Restaurants have gotten so expensive……also recycling and phone apps (1 Viewer)

[Grahamburn]

It was Taco Tuesday at Tijuana Flats. Went with a coworker today. 2 tacos, chips, and a drink was $7 plus tax.

For folks in the restaurant business, what's your opinion on stuff like this? I'm sure the restaurant loses money on things like this. What's the thinking? They'll get enough goodwill that customers will come back on other days and they can recoup the losses? Does that actually happen?

I think it depends on the customer. Some will be there just for the deal. Others will take the deal but also buy drinks, apps, etc. Guessing it's a loss leader kind of thing.

FWIW... when I was a "young professional" while traveling for work, my work buddy and I would go to Chili's for "happy hour" and get a few 32oz beers and free chips/salsa and wings. We'd get out of there full and drunk for $6 + tip. Then, we'd expense our earlier trip to the local record/CD store where we'd buy a bunch of music. Did this easily 2-3 times per week. Ahh the good old days... Luckily the big corp (who shall remain nameless) I worked for never questioned our expenses and I ended up with a huge music collection.

God....Chillis. In the 80’s and 90’s that place was money. It is utter crap now. The quality is so bad.....the service incredibly bad too (South Florida). Just a wasteland chain like Applebees. Crap over salted glorified fast food.

It’s too bad because Chillis has a great value menu.......but it’s so bad now.....we have not gone in years and years since it’s downfall.

It was crap back then too. Your taste and the size of your bank account has just changed.

Speaking as somebody that grew up in Dallas and ate at the original Chili's on Greenville before Larry Lavine sold it in 1983, I could not disagree any more strenuously to this sentiment. Chili's rocked, man. Always packed, always hopping, getting a family dinner at Chili's was a galdarn treat!

It was a slow, gradual crawl to crapstown and you're correct, by the time they were in every airport, it was nothing but corporate "meh". But those of us who grew up in Dallas know better.

Obviously I'm not referring to the original Chili's.

Once they were franchised and made their way out to the masses it was always over salted sodium bombs and generalized tex-mex that was uninspired feed the masses junk bar food. Oven baked baby back ribs. Sizzlin skillet fajitas. Burgers. Boneless wings. I mean, this isn't ground breaking stuff. When you're 20 and on a budget it was "great," but when you're 40 not so much. Chili's is pumping out the same stuff they were 20 years ago.

Just like all these fast food joints that we think are disgusting now that we crushed in our 20's or teen years.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Completely disagree with this. Their food used to be fantastic.

Chili's? We are talking about the chain Chili's right?

Yeah, see.....not all chain restaurants start off as chains. Many times - most times I'd reckon - they start off as a singular restaurant. Chili's was the epitome of this long before it became just another TGI McScratchy'sBees.

Oh i guess you were at the original and it was good then. Only since they franchised the became the suck

Not a Chili's historian, but I believe they were first sold in 1983 with some moderate expansion to follow, mostly regional. By the time they appeared in Minnesota or airports everywhere, the Chili's I grew up with was gone. Just a name and a logo.

Happens all the time. Hard to say NO to life altering, F YOU money.

Portillos is following this same model.

Portillos isn't what Portillos was, but I think that traces more to selling out a decade ago. And I feel like the difference isn't AS drastic for them, especially for those of us who don't have the options Chicago offers.

Which is to say I can get a better sandwich than Potbelly lots of places in Phoenix. I'm not sure where I'm getting many better Italian beef sandwiches than Portillos in Phoenix (But I welcome trying the many places people will post to tell me I'm wrong).

 

[the moops]

Portillos is garbage

 

[Stoneworker]

I miss Chotchkie's and their hot waitresses expressing themselves with 37 pieces of flair

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Completely disagree with this. Their food used to be fantastic.

Chili's? We are talking about the chain Chili's right?

Yeah, see.....not all chain restaurants start off as chains. Many times - most times I'd reckon - they start off as a singular restaurant. Chili's was the epitome of this long before it became just another TGI McScratchy'sBees.

Oh i guess you were at the original and it was good then. Only since they franchised the became the suck

Not a Chili's historian, but I believe they were first sold in 1983 with some moderate expansion to follow, mostly regional. By the time they appeared in Minnesota or airports everywhere, the Chili's I grew up with was gone. Just a name and a logo.

