Eating out, and some wonder
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Other Topics
Forum Name: Shops, Barns, Varmints, and Trucks
Forum Description: anything you want to talk about except politics
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=205645
Printed Date: 13 Mar 2025 at 3:49pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Eating out, and some wonder
Posted By: DMiller
Subject: Eating out, and some wonder
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 5:59am
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As to how these places remain in business around here. Wife and I will stop, On Occasion, at local eateries within fifty miles of home for little treats now and again. Wife wanted Panera yesterday as picked up her new safety shoes for work. Have had the shock of White Castle over $25 for the two of us or at a better little shop in Washington breakfast for us is always around $34. But yesterday was a shocker as the last time we could remember eating at Panera on a ‘Two For’ soup and half sandwich had been around the $28 range, this pass was over $40. Looks as will be reducing the buys out and limiting the Treat Times a little more. |
Replies:
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 6:16am
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I only 'go out' maybe once every 3 weeks, meet up with a friend to keep in touch ( get OUT of the house...for 2 hours...). Costs me $80+- (server get a good tip...) hay, cheaper than a shrink ! Restaurants are a HUGE gamble, 90% fail after 5 years, large overheads, AmerChin virus closed a lot, here anyway. ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: Thad in AR.
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 7:00am
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I like to go eat lunch with the guys when it’s hot or cold out. Gives a nice break from the day. Prices are out of hand here in the little tourist trap. I’ve taken an avg of what I spend for lunch and put that aside for my truck project. That is the only money I’ve thrown at it besides the original purchase of the two trucks. I’ve scrapped a few parts along the way to extend the funds but I’ve came quite a ways with it so far. While at it, I’ve lost nearly 20 lbs so far. |
Posted By: NEVER green
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 7:42am
Never thought of the virus that way, America did pay for it, no wonder you Canadians booed the hockey team. ------------- 2-8050 1-7080 6080 D-19 modelE & A 7040 R50 |
jaybmiller wrote:Posted By: Hubert (Ga)engine7
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 8:32am
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Eating out is getting expensive. I try to mostly patronize the locally owned restaurants but a few franchises are okay except for the fast food joints which I mostly avoid. Chic-Fil-A and a locally owned Dairy Queen are the only franchises I will consider. Get to know the owners/managers and the employees if possible. And if tips are appropriate and the service is good, tip accordingly. ------------- Just an old country boy saved by the grace of God. |
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 8:42am
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I didn't boo !  Was taught MANNERS when I was young.......AmerChin shut the doors, owners didn't have money in their bank accounts to pay for commercial mortgages, leases, heating, electric, etc. so a LOT of smaller ones never reopened even WITH help from the guv. Was told you need 5 YEARS worth of 'cash in the bank' BEFORE you open the doors to serve food. Chains are different but still a 'tight' business. ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: Gary
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 10:23am
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Wife and I recently came to the conclusion that it is Cheaper to have a full dinner at Golden Corral than it is to prepare one. Here in South Texas, Galveston, $30.29 before 4:00 pm for 2. Dinner Mon. and Thurs., Brunch on Sat. works for us. G |
Posted By: DanWi
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 10:25am
| Pre-COVID when I used to stop more in town for lunch. We had a little restaurant that had daily specials. You could have a good lunch for $5 to $7 but the owner retired and the new owner couldn't make a go of it with even with higher priced menu items. Wife and I will stop at a family place and have the noon special and it is now over $20.00 for 2. Don't like to cook everyday. But comes down to just go home and eat. Like everywhere else with increased costs, such as rising costs of all insurance, my income for luxuries like eating out has gone down. |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 10:58am
| Have found local Grocer sells Rotisserie chickens, CANNOT Buy a Whole chicken and freeze it for the costs prepared, likewise several BBQ shops LOCAL offer meats already smoked or Q'd to perfection per pound LESS than I can buy, and then Cook prep the meat for small meals. Utilize smaller Meat Shops here for cutting up and packaging beef, hog or fowl, easy enough to get out what we need but then see Whole Turkeys when close to season On Sale at $2.50/lb stock up, same for Corned Beef Rounds, then are the Church Dinners here that one CANNOT prep cheaper and get far more than generally can eat. |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 11:20am
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Posted By: Lars(wi)
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 11:37am
$30.29 for 2 at a buffet? That is outrageous!! ------------- I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science. |
Posted By: thendrix
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 11:42am
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We eat out fairly often with the kids extra curriculars being 3 or 4 nights a week. Mexican restaurants are still the cheapest but they are at best $50 before the tip. Even fast food is $45 to $50 for the family ------------- "Farming is a business that makes a Las Vegas craps table look like a regular paycheck" Ronald Reagan |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 3:11pm
I generally stopped eating out, I can pick up a box of various foodstuffs at Aldi for $25 and it generally lasts a week or so... ------------- Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need! |
Posted By: Dave H
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 3:46pm
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Yeah D, rotisserie chicken here at Sam's was still 4.95 last week. Then throw all the bones and scraps in a big pot for awsum soup.
