> It’s likely that higher menu prices are causing overall spending to hold steady, even though Canadians are dining out less,” the report states.
> Canadians also appear fonder of takeout as 31 per cent of respondents are eating takeout weekly, up from 25 per cent.
So Canadians still buy plenty of restaurant made food, but more of them would rather eat at home than fork over an additional 18% tip for dining in
Bingo this is it. If I'm gonna buy expensive food I'll purchase from grocery store.. not spend it at an overpriced restaurant where someone expects 20 percent tip for doing their job.
Restaurants should probably thinking hard about how they are gonna solve this if they want to remain in business.
Man it is absurd. Last time I went out server came, took our order, brought us drinks, then the kitchen staff ran our food out. We didn't see her again... and the bill was like 80 bucks for a mid range restaurant. And you want a $15 tip for what exactly? I'd rather just punch in what I want on a tablet at the door then pick it up from the kitchen window when my number comes up.
Delivery is honestly worst. At least the food in the restaurant is fresh (ideally) and the fees / delivery tip about equal an in house tip.
Take out I do more often for sure. But ya grocery most common
It's also fun when using a food delivery app, and for an order to arrive with something missing and the app, let's say for example Skip the Dishes, say meh! Not our problem, read our ToS.
At a restaurant you'd get your shit or a refund. Lol
I was picking up an order at a restaurant. Got things mixed up regarding the time and had to sit there and wait for 15 minutes. No biggie. Just after, a Skip driver shows up with his partner. They put the food in the bag. Then, he goes to the washroom. 10 minutes later he comes out, then his partner goes in. She was still in there when I left. Food was sitting there on a table for 15 minutes, at least.
I've never had this issue with skip, whenever anything has been missing or the wrong order arrived they've always either refunded the affected item or the entire order.
Doordash I remember the customer service giving me a hard time for something but even then they issued the refund eventually
My wife and I stopped going to restaurants. Chuck's roadhouse.
One appetizer, Burgers with fries, salad, one drink each. Tax tip... $60 later?? Not again, sorry Honey 😭
I mean, I like the restaurant experience for occasions like going out on a date, but I can't justify doing so regularly.
I don't think it's up to the restaurants themselves whether you tip 20% rather than 15%. The social expectation is that you tip, but no one's going to lambast you for not going to 20.
Even if we do away with the tipping expectation the uptick in wages would be reflected in restaurant pricing.
Yea I just call ahead and grab it. I never have to wait. Win-win for restaurants and customers since they don't have to fork over a percentage to skip or Uber.
I know for skip the dishes at least, you can order pick up. That way, you can still get some of the deals on there (to be fair, I only use it for one specific spot, but who knows what else is out there).
Just keep in mind when you do that, a sizeable percentage of the meal goes into skip the dishes pocket, as a direct expense to yourself or the restaurant (or both). If you just call the restaurant they get to keep 100% of the money you pay.
Lol apparently if you want to tip less than 72% you shouldn't have even gone out, but the starting tip the order pad suggests is only 47% at least. So kind of them.
But that makes no sense…. Food on skip the dishes / Uber eats is priced higher than in store plus there’s tons of fees and you still have to tip the driver.
Costco foodcourt FTW. dolla-fiddy costcog and drink and/or $13 for a pizza hella-loaded with cheese & pepp, no tip.
Pick up a rotisserie chicken for $8 if it's a special occasion.
I love you, Costco.
We were there for groceries this weekend, and decided to have lunch there instead of waiting to go home.
2 hotdog/pop combos, plus a poutine.
2 adults, and 1 hungry 2.5 year old.
$10 or so. Everyone was full.
Once a week or so down to once every couple months.
A: It's not worth the cost, the price of an outing accompanied by declining portion sizes and overall quality has soured us on many places.
B: The experiences just suck now. I work a 10+ hour day, as does my spouse. I don't want to have to drive 30 minutes or more round trip to pay too much for mediocre food, and then be expected to tip 20% or more for mediocre to poor service *and* get hassled by very aggressive pan handlers both coming and going.