Happens all the time. Hard to say NO to life altering, F YOU money.

Experienced the same with potbelly. The original one was on Lincoln Ave in Chicago. They were a furniture store that started making sandwiches for their customers. Eventually they just started selling sandwiches. I remember going to the original store before they expanded back in the mid 90s.

Gods I used to love Potbelly. I was so excited when they started opening them here. And then I visited one.

I still think they are in the upper tier of sub chains

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I’ve had Chicago Portillo several times like 10 years ago. Always thought it was solid. I did try the Michigan location last year and it was fine, but felt like maybe it was lacking

 

[General Malaise]

It was Taco Tuesday at Tijuana Flats. Went with a coworker today. 2 tacos, chips, and a drink was $7 plus tax.

For folks in the restaurant business, what's your opinion on stuff like this? I'm sure the restaurant loses money on things like this. What's the thinking? They'll get enough goodwill that customers will come back on other days and they can recoup the losses? Does that actually happen?

I think it depends on the customer. Some will be there just for the deal. Others will take the deal but also buy drinks, apps, etc. Guessing it's a loss leader kind of thing.

FWIW... when I was a "young professional" while traveling for work, my work buddy and I would go to Chili's for "happy hour" and get a few 32oz beers and free chips/salsa and wings. We'd get out of there full and drunk for $6 + tip. Then, we'd expense our earlier trip to the local record/CD store where we'd buy a bunch of music. Did this easily 2-3 times per week. Ahh the good old days... Luckily the big corp (who shall remain nameless) I worked for never questioned our expenses and I ended up with a huge music collection.

God....Chillis. In the 80’s and 90’s that place was money. It is utter crap now. The quality is so bad.....the service incredibly bad too (South Florida). Just a wasteland chain like Applebees. Crap over salted glorified fast food.

It’s too bad because Chillis has a great value menu.......but it’s so bad now.....we have not gone in years and years since it’s downfall.

It was crap back then too. Your taste and the size of your bank account has just changed.

Speaking as somebody that grew up in Dallas and ate at the original Chili's on Greenville before Larry Lavine sold it in 1983, I could not disagree any more strenuously to this sentiment. Chili's rocked, man. Always packed, always hopping, getting a family dinner at Chili's was a galdarn treat!

It was a slow, gradual crawl to crapstown and you're correct, by the time they were in every airport, it was nothing but corporate "meh". But those of us who grew up in Dallas know better.

Obviously I'm not referring to the original Chili's.

Once they were franchised and made their way out to the masses it was always over salted sodium bombs and generalized tex-mex that was uninspired feed the masses junk bar food. Oven baked baby back ribs. Sizzlin skillet fajitas. Burgers. Boneless wings. I mean, this isn't ground breaking stuff. When you're 20 and on a budget it was "great," but when you're 40 not so much. Chili's is pumping out the same stuff they were 20 years ago.

Just like all these fast food joints that we think are disgusting now that we crushed in our 20's or teen years.

Oh, I agree that it has been ho-hum, generic chain crap for well over 20 years. No argument. But man, in the 80s, Chili's slapped, man.

 

[nirad3]

Arby's - my favorite out of your 3 but it's only for their original roast beef sandwich and curly fires. Anything else is pure ****.

ouchie - sore spot for me ...

agree - with the exception that those curly fries are ***

Arby's murdered my beloved potato cakes - and only have them at a few locations AND they are limited to breakfast.

potato cakes are typically made to order - so you get them hot, crunchy and fresh - by far the best potato side dish ever in fast food history

of course - they are even better dunked in both Arby's and Horsey sauce for each bite.

I go to Arby's every so often. I dig their French Dip, but I don't even use the au jus.... just dip it in Arby's sauce which is a weird blend of ketchup and BBQ sauce if I had to describe it. And I always get extra meat. Load 'er up! That combo of beef, cheese and actually-good bread is heavenly to me.

But yeah, the curly fries are nasty. Always burnt. I just upgrade to mozzarella sticks for a couple bucks more.

Yeah, I'm fat.

