Your friend should move on and get another job. Why do we need experienced, career servers? It's not rocket science. Move on and stop guilting people to pay extra after getting ripped off.

n_touch said:

---

titan said:

---

TAMUallen said:

---

A wild thing I've noticed is that a meal at chili's is now the same price or cheaper than a fast food combo meal.

---

Yes. It becomes more understandable when consider a burger, drink, fries, is just under $ 14.00. And that is without alot of extras. It doesn't take much higher to hit the lower end of a meal at Chilis.

---

For a burger you are better off doing Chili's or Willie's. No reason to do any of the fast food places anymore. They are no longer cheap and many times not even that fast. The cost is about the same if not better and you will get a better burger.

---

The Chili's "3 for Me" combo is a good deal. And it's not just a burger entree - it can be a salad or quesadilla.

Six pages and no one mentions food trucks? Seems they may be taking a lot of the business thar used to go to restaurants

MemphisAg1 said:

---

I travel a lot for business.

Restaurants are packed, no matter where in the US you go.

---

There certainly are a lot of factors that go into this. I know almost every restaurant I try to go to in Collin Co or northern Dallas Co is packed at dinner time. We call it the witching hour (530p-730p on weekends). Almost impossible to get a table.

Just try getting into the Texas Roadhouse at 5 PM...It's packed every night!

Quote:

---

what does the sign look like? Applebee's or IHOP?

---

It's both...

infinity ag said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

I travel a lot for business.

Restaurants are packed, no matter where in the US you go.

---

That is because you only go to high end places where everyone else is mooching off their corporate cards just like you do.

---

Not the case at all where I go.

AggieT said:

---

You know, I can justify a good meal. I've spent insane amounts for my portion of a group in Vegas. More than your meal.

I cannot stomach paying $100 for Chinese delivery for a family of four. Or $70+ for Whataburger.

Hope you had a great night!

---

This is kinda where I'm at now. I'd rather spend a little more for a better meal than waste my dining dollars.

Thaddeus73 said:

---

Just try getting into the Texas Roadhouse at 5 PM...It's packed every night!

Quote:

---

what does the sign look like? Applebee's or IHOP?

---

It's both...

---

Dang, mine in DFW doesn't look like that. I'm shocked the IHOP is even still there... it hasnt been busy, ever, in 10+ years. Restaurants and retail stores close by, but better, locations do not last. The location is terrible but they seem to stay there. Would not surprise me to hear about them busted on big charges for money laundering

CanyonAg77 said:

---

Six pages and no one mentions food trucks? Seems they may be taking a lot of the business thar used to go to restaurants

---

Food trucks need their own thread!

I stopped hitting up the food trucks because prices are the same as restaurants and sometimes more. Plus it is too damn hot in Texas most of the year to be standing or eating outside

idAg09 said:

---

CanyonAg77 said:

---

Six pages and no one mentions food trucks? Seems they may be taking a lot of the business thar used to go to restaurants

---

Food trucks need their own thread!

I stopped hitting up the food trucks because prices are the same as restaurants and sometimes more. Plus it is too damn hot in Texas most of the year to be standing or eating outside

---

Same.

When food trucks started popping up about fifteen years it was mostly by people with unique takes on food AND at prices that were a little less than a restaurant, so you got something you couldn't get at your average place AND save a few bucks.

Now nearly all of them have the same food you can get an any restaurant but without service, good seating, and if you're wanting Mexican food, without free chips and salsa.

No Spin Ag said:

---

idAg09 said:

---

CanyonAg77 said:

---

Six pages and no one mentions food trucks? Seems they may be taking a lot of the business thar used to go to restaurants

---

Food trucks need their own thread!

I stopped hitting up the food trucks because prices are the same as restaurants and sometimes more. Plus it is too damn hot in Texas most of the year to be standing or eating outside

---

Same.

When food trucks started popping up about fifteen years it was mostly by people with unique takes on food AND at prices that were a little less than a restaurant, so you got something you couldn't get at your average place AND save a few bucks.

Now nearly all of them have the same food you can get an any restaurant but without service, good seating, and if you're wanting Mexican food, without free chips and salsa.

---

Plus at least 5 bucks above. Roach coaches are no longer a thing

There are still very delicious places to eat that are not expensive. In Houston, go to where the recent immigrant population eats. Period.

They bring their cuisine from their home country, their fellow countrymen will frequent the good ones and won't go if it's ridiculously priced.

Sure, you may be in a ****ty part of town or be the only Caucasoid within a few klicks, but you'll leave happily stuffed and not break the bank.

And no, I won't give you my list. Last I need to happen is a covey of Memorialites swarming the places, driving prices up and the locals out.

The former owner of a place we used to eat at frequently, and that my wife frequented more often than I did relayed her experience the last 2 years. She closed her long time store front place, over 20 years, about 2 years ago and sold it existing as it was to some folks.