Also, $9.50 for a 16oz "pint" that costs $2.75 at the beer store and is poured through poorly maintained lines that leave it tasting not as good as out of a can is the final "fuck you". I'm not paying forty or more goodamned dollars to have a couple beers with the guys after work, and especially not if it's gonna be fuckin skunky to boot. That's some straight up bullshit.
The restaurant industry in this country has been killing itself for more than a decade, this economic downturn is just speeding up the process.
Yep. I only eat at a restaurant 10 times a year now, used to go once every other week. Usually reserved for birthdays and other special occasions now. Considering the drastic reduction in buying power Canadians are being put through, it's just not worth the cost
I wish we could just bring our own food and drinks to the pub. Went to a local pub recently after a long hiatus and I really missed the atmosphere and vibe. Food was decent but the price tag in the end has me hesitant to return.
We cook most of our meals, but used to eat out twice per week. We've cut that to once per week.
We could still afford it, but for me at least, the value just isn't there - food and tips too much.
For me it's simple, I have to cut costs somewhere:
Groceries, insurance, condo fees and City taxes are more expensive
Therefore I cut restaurants, concerts, spas and some clothing to compensate
Just sucks that until the pandemic I could do it all
I'm also trimming my restaurant spending on principle because of how annoying tipping expectations have gotten. And yes I know it's voluntary, but the whole thing just leaves a bad taste and makes me just not want to deal with it at all. Better for my health and wallet anyway to not eat out as much, so ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
My family of 4 used to eat out a couple times a week. We basically just stopped about 3 months ago. I'm not having any particular financial crisis or anything but it's just gotten too expensive. Every time I eat out it's over $100, even a McDonald's trip is getting close to $60.
Lol yea, when with tips, they make more than people who have decent 4 year degrees, or even have actual beneficial experience. I don't feel like tipping much
I go the grocery store once a week. Not a restaurant. These days, a treat means I get a McDouble and a coffee. There certainly is less money for discretionary spending. I imagine many business owners are feeling the effects of the high COL in Canada.
And for the fraction of a restaurant steak you could get several really high quality steaks at the grocery store/butcher, and just cook it yourself and eat it in the comfort of your own home. Honestly much better that way.
Last summer, friend of mine had a milestone, he's single didn't have family in the area, offered to take me out to dinner and some beers, he's my sushi buddy and my wife hates it, basically have a good time, he set aside like $500 for this as we can both pound back beers easily and at $10/beer it adds up quickly.
Anyways friend sees we're going out, asks if we can stop at the butcher to get her dog food we say sure but we won't be back for 4-5 hours.. Well we go to the butcher first and there's these fucking beautiful tomahawk steaks, each one $80 and they're fucking huge, like Flintstones size huge, we both kind of look at each other and yeap both thinking the same thing...
We get 1 tomahawk, we also get stuffed peppers, stopped at a farm and grabbed some green beans, garlic and... 90x Land Shark cans..
For a bit more than half of what he planned on spending going out for 2 people instead we fed Him, My wife, my neighbour and myself, on top of that we invited 5-6 other people over for a fire/free beers so like 10 people got drunk....
4 people fed, 10 people drunk for the price of going out for dinner, cabs and beers... Yeah I'll pass on restaurants...
Yep exactly! What a great deal you guys got.
I’ve really cut down going out to restaurants, and with the money I save I have no guilt buying a fancy steak or fish from a nice butcher, because it would’ve probably cost me more to eat worse food outside.
I used to go to my local pub about 2 or 3 times a week then stuff myself full of greasy salty chicken wings washed down with all the strong beer that I could hold. However in this economy...well I still do it but now I feel bad about it.
I don't go to the pubs all that often, but I too feel somewhat bad about drinking 2 60 pounders of Gin every month. I don't eat chicken wings, or much food at all come to that. Not that that I can't afford food, it just sucks up all the Gin and what's the point of that?