 

[Keerock]

Arby's - my favorite out of your 3 but it's only for their original roast beef sandwich and curly fires. Anything else is pure ****.

ouchie - sore spot for me ...

agree - with the exception that those curly fries are ***

Arby's murdered my beloved potato cakes - and only have them at a few locations AND they are limited to breakfast.

potato cakes are typically made to order - so you get them hot, crunchy and fresh - by far the best potato side dish ever in fast food history

of course - they are even better dunked in both Arby's and Horsey sauce for each bite.

I go to Arby's every so often. I dig their French Dip, but I don't even use the au jus.... just dip it in Arby's sauce which is a weird blend of ketchup and BBQ sauce if I had to describe it. And I always get extra meat. Load 'er up! That combo of beef, cheese and actually-good bread is heavenly to me.

But yeah, the curly fries are nasty. Always burnt. I just upgrade to mozzarella sticks for a couple bucks more.

Yeah, I'm fat.

Try their crinkle cuts... very good when fresh

 

[the moops]

I just upgrade to mozzarella sticks for a couple bucks more.

Yeah, I'm fat.

 

[New Binky the Doormat]

Arby's - my favorite out of your 3 but it's only for their original roast beef sandwich and curly fires. Anything else is pure ****.

ouchie - sore spot for me ...

agree - with the exception that those curly fries are ***

Arby's murdered my beloved potato cakes - and only have them at a few locations AND they are limited to breakfast.

potato cakes are typically made to order - so you get them hot, crunchy and fresh - by far the best potato side dish ever in fast food history

of course - they are even better dunked in both Arby's and Horsey sauce for each bite.

I go to Arby's every so often. I dig their French Dip, but I don't even use the au jus.... just dip it in Arby's sauce which is a weird blend of ketchup and BBQ sauce if I had to describe it. And I always get extra meat. Load 'er up! That combo of beef, cheese and actually-good bread is heavenly to me.

But yeah, the curly fries are nasty. Always burnt. I just upgrade to mozzarella sticks for a couple bucks more.

Yeah, I'm fat.

Try their crinkle cuts... very good when fresh

reaction.

in comparison to potato cakes ...there is no suitable substitution - I will not eat there any longer until they are brought back

I do miss REAL jamocha shakes - they don't put enough coffee flavor in them anymore

 

[Instinctive]

Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck

What a dumb name

Thats where BW3 comes from as a shorthand, even though now there's only 2 W's, I believe?

 

[beer 30]

Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck

What a dumb name

Thats where BW3 comes from as a shorthand, even though now there's only 2 W's, I believe?

Co-wrecked

 

[Todem]

It was Taco Tuesday at Tijuana Flats. Went with a coworker today. 2 tacos, chips, and a drink was $7 plus tax.

For folks in the restaurant business, what's your opinion on stuff like this? I'm sure the restaurant loses money on things like this. What's the thinking? They'll get enough goodwill that customers will come back on other days and they can recoup the losses? Does that actually happen?

I think it depends on the customer. Some will be there just for the deal. Others will take the deal but also buy drinks, apps, etc. Guessing it's a loss leader kind of thing.

FWIW... when I was a "young professional" while traveling for work, my work buddy and I would go to Chili's for "happy hour" and get a few 32oz beers and free chips/salsa and wings. We'd get out of there full and drunk for $6 + tip. Then, we'd expense our earlier trip to the local record/CD store where we'd buy a bunch of music. Did this easily 2-3 times per week. Ahh the good old days... Luckily the big corp (who shall remain nameless) I worked for never questioned our expenses and I ended up with a huge music collection.

God....Chillis. In the 80’s and 90’s that place was money. It is utter crap now. The quality is so bad.....the service incredibly bad too (South Florida). Just a wasteland chain like Applebees. Crap over salted glorified fast food.

It’s too bad because Chillis has a great value menu.......but it’s so bad now.....we have not gone in years and years since it’s downfall.

It was crap back then too. Your taste and the size of your bank account has just changed.

Speaking as somebody that grew up in Dallas and ate at the original Chili's on Greenville before Larry Lavine sold it in 1983, I could not disagree any more strenuously to this sentiment. Chili's rocked, man. Always packed, always hopping, getting a family dinner at Chili's was a galdarn treat!

It was a slow, gradual crawl to crapstown and you're correct, by the time they were in every airport, it was nothing but corporate "meh". But those of us who grew up in Dallas know better.

