid II, and a two-month cold (Covid IIII?) last year. I still look great, like my avatar.

 

[Airstream]

My brother-in-law looks like an old man, he has lost 50-punds in the last 4-months. His son, a doctor, put him on the 'fat-shot' (soon to become a pill). Well, if "Bill" is eating less, along with a few million Americans, it is sad news for the Food Industry. He was telling me over the holidays that 'this will mean all kinds of improvements in heart disease, kidney disease, etc.." I thought, it will means lots more 'elder care' and Alzhiemer's. I had a grandfather who died at 58, my dad at 62 (heart).

I've lost 50-pounds too, but the old fashion way, Covid I, Covid II, and a two-month cold (Covid IIII?) last year. I still look great, like my avatar.

The sad part is the reason we need the “fat shot” is because of places like McDonalds. I’m not saying you can’t eat at these places responsibly. But when I look at what people order then eat, I just shake my head. They eat 3,000 calories in one sitting.

I saw a documentary that analyzed the rise of obesity in our society and there is a direct correlation between the rise of fast food joints. Again I am not saying we need to close them down. But when our society is so undisciplined that we need a “fat shot” we are in trouble.

Everyone talks about the cost of health care, but it is our food that is killing us and causing our medical costs to explode. We are eating ourselves to death.

As my doctor said most of the chronic disease in our society is caused by diet and a lack of exercise. And it is the chronic disease that most health care dollars are spent on.

 

[Fernando]

The sad part is the reason we need the “fat shot” is because of places like McDonalds. I’m not saying you can’t eat at these places responsibly. But when I look at what people order then eat, I just shake my head. They eat 3,000 calories in one sitting.

I saw a documentary that analyzed the rise of obesity in our society and there is a direct correlation between the rise of fast food joints. Again I am not saying we need to close them down. But when our society is so undisciplined that we need a “fat shot” we are in trouble.

Everyone talks about the cost of health care, but it is our food that is killing us and causing our medical costs to explode. We are eating ourselves to death.

As my doctor said most of the chronic disease in our society is caused by diet and a lack of exercise. And it is the chronic disease that most health care dollars are spent on.

I heard some states have disallowed EBT cards (free food government money) in buying soda, chips, and other unhealthy food.
Reason they buy theses processed food is because they're cheaper. I like organic but more expensive.
I think CA still allow them to buy whatever they want to eat.

 

[Fernando]

My brother-in-law looks like an old man, he has lost 50-punds in the last 4-months. His son, a doctor, put him on the 'fat-shot' (soon to become a pill). Well, if "Bill" is eating less, along with a few million Americans, it is sad news for the Food Industry. He was telling me over the holidays that 'this will mean all kinds of improvements in heart disease, kidney disease, etc.." I thought, it will means lots more 'elder care' and Alzhiemer's. I had a grandfather who died at 58, my dad at 62 (heart).

I've lost 50-pounds too, but the old fashion way, Covid I, Covid II, and a two-month cold (Covid IIII?) last year. I still look great, like my avatar.

The problem is that once on that "diet" pill, one has to continue taking it for life to continue to keep the fat from coming back.
And it has side effects.
I can tell the bad side effects have affected Charles brain. Terrible.

 

[Dublin ohio]

I heard some states have disallowed EBT cards (free food government money) in buying soda, chips, and other unhealthy food.
Reason they buy theses processed food is because they're cheaper. I like organic but more expensive.
I think CA still allow them to buy whatever they want to eat.

Soda is not cheap, chips are a snack. Many processed foods can be replaced by unprocessed that are cheaper but maybe not as convenient. Instant oatmeal is full of sugar and salt and is expensive. Regular oatmeal is much cheaper and doesn't contain all of the crap and you can microwave it in less than 3 minutes