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Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 3:54pm
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Costco chickens are $7.99 CDN ,can last a week + soup of course. The neighbours always pick up 2 for me... ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: ACinSC
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 3:56pm
| Wife and I sometimes go to a local buffet BBQ place that's good. Believe it's $32 for the two of us. My question is they have a place on the bill for a tip. Seems unnecessary at a buffet ? What do you guys think? Thanks |
Posted By: DanWi
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 5:24pm
| Buffet tips some places refill your beverage and they take the empty plates away. So maybe a couple dollar tip or just 10% |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 5:39pm
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WE eat out friday night at local Mom and Pop shop... $32. for two of us... Saturday i run to McD or Hardees and get their $5 or $7 meal X2 , not a BIG meal, but enough... Sunday i get a large pizza at Caseys for $17. and we have a beer each.. enough pizza for lunch for two days after that. M-F-W-TH we eat at home... Yea, the deli chicken for $5. is a great buy..
------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: ACinSC
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 5:39pm
| Yeah Dan, I usually tip a couple bucks. Never had anyone fill our glass or take a plate though. |
Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 6:32pm
| Yeah its gotten crazy at some places- the 5 dollar deal at Wendys is good- went to Culvers around Christmas - thought , Id treat myself- $6 dollars for a piece of fish, ordered 4 not knowing the price- still MAD ! Like to get breakfast toast sandwiches at WhiteCastle, was 1.79 , now 2.19,, not bad but the eggs are the reason ! Applebees seems to be good - big ole sloppy cheese burger , fries , for 9.99,, - hell I dunno, I try to be smart about it all but sometime - F it ,, Im getting it! |
Posted By: dr p
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 6:55pm
| Just me and the dog at home so its hard to buy vegetables and eat them bofore they go bad. End up getting a salad everyday at the local delicatessen. Cereal for breakfast and lots of pb and j sandwiches. |
Posted By: Gary
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 7:43pm
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Lars How many times have you eaten at a Golden Corral? If you haven't, then you can't comment on it. Don't get hung up on the word 'Buffet'. And this is a high Tourist area, the Restaurant is right across the road from the Ocean. Gary |
Posted By: fjdrill
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 8:27pm
| Gary there is no ocean anywhere near Galveston, Tx. |
Posted By: Lars(wi)
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2025 at 9:46pm
------------- I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science. |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2025 at 3:52am
| Our last GC closed around 8-10 years ago. Was always on health inspection notices for being nasty. Wife liked it as could saunter up and get a little of everything, often, I ate til was full and stopped. All can eat buffets are not my thing either. |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2025 at 7:13am
| Last time I ate at one, could barely make it home! You talk about short-stepping! Phew!!! |
Posted By: Dave H
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2025 at 8:19am
Hold on there Hoss! Amarillo can't be that far and I hear there is ocean front property there.
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Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2025 at 8:19am
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The problem with "all you can eat" places is that people eat till they are STUFFED and can hardly walk out the door !! ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Gary
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2025 at 8:53am
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Posted: 12 hours 18 minutes ago at 9:27pm Gary there is no ocean anywhere near Galveston, Tx. .............................................. Sure looks like an Ocean to me, even if it is called a Gulf. Has 'High and Low' Tide Charts as well. G https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KDiZbpXfCPM" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KDiZbpXfCPM |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2025 at 2:29pm
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Did I hear a request or 2? https://youtu.be/ioPa1URjZ_Y?si=mYUXO928aJ3cGHwL" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/ioPa1URjZ_Y?si=mYUXO928aJ3cGHwL https://youtu.be/wtVeDaZxAXo?si=15qBMXPU5yl3o6rM" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/wtVeDaZxAXo?si=15qBMXPU5yl3o6rM ------------- Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need! |
Posted By: Dave H
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2025 at 7:17pm
Thanks for the recollection help there Dave. Guess maybe after eight zero such confusion may be acceptable.