Obviously I'm not referring to the original Chili's.

Once they were franchised and made their way out to the masses it was always over salted sodium bombs and generalized tex-mex that was uninspired feed the masses junk bar food. Oven baked baby back ribs. Sizzlin skillet fajitas. Burgers. Boneless wings. I mean, this isn't ground breaking stuff. When you're 20 and on a budget it was "great," but when you're 40 not so much. Chili's is pumping out the same stuff they were 20 years ago.

Just like all these fast food joints that we think are disgusting now that we crushed in our 20's or teen years.

Oh, I agree that it has been ho-hum, generic chain crap for well over 20 years. No argument. But man, in the 80s, Chili's slapped, man.

Their Fajitas used to be awesome.......the stink to high heaven now.....they don’t even come out on the hot skillet anymore. It’s a joke.

The quality of the food definitely has gone down the toilet over the last decade and a half.....nothing like it used to be.

 

[General Malaise]

It was Taco Tuesday at Tijuana Flats. Went with a coworker today. 2 tacos, chips, and a drink was $7 plus tax.

For folks in the restaurant business, what's your opinion on stuff like this? I'm sure the restaurant loses money on things like this. What's the thinking? They'll get enough goodwill that customers will come back on other days and they can recoup the losses? Does that actually happen?

I think it depends on the customer. Some will be there just for the deal. Others will take the deal but also buy drinks, apps, etc. Guessing it's a loss leader kind of thing.

FWIW... when I was a "young professional" while traveling for work, my work buddy and I would go to Chili's for "happy hour" and get a few 32oz beers and free chips/salsa and wings. We'd get out of there full and drunk for $6 + tip. Then, we'd expense our earlier trip to the local record/CD store where we'd buy a bunch of music. Did this easily 2-3 times per week. Ahh the good old days... Luckily the big corp (who shall remain nameless) I worked for never questioned our expenses and I ended up with a huge music collection.

God....Chillis. In the 80’s and 90’s that place was money. It is utter crap now. The quality is so bad.....the service incredibly bad too (South Florida). Just a wasteland chain like Applebees. Crap over salted glorified fast food.

It’s too bad because Chillis has a great value menu.......but it’s so bad now.....we have not gone in years and years since it’s downfall.

It was crap back then too. Your taste and the size of your bank account has just changed.

Speaking as somebody that grew up in Dallas and ate at the original Chili's on Greenville before Larry Lavine sold it in 1983, I could not disagree any more strenuously to this sentiment. Chili's rocked, man. Always packed, always hopping, getting a family dinner at Chili's was a galdarn treat!

It was a slow, gradual crawl to crapstown and you're correct, by the time they were in every airport, it was nothing but corporate "meh". But those of us who grew up in Dallas know better.

Obviously I'm not referring to the original Chili's.

Once they were franchised and made their way out to the masses it was always over salted sodium bombs and generalized tex-mex that was uninspired feed the masses junk bar food. Oven baked baby back ribs. Sizzlin skillet fajitas. Burgers. Boneless wings. I mean, this isn't ground breaking stuff. When you're 20 and on a budget it was "great," but when you're 40 not so much. Chili's is pumping out the same stuff they were 20 years ago.

Just like all these fast food joints that we think are disgusting now that we crushed in our 20's or teen years.

Oh, I agree that it has been ho-hum, generic chain crap for well over 20 years. No argument. But man, in the 80s, Chili's slapped, man.

Their Fajitas used to be awesome.......the stink to high heaven now.....they don’t even come out on the hot skillet anymore. It’s a joke.

The quality of the food definitely has gone down the toilet over the last decade and a half.....nothing like it used to be.

I wouldn't know. They gave up the ghost in Oregon several years ago and I haven't been to one since. I might have had a beer at a Chili's Too in an airport, but that's about it. I thought their firecracker tilapia was fine, but that was way back when I didn't realize that all tilapia is farm raised in Vietnam and eat fish poop their whole lives.

 

[belljr]

Chilis 20-25 years ago was 100% a decent quality meal. Now it's basically an Applebee's

 

[Osaurus]

Stopped going there probably 16-17 years ago after my waiter called me “boss”

 

[General Malaise]

Stopped going there probably 16-17 years ago after my waiter called me “boss”

There was a waiter at a fish house in Portland that called @cosjobs "Skipper".