After that she started cooking at home and reaching out to former customers. She delivers lunch plates for $10 or $11 with a canned soda. She does this Mon-Fri and will also do some small caterings and special dinners and such for people. Her lunches are typical STX fare; i.e. carne guisada, flautas, asado de puerco, enchiladas, etc. All served with the holy trinity; rice, beans, and tortillas (sometimes homemade) and salad sometimes. Food is good, and portions good. Minimum of 3 plates for delivery. Orders in by 10:30am and when she is out, she is out and she delivers between 11:30 and 12:30 or so.

In talking to her about all of this she said she is now averaging just over 40 plates a day and has it figured that at an average of 50 plates a day she will be netting about 20% more than the best she ever made at her restaurant and working about 50-60% of the hours she was and no worries about dealing with a 7 day a well store front. The caterings and special requests are just gravy for her as she didn't have the time to do that when running the restaurant.

If you are in the "VIP" group she will sell you a left over plate, dependent on availability, for $7 when there are leftovers.

My point in relaying this is that with the high cost of restaurants, especially the fast food places and chains, I think there will be situations like this pop up more and more, especially in a state like TX where regulations aren't outta hand, or should I say compliance vigilance isn't outta hand. The cash transfer deals and such make this easy as can be. Overhead costs and costs of regulation combined with labor and materials in restaurants have made brick and mortar places expensive to run.

Now a business like hers can't be scaled hardly at all, but if she is good with working about 30 hours a week and making decent money, more power to her. I anticipate more situations like this.

Fuzzy Dunlop said:

---

One thing to consider here is DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc. Many people pay a premium to stay home and let a driver bring it to you. This drives up the cost of the food. I believe that many restaurants have added to the price of food becuase they have to pay these delivery companies a portion of the price.

We don't use DoorDash, but a friend of mine spends hundreds of dollars a month to have food delivered. It doesn't make any sense to me. If we order out, I'll go pick it up.

Now, I may be wrong about some of this (I probably am), but I think these deliveservices are making restaurants look less busy, while in fact, they are just as busy, maybe busier. The patrons are not at the restaurant, though, and price of food for people who do eat there, is going up.

---

My kids like Wendy's, so we are in there every week or two. There is always a steady train of immigrant delivery guys lined up at the counter waiting for orders. I don't get it. How lazy do you have to be to order delivery from a place with a drive thru?? Just pissing money away as fast as you earn it.

Logos Stick said:

---

I went to visit my youngest son this past weekend. He and I hit up Whataburger in the drive thru. Employee said your total is $35. I looked at my son and asked "did I hear that right?". Four items, no drinks, $35.

I don't see how most people afford it anymore.

---

We did that last week, same experience, plus we waited in the drive thru for 20+min No longer fast food

89DogDoc94 said:

---

I just want to add in a "tip" comment.

My best friend is a server at a mod / high end family owned chain resturant in the Houston area. I would guess average price is $40 to $60 per person for an evening meal plus drinks.

They get paid $2.50 per hour. They have to live off of tips. They work their ass off for 6 to 7 hours per night. It is now becoming more coommon for her to spend 2 hours taking care of a party of 4 to 8 and bill north of $300 and then get a tip of 8 dollars.

I am not a fan of the tip culture, or the system in general, but the industry is fixing to start loosing the experienced servers to other jobs if the tips don't improve.

If you are going to go out to eat at a sit down place and these servers work on tips alone, then freaking take care of them if they do a good job.

Rant over.

---

When I go out, I tip well and people think I am Crazy. $20 to the golf cart girl for a $10 beer. Typically $20% on a high end place and 30% on a Fast casual.

$20-50 means little to me but means a lot to them. I have been dirt poor growing up and would have appreciated a good tip more back then than missing out on an extra $20.

Took family of 5 to a nice steak place, bill was $600 and tip $120. $120 seems steep but no wonder the waiter hasn't left the job for well over 10 years.

I too think tips has gone crazy but I still tip $1 for drinks to be made at starbucks. I have drawn the line at tipping when I have to grab my own drink and pay it at a self serve kiosk.

I was shocked 6 months ago when my $20 haircut jumped to $40. So just like with Whataburger, I don't go as often to get haircuts.

txyaloo said:

---

No Spin Ag said:

---

YouBet said:

---

The fast food and fast casual places have all reported large drops in business from younger people and those under certain income levels. All part of the K economy.

---

Very true.

I frequent fast-casual places for lunch since they're healthier than fast food, and I've seen there be fewer and fewer people in them as time has gone by.

It says a lot when an increase of a buck or two for a meal can make things too expensive for people.

---

I've ordered the same meal fairly consistently at Whataburger since 2010. It was $12 back then. Today it's $25.

In 2010, I'd eat there 3-4x a week. In 2025, I eat there maybe 4-5x a year. I refuse to pay $25 for "fast" food, that isn't fast, and always has something wrong or missing. Might as well go to a real restaurant for that price and time commitment.

---

What on earth are you ordering for a single person from whataburger that costs $25

Outback Steakhouse in Waco closed about 3 weeks ago. It had been in operation for probably 25 years or so.

Waco Ag said:

---

Outback Steakhouse in Waco closed about 3 weeks ago. It had been in operation for probably 25 years or so.

---

That's crazy. But Outback is expensive relative to other chains, and it's all expensive now.