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Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2025 at 7:49am
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New Chinese/Japanese/American style buffet showed up last year. Feast Buffet is the name. When they first opened, you paid as you entered. 15 bucks and you filled your own drinks. Server would come by and ask if you need anything . Guess the servers were not making any tips so it changed. Now a server seats you and gets your drinks and then brings a bill and you pay them before you go. This way you feel obligated to leave a tip . As I understand the servers do not make minimum wage . Their pay is much less as they are expected to make tips. Want to see workers earn a living but the system we have in place sucks. I understand restaurants raising their prices as everything else is going up. Inflation is like a runaway snowball that can't be stopped. My first job was a dishwasher at Dennys. Learned a lot about tipping and proper edicate in a restaurant. The waitresses I knew had burn marks on their arms from stacking hot plates on them as they carried them out to the customers. The ones that hustled made good money for the day . ------------- You only need to know 3 things to be a plumber;Crap rolls down hill,Hot is on the left and Don't bite your fingernails 1964 D-17 SIV 3 Pt.WF,1964 D-15 Ser II 3pt.WF ,1960 D-17 SI NF,1956 WD 45 WF. |
Posted By: iowallis
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2025 at 10:19am
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When my wife and I go to McDonald's we use the survey code to "buy 1 sandwich, get one free", on my McD's app I buy a drink and get a free large fries and she uses hers to get any size fries for $1.29. Under $10.00 for the both of us to eat. On my Hardee's app is a buy 1 get 1 for $1 for their crispy chicken sandwich. I did have an app for the local Burger King but their lobby smells like somebody urinated all over the place. A local bar/restaurant has specials on the weekdays, $5 burger or tenderloin and fries. 2 of the Mexican restaurants have $1.50 tacos on different nights. A local pizza place has take out special 3 medium, 2 topping pizzas for $21. At Culver's, fill out the survey and get a free 1 topping custard cup. Doing a little extra work and using the apps/coupons/specials can make eating out a reasonable cost. |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2025 at 10:24am
| We try to stick to Daily Specials at Rothchilds Washington MO or the Local eateries here. many times are just cycling down inventories to replenish with newer stock but generally a bargain. Sandwiches at 2/3- just above 1/2 prices, Free Fries or Tater Tots, the specials at Rothchilds can be pretty extravagant as a Four Piece Fried Chicken dinner at noon with Mash tatoes and a side vege on a Saturday we were there, last checked with a local is now up to $10 something. |
Posted By: Ron Eggen
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2025 at 7:19pm
| No one has mentioned going to their local senior center for lunch - Monday thru Friday. 60 and older eat for $5.00 . different menu each day good food includes drink and dessert . They publish a menu for the entire month and you can pick the day that has the food you like. We usually eat there 2 or 3 times a week. we have 4 within 20 miles of us, with a new larger one just opening in Jeff city last month. |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2025 at 3:35am
| We do have such a center here in town, Messmer Eitmann Foundation has Lunches M-F depending of weather or holidays. Also close seasonally for Xmas and TDay weeks. They too are $5 a plate for those of us above 60. Good and plentiful, actually staffed by others as old! Most importantly is call and make reservations. |
Posted By: DanWi
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2025 at 1:26pm
| Just saw a post again that says if you can't afford the tip don't come to eat out. So that translates to me, that they don't want my business. Which is just fine business is why you have a job. No business, no job😉 |
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2025 at 1:58pm
| I guess we are old enough to remember when a tip was a reward for above average service and not an expected part of paying for a meal. |
Posted By: Lars(wi)
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2025 at 3:50pm
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This same topic was making the rounds last week on LinkedIn, couple of snobs over there were implying that 30% should be the normal tip amount. I responded, with a tip of that amount, the waitress should get on her knees, give a Lewinsky. ------------- I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science. |
Posted By: injpumpEd
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2025 at 4:02pm
Now that's giving her the tip! lmao! ------------- 210 "too hot to farm" puller, part of the "insane pumpkin posse". Owner of Guenther Heritage Diesel, specializing in fuel injection systems on heritage era tractors. stock rebuilds to all out pullers! |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2025 at 4:22pm
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I would prefer they PAY their workers a standard wage.... And if they do GREAT service you could leave a SMALL TIP...... thinking they need 20- 30% is rediculous. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Dennis J OPKs
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2025 at 4:47pm
| Europeans for the most part are "no tip". I guess it's factored into the price you pay. The servers are civil, so I guess it works for them. Tipping happens but it is supposedly for better than average service. |
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2025 at 5:12pm
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servers/ bartenders here in Ontario finally get minimum wage of $17.50 (?) NOW. I'm disgusted that a restaurant would default a tip to 20-25-30%. I use ZERO ! Give the server CASH Sadly they have to 'pool' their tips with cooks, washers AND owners !! in a lot of places up here. ------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: Dennis J OPKs
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2025 at 11:33am
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That's the thing. Here, you don't know, and it may vary by restaurant if it's shared by the entire staff, or the server gets it. Cash on the table, you would hope the server gets it. But, without knowing each situation or outright asking it's a guessing game in trying to reward excellent service.
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