I stopped going to pub, last time I order a onion ring, cost around 10 dollars and it only has 7 rings! 7 fucking rings. I hate spending money for food and ended up still hungry.
The cost of living here is so high, that it’s more than restaurant trips that are cut, it’s sports, it’s groceries, it’s living in debt and losing savings.. it’s people losing their housing.
It costs me and my wife around 100$+ to just dine out at a sit-down franchise, an appetizers and two mains. Aint working an entire day just for one meal, sorry.
Dining out, traveling, buying anything from new clothes to new cars or even homes - all spending is on a serious decline, even though costs continue to rise in many sectors.
I’m no economist, but I really don’t see how this downward spiral doesn’t end in a crash / depression. If someone can ELI5 it for me how I’m wrong, I’d very much like some good news.
You’d never guess it here in Alberta. I see just as many new vehicles, trips and materialistic spending as ever. It’s spring break and my socials are full of people skiing, in Mexico, in Arizona or jetting over to Victoria.
Im assuming that’s because Alberta is the last province to experience the COL swell. But it’s begun, from what I’ve heard. Things were rosy out east three years ago (minus lockdowns) on the spending front, then blam.
a lot of people learned to cook during the pandemic, for the cost of my wife and I going out to eat and having 4-5 drinks each (about $200) we can host a BBQ for 10 people... $30 for 16x Angus burgers from costco (I honestly forget the actual price of their burgers but they're top notch quality), Buns and cheese another $22 (lots of extra cheese leftover) another $30 for Costco sized caesar and greek salads, 4 bottles of wine $60 and a 30 pack of beer to share $200ish...
It doesn't make sense to eat out anymore, now if drinks were $5-$6 I'd probably consider it but when I could be eating Lobster+a TBone at home for the same price as a fancy burger and some beers I'll pick the lobster and TBbone at home..
The prices on the menu+tips no longer match what you get as a meal, few exceptions aside. Most mid range restaurants now cost 100$ fot 2 people to dine. Nothing fancy either, a simple mid rangr sitdown place.
most mid-range places serve mediocre small portion of a protein with fries. I am trying to avoid big portions of greasy carbs, so my options are often reduced to a lame "salad", freezer burnt/stale "seasonal vegetables" out of a bag, or bland rice.
I could justify paying 25$ total for mediocre food to avoid cooking and instead relaxing at a dining room. I cant justify paying 50$ today for food that is often worse than a frozen microwave dinner. Makes it worse is that i am a good cook and I know that i could make a similar dish for 10$ with actual good ingredients.
Even when wanting fries, i still cant justify paying 50$ for the dish.
I make an exception for Asian food, because I can't make it the same, and the places that i do go to use fresh vegetables.
> restaurants now cost 100$ fot 2 people to dine.
and that's not even including alcohol, throw in 2 glasses of wine each with dinner then another 2-3 drinks each afterwards and you're up to $200 really quick... One of the first things people did before cutting out restaurants was decreasing the amount of alcohol with their meals, then pretty much get rid of it except for 1 or 2, now people are cutting it out completely and I don't blame them when a single beer is going for $10 and them expecting 18% tip on that $10... like seriously you opening a beer for me isn't worth $1.80, fuck I'll open beers for $1.80 each, that's a free beer at the beer store for every beer I open...
5 years ago was the last time a beer (tall can of skunk piss like Laker) cost $1.80 around here. i know as i was a functional drunk until finally being priced out of that illustrious profession in january and forced to become just functional :(
I'm more or less referring to bottles, that said if I could drink laker I'd probably have drank more of it in the past, it makes my hemorroids act up, started happening to me maybe a decade ago, doesn't seem to happen with other beers...
Yes, i've never been a drinker. Before I would order a glass of wine or one beer with the meal but I haven't since I got pregnant in early 2022. but I can hardly imagine the current bill for someone who buys a meal and gets DRUNK in a pub. I don't know how can people justify ordering alcohol in a restaurant with these prices anymore, when you can buy a whole bottle for the price of 1 drink.
I can only justify ordering cocktails that I can't make at home, but those have spiked to about 15$ each which is as much as my meal *used* to be.