CanyonAg77 said:

---

Six pages and no one mentions food trucks? Seems they may be taking a lot of the business thar used to go to restaurants

---

great point -

here in the DC metro area they are EVERYWHERE because they are run by and cater to the illegals

it's a national humiliation that these are allowed all over the Mall so that when you take a picture you see decrepit food trucks everywhere.

OF COURSE they take sales from real restaurants. and likely they don't pay the full amount of taxes.

This is amazing. You can go in for a ****ty breakfast and then just hang out and wait for lunch time to choose a ****ty lunch by either Applebee's or IHOP, stay through the afternoon and then have a ****ty dinner at Applebee's. Can make a whole day of it!

Sea Speed said:

---

txyaloo said:

---

No Spin Ag said:

---

YouBet said:

---

The fast food and fast casual places have all reported large drops in business from younger people and those under certain income levels. All part of the K economy.

---

Very true.

I frequent fast-casual places for lunch since they're healthier than fast food, and I've seen there be fewer and fewer people in them as time has gone by.

It says a lot when an increase of a buck or two for a meal can make things too expensive for people.

---

I've ordered the same meal fairly consistently at Whataburger since 2010. It was $12 back then. Today it's $25.

In 2010, I'd eat there 3-4x a week. In 2025, I eat there maybe 4-5x a year. I refuse to pay $25 for "fast" food, that isn't fast, and always has something wrong or missing. Might as well go to a real restaurant for that price and time commitment.

---

What on earth are you ordering for a single person from whataburger that costs $25

---

Must be pretty fat.

I am surprised that this thread got so popular.
But then it is about food and us fat Americans love it.

Knowing how and taking the time to cook at home is one of the best money saving moves anyone can make.

Squadron7 said:

---

Knowing how and taking the time to cook at home is one of the best money saving moves anyone can make.

---

And it is fun as well. Youtube has a lot of ideas, just have to make the time and put in the effort.

Squadron7 said:

---

Knowing how and taking the time to cook at home is one of the best money saving moves anyone can make.

---

The only downside to cooking is having to clean up/do the dishes. That's one advantage to going out. But the cost/quality equation is a definite negative at most places today.

Re: Chinese food and Asian food in general. We make a lot of Asian food at home as it usually has a carb, protein and solid vegetable source that the kids enjoy. What I've done is buy the various sauces and oils (sesame, fish sauce, gojuchang etc) at HEB and really all you need is rice, protein of choice and some veggies. I haven't really tried the exotic recipes and sauces but I can whip up a fast beef and broccoli, char tsui, or noodle bowl with decent flavor that I don't need to spend $125 on mid Asian takeout.

I just can't understand how WHATABURGER and In-And-Out Burger are the best places in Texas and Cali

but are not on the east coast.

even Publix is not in my area!

I don't shop at Whole Foods or "The Market" but you could easily pay $300 for a week of food.

I know times are tough eating out when my work per diem can barely cover two meals.

up here we have "SHEETZ" and "WAWA" which are the "luxury" alternatives to 7-Eleven along the highways.

they have now become so popular they are building them in the Maryland suburbs.

pretty good quality at lower price and actually fast.

only drawback is waiting around inside with all the riffraff

LMCane said:

---

up here we have "SHEETZ" and "WAWA" which are the "luxury" alternatives to 7-Eleven along the highways.

they have now become so popular they are building them in the Maryland suburbs.

pretty good quality at lower price and actually fast.

only drawback is waiting around inside with all the riffraff

---

WAWA was great when I'd have to go check on, or hire/train, a team in Florida when I was a regional.

Bradento, Sarasota, etc

Like most types of businesses, the food biz is very competitive. If the biz has a visible location with good ingress and egress and sufficient parking, they have a chance depending on quality of their food and service level.
They do have to control their food cost and labor cost to survive.

In BCS, Chic-Fil-A and Texas Road House are winners! Nationally, they both are voted best in their category.
CFA does it in 6 days a week. TX RH does not normally open till 4 pm. They both hire great people!

YouBet said:

---

Sea Speed said:

---

txyaloo said:

---

No Spin Ag said:

---

YouBet said:

---

The fast food and fast casual places have all reported large drops in business from younger people and those under certain income levels. All part of the K economy.

---

Very true.

I frequent fast-casual places for lunch since they're healthier than fast food, and I've seen there be fewer and fewer people in them as time has gone by.

It says a lot when an increase of a buck or two for a meal can make things too expensive for people.

---

I've ordered the same meal fairly consistently at Whataburger since 2010. It was $12 back then. Today it's $25.

In 2010, I'd eat there 3-4x a week. In 2025, I eat there maybe 4-5x a year. I refuse to pay $25 for "fast" food, that isn't fast, and always has something wrong or missing. Might as well go to a real restaurant for that price and time commitment.

---

What on earth are you ordering for a single person from whataburger that costs $25

---

Must be pretty fat.

---

I'm a 6'6 middle aged dude sitting at 210. I definitely feel fat looking in the mirror but dexa scans say otherwise.

Triple with cheese, sub large onion ring and chocolate shake, add an extra 1-2 large order of fries. It's the only thing I eat for the day when I do that.

But hey, the texag fat asses are definitely going to judge.