We haven't been back there either, but man, that was funny. To me.

 

[Drunken knight]

Stopped going there probably 16-17 years ago after my waiter called me “boss”

Stopped going there probably 16-17 years ago after my waiter called me “boss”

There was a waiter at a fish house in Portland that called @cosjobs "Skipper".

We haven't been back there either, but man, that was funny. To me.

that's a good one Chief

 

[belljr]

Stopped going there probably 16-17 years ago after my waiter called me “boss”

You sure it wasn't "Hoss"

 

[Osaurus]

Stopped going there probably 16-17 years ago after my waiter called me “boss”

You sure it wasn't "Hoss"

Entirely possible

 

[Chris B.]

I just swung by Burger King for lunch - $9.39 for a Whopper w/ cheese. Goofy.

 

[Beef Ravioli Part 2]

I just swung by Burger King for lunch - $9.39 for a Whopper w/ cheese. Goofy.

Meal or just the Whopper?

 

[Chris B.]

I just swung by Burger King for lunch - $9.39 for a Whopper w/ cheese. Goofy.

Meal or just the Whopper?

Just the Whopper, before tax.

 

[Cowboysfan8]

I just swung by Burger King for lunch - $9.39 for a Whopper w/ cheese. Goofy.

lol. I don’t go there anymore but I looked online, $6.29 at the one nearest me

 

[beer 30]

I just swung by Burger King for lunch - $9.39 for a Whopper w/ cheese. Goofy.

It's no Royal with cheese, that's for sure.

 

[Chris B.]

I just swung by Burger King for lunch - $9.39 for a Whopper w/ cheese. Goofy.

It's no Royal with cheese, that's for sure.

When it comes to fast food, I prefer the double Royale with cheese to most other burgers. But today I wanted to try the Fiery Fish Sandwich and got the Whopper in case I hated the fish.

 

[Snoopy]

Stopped going there probably 16-17 years ago after my waiter called me “boss”

Stopped going there probably 16-17 years ago after my waiter called me “boss”

There was a waiter at a fish house in Portland that called @cosjobs "Skipper".

We haven't been back there either, but man, that was funny. To me.

that's a good one Chief

@ChiefD

 

[the moops]

I just swung by Burger King for lunch - $9.39 for a Whopper w/ cheese. Goofy.

Meal or just the Whopper?

Just the Whopper, before tax.

Ridiculous

 

[massraider]

It was Taco Tuesday at Tijuana Flats. Went with a coworker today. 2 tacos, chips, and a drink was $7 plus tax.

For folks in the restaurant business, what's your opinion on stuff like this? I'm sure the restaurant loses money on things like this. What's the thinking? They'll get enough goodwill that customers will come back on other days and they can recoup the losses? Does that actually happen?

For places that are happy with business on the weekends, but have an empty room other days, which is a LOT of restaurants, these nights are a great idea.

And Taco Tuesday is just one example, but it's a really good example of a promotion that encourages making money. People may go for the cheap tacos, but if it's busy and loud when they go, it leads to alcohol sales. The one in Vegas I used to go to was pretty much nightclub/pool staff----on a Tue at 6 pm. Last time I went, there were DJs in the parking lot.

But even without it being that successful, having people in the place is always better than not. Even if you can get 10 members of the Cat Owners Book Club to come in every Monday night for soup and tea, better than an empty table. All Time Truth: People don't like walking into empty restaurants.

More of these places should do more micro-marketing. Try and get a few big companies nearby to come in for a happy hour, just one day a week. Make it a Wednesday, make it a thing. Trivia, and the winner gets a tab for 4 people the next week, etc. At most companies I have seen, if you are friendly with the right two or three people, you're in the rotation.

 

[Todem]

I just swung by Burger King for lunch - $9.39 for a Whopper w/ cheese. Goofy.

Meal or just the Whopper?

Just the Whopper, before tax.

Grand Theft.

 

[General Malaise]

I'm flabbergasted that adults with a choice continue to eat from Burger King. Astonishing.

 

[Drunken knight]

I'm flabbergasted that adults with a choice continue to eat from Burger King. Astonishing.

Completely depends upon options available.

On road trips…. What is near gas stations to minimize stops

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I'm flabbergasted that adults with a choice continue to eat from Burger King. Astonishing.