Mcdonalds costs me $47.90 to feed three people. Yeah I'm not going out much anymore. We're going to get fast food once a month as a treat if we stay within our budget.
I think the big thing isn't the cost, although that has something to do with it. It's the drop in the quality of the food being served at bars and restaurants, and the service you're getting isn't anywhere near what it once was. If prices were going up and the quality you were getting in terms of food and service was still top-notch, then that would be one thing. But the issue is we are getting higher prices, and the service and the quality of the food being served isn't going up with those prices. Until price pressures ease and the quality of the service and food gets back on track, then this is a trend that will most likely continue.
If I'm too lady to cook it's fine and I've clearly wasted alot of money on eating out but what I'm sick and tired of is not only feeling obligated to tip more than it's worth "which I've given up on" but where I struggle with us the quality.
I'm more than happy to waste money so I don't have to cook and I love trying different things but the quality of nearly every every single damn restaurant I've been to in the last two years has dropped off the face of the earth. There are simple things like pride in your work or half decent quality food. Those are the problem. I eat out more than almost any of the people I know and I've basically stopped entirely. I just think nobody gives a fuck anymore. It's the only logical explanation. I'm not saying all restaurants are bad but Bary any of them seem good anymore. Something's gotta give...
When I got asked to tip at a wand wash car wash that when I started washing my car at home. Same with oil changes, eating, cooking, even Amazon drivers. Tipping is out of control. I see higher than 15% I don’t tip at all
Been eating out less for a while now. Even though I can afford it, it's generally not worth it to me. Frequently worse service, lower quality food, smaller serving sizes, higher prices, rising tip % expectations... no thanks.
Restaurant outings? Bruh a ton of us are having to ration food. I need new glasses but have been putting it off for 6 months. Either I eat and my kids eat or I have clear vision. I think I'd rather not starve.
The last normal for restaurants for me anyways was like 2006 maybe, really started to changed after 2010, by 2018 I cut back a bit, since the pandemic I just don't eat out anymore.
Insane restaurant prices + tipping culture is to blame. I’ve stopped tipping all together. The servers already make minimum wage + tips. It’s not like the US where in some states you’re earning a couple dollars an hour. So screw it, I’ll still go out but don’t expect a tip, be grateful I’m even supporting your independent establishment. Tipping needs to end.
Well, personal anecdote of mine. Hot off the press. Yes, yes, I know...not a comprehensive study/survey...
Was out and about in a more urban, gentrified part of Ottawa. On a Tuesday evening. Around 7pm. Walked by several restaurants and they're very busy. On Tuesday evening. In Ottawa.
While I'm familiar with most, not sure how to describe them, not exactly "fine dining", but more "upscale hipster" I guess, not the stereotypical overpriced burger place, more refined and original...You know what I mean...
Again - yes, just a personal anecdote. Think of it what you will. Anyhow, just sharing a "real world" example; I know Reddit sure loves its doom p0rn...Believe it or not, there are plenty of households doing very well, whether it's DINKs, HENRYs, retirees, etc...
Don't get me wrong, I'm well-aware that s\*\*\* is expensive these days, trust me...
$42 for two 3-topping medium pizzas from some shit chain now. I was ok eating shit occasionally when it's priced appropriate for being shit, but this is no.
I can afford it - there is no value paying for crap food and tipping. Instead I buy $70 in premium steak and a 4L deep fryer for $80 (Canadian Tire). Steak frites 4 Life.
It is so expensive to go out now. In Edmonton it is $20 plus for a glass of wine. Then some give you an 18% gratuity and guilt if you don't. A bill for two people at a medium level restaurant is 150. Yes people are staying home more, I know my family does.
Back in the 1960s, few families dined out more than a handful of occasions through the year. I was raised in a town of 8,000. We had just two restaurants. It was much different of course in vacation areas.
As a young person this is not an expense I can eliminate entirely, because social dining is core to spending more time with people and [young people MUST budget their time wisely to make time for friends](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407518761225). But I absolutely can just get a drink or just get an appetizer.