I’ll be honest I get suckered in by one of their commercials every so often

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'm flabbergasted that adults with a choice continue to eat from Burger King. Astonishing.

Says the guy who has videotaped himself shoving McDonald's down his beerpipe.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I'm flabbergasted that adults with a choice continue to eat from Burger King. Astonishing.

Says the guy who has videotaped himself shoving McDonald's down his beerpipe.

“This is my wife’s car”

 

[rockaction]

Stopped going there probably 16-17 years ago after my waiter called me “boss”

There was a waiter at a fish house in Portland that called @cosjobs "Skipper".

We haven't been back there either, but man, that was funny. To me.

This has had me smiling for about a minute or two now. I would have liked to have been there for that. Never cornholed with you all, but that's something I think I would have liked to have been there to see.

"Skipper"

LOL

 

[Chemical X]

I'm flabbergasted that adults with a choice continue to eat from Burger King. Astonishing.

I’ll be honest I get suckered in by one of their commercials every so often

last time i went is that brief period when they were serving jack in the box style tacos. the staff at my nearest BK does not exude confidence in kitchen standards. unless they are cooking up meth.

 

[Beef Ravioli Part 2]

I just swung by Burger King for lunch - $9.39 for a Whopper w/ cheese. Goofy.

Meal or just the Whopper?

Just the Whopper, before tax.

Where you located? I’m in Northern Virginia and they are about $6 here. Wednesday’s are $3 Whoppers on the app.

 

[General Malaise]

I'm flabbergasted that adults with a choice continue to eat from Burger King. Astonishing.

Says the guy who has videotaped himself shoving McDonald's down his beerpipe.

McDonald's is so much better than BK. This isn't even up for debate.

 

[Drunken knight]

I'm flabbergasted that adults with a choice continue to eat from Burger King. Astonishing.

Says the guy who has videotaped himself shoving McDonald's down his beerpipe.

McDonald's is so much better than BK. This isn't even up for debate.

Negative

 

[General Malaise]

Last time I went to McDonald's (documented in here) I got a sausage egg and cheese biscuit and a bacon egg and cheese biscuit. Total cost for both was $9.35.

The fact that one Whopper alone costs the same amount is absolutely staggering to me. Wow.

 

[parasaurolophus]

I'm flabbergasted that adults with a choice continue to eat from Burger King. Astonishing.

They pay extra to have it delivered.

 

[General Malaise]

The last time I had BK was at the Vegas Airport (easily bottom five airports in the country). It was my only option. It was midnight. I was starving. I had some BBQ burger that was on display as their crowning achievement. I had intestinal problems for 4 days after eating that. Never again. That place is pure poison.

 

[culdeus]

Chilis 20-25 years ago was 100% a decent quality meal. Now it's basically an Applebee's

Brinker was a great man. Susan Koman was I believe his sister, maybe sister in law. He founded that charity with his wife when breast cancer wasn't something you talked about and probably did more good for women than just about anyone. When he died in 2009 timeframe chilis and that charity went to **** too.

 

[shuke]

BK sucks. Happy to report I haven't had it in 25 years.

 

[the moops]

BK sucks. Happy to report I haven't had it in 25 years.

You and GM both hate BK. Feel like this has to be the next shoving obscene amounts of food down your throat challenge

 

[Chris B.]

I just swung by Burger King for lunch - $9.39 for a Whopper w/ cheese. Goofy.

Meal or just the Whopper?

Just the Whopper, before tax.

Where you located? I’m in Northern Virginia and they are about $6 here. Wednesday’s are $3 Whoppers on the app.

Culver City, CA - The order online function gave me the same cost as the drive-thru. :(

 

[Chris B.]

I have no excuse. I have great food options in West L.A. For some reason I decided to drive past all of them to BK. While both sandwiches were tasty I should have also asked for one of their paper crowns to make me feel special.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

The last time I had BK was at the Vegas Airport (easily bottom five airports in the country). It was my only option. It was midnight. I was starving. I had some BBQ burger that was on display as their crowning achievement. I had intestinal problems for 4 days after eating that. Never again. That place is pure poison.

I don't disagree with you, but so is McDonalds. It's just an... interesting... line to draw between the two.