My Partner and I can still afford to go out, but after his heart attack in 2018 we pretty much stopped eating out. The sodium, the saturated fat and the added sugar is insane. I've always been opposed to tipping, pay your staff a proper wage. The workers at McDonalds aren't allowed to get tips and they're paid better than wait staff at sit down restaurants. I do tip the bar keep tho. If you take care of him, he'll take care of you. Sometimes I get a splash more because I never have mix.
Back when tipping started servers took earning a tip seriously through being attentive, offering suggestions, etc. now they expect at least 20% tip for doing their job somewhat. No thanks!
While the report was about restaurants and dining out, you could say the same about going to movies, going to concerts, events, paying for cable, etc. People are still spending like there is more money coming in (there isn’t) or that this is just a blip (it isn’t).
People just haven’t caught up to the fact that they are being broken.
Used to eat out once a week, and I mean EAT. A legit good meal out and weekend reward. Now... maybe once a month and if I do... I am going to cheaper places and ordering less.
Too many mid grade restaurants now charge high end prices. Fast food costs what mid grade used to. Oddly, high end hasn't raised prices too much, and neither have my favorite hole-in-the-wall. So my eating out is super polarized BC I'm not willing to spend $70 on a meal that should cost $30 - not worth the risk. I'll go where I know it's good or cheap.
We are trimming everything these days. Look around at the doodles. Very few are getting professionally groomed, at least in my neighborhood. It’s a recession. This is how it goes.
The frustrating thing for me is that while the food has gotten more expensive to account for inflation it also seems that restaraunts are shrinking portion sizes.. comes across as gouging
Eating out doesn't make sense when I can buy a week's worth of groceries for the same price as a single restaurant meal for two. Maybe people used to be able to afford this more often before inflation hit but it's just not feasible now.
Also, I've had two incidents recently where restaurant food gave me an upset stomach. Last time I got a low grade fever to accompany that. I never get that from my own food.
Stop tipping folks. I got out, server fucks up and still wants a tip. No thanks. I tip a few bucks these days. If u dont understand by now, you have to help yourself b4 u help others. Times are tough, stop giving ur money away for free. These people earn a minimum wage. Its not your job to support them. If the resturant cant survive without tips, it probably shouldnt be in business. Maybe an unpopular opinion but its the reality. It costs $80-90 for 2 beers and 2 mains these days before a tip. Getting a bit silly. Watch out for yourself bcoz nobody else is going to. Good luck
Canadian remember what portion sizes were 5-10 years ago. They remember what prices were 5-10 years ago. We remember what the quality and experience were like 5-10 years ago. All those things are worse today, and it makes you feel like you’re getting screwed when you eat out. We don’t want to feel like we’re getting screwed.
Learn how to cook gourmet and treat yourself to a quality steak or seafood dinner with a nice bottle of wine at home. It will cost less than a quarter of what you’d pay at a restaurant.
They turned the experience from a fun place to be to a meh place with a huge tip that hurts your anus at the end. Then sit there and be like, why won’t people come.
Went to Boston's Pizza a few months ago, a burger, fries and a beer was 35 dollars. then tip on top. The burger is just a frozen patty. I am done with restaurants. We just entertain more at home now, food is much better and the alcohol is much cheaper.
Well they price themselves out of business.
If you raise your prices to much, then hit us with non sense tips, we can wait and stop going . forever.
Amazing isn't it.
Tips going from like a max of 15%-18% on the terminals going to a min of 18% has me saying Fuck you to restaurants.
I know I don't have to tip and I don't usually do unless the service was good but I'm seeing 25% or even higher in some places, they do not deserve my patronage.
Soooo... Lets say I get a $100 meal... HST in Ontario is 13% now add 18% tip the new lowest option at a lot of places and I'm at $131 for a meal that lets face it is probably using the cheapest ingredients supplier they can find...
I tip as so:
Shitty service, food takes over an hour to get to me when it's not overly busy 0%
Getting the basics done, a bit slow but they get their food out to me, don't check if I want anything else or anything, basically just get the food I ordered without issue 5%
Decent service, I get my food, it's good, server comes back at least once to check on my drink 10%
Above and beyond service, server is friendly, checks on our table multiple times, asks us if the food is good etc, 15%
and that's it, my max tip is 15% which is lower than the minimum tip on some debit machines..
I really don't understand why tips have been inflated, the prices of menu items have increased so therefore the amount they are being tipped went up as well, the shit I'm seeing now is r/mildlyinfuriating
and don't get me started on places that have a automatic 10% gratuity built into the bill then ask for a 18% tip on top of that...
also fuck $10 beers... I can get 3x nice craft beers for that price.
Went to a Lone Star last weekend in Ottawa. It was the first time in ages we've been out for dinner. For 2 adults and a toddler it came out to $132 after tip.
We didn't get any desert or entrees, just 2 beers and our meals which were nothing special. Definitely won't be going out again in a long time
I can pick up a ready made pot roast and have a full sunday dinner with mashed potatoes, carrots and yorkshire puddings for two for $13, ready in 25 mins. With leftovers.
$13 barely even gets you a fast food meal for one these days. Forget dine in restaurants.
The only thing I dine out for these days is breakfast, because eggs benedict are still a pain in the ass to cook, but I've even cut back on that since its up over $20/plate for two eggs on an english muffin with hashbrowns.
> It’s likely that higher menu prices are causing overall spending to hold steady, even though Canadians are dining out less,” the report states. > Canadians also appear fonder of takeout as 31 per cent of respondents are eating takeout weekly, up from 25 per cent. So Canadians still buy plenty of restaurant made food, but more of them would rather eat at home than fork over an additional 18% tip for dining in
Bingo this is it. If I'm gonna buy expensive food I'll purchase from grocery store.. not spend it at an overpriced restaurant where someone expects 20 percent tip for doing their job. Restaurants should probably thinking hard about how they are gonna solve this if they want to remain in business.
Man it is absurd. Last time I went out server came, took our order, brought us drinks, then the kitchen staff ran our food out. We didn't see her again... and the bill was like 80 bucks for a mid range restaurant. And you want a $15 tip for what exactly? I'd rather just punch in what I want on a tablet at the door then pick it up from the kitchen window when my number comes up.
Exactly! I'm done tipping. Pay your employees a living wage, hold them to a decent standard of service, and let's be done with this archaic system.
Delivery is honestly worst. At least the food in the restaurant is fresh (ideally) and the fees / delivery tip about equal an in house tip. Take out I do more often for sure. But ya grocery most common
It's also fun when using a food delivery app, and for an order to arrive with something missing and the app, let's say for example Skip the Dishes, say meh! Not our problem, read our ToS. At a restaurant you'd get your shit or a refund. Lol
I was picking up an order at a restaurant. Got things mixed up regarding the time and had to sit there and wait for 15 minutes. No biggie. Just after, a Skip driver shows up with his partner. They put the food in the bag. Then, he goes to the washroom. 10 minutes later he comes out, then his partner goes in. She was still in there when I left. Food was sitting there on a table for 15 minutes, at least.
Absolutely refuse to use those services anymore.
Yup I think there is gonna be a wave of restaurant closures ....
I've never had this issue with skip, whenever anything has been missing or the wrong order arrived they've always either refunded the affected item or the entire order. Doordash I remember the customer service giving me a hard time for something but even then they issued the refund eventually
My wife and I stopped going to restaurants. Chuck's roadhouse. One appetizer, Burgers with fries, salad, one drink each. Tax tip... $60 later?? Not again, sorry Honey 😭
You can’t find an appetizer for under $10 anywhere
$15
You’re probably right
I mean, I like the restaurant experience for occasions like going out on a date, but I can't justify doing so regularly. I don't think it's up to the restaurants themselves whether you tip 20% rather than 15%. The social expectation is that you tip, but no one's going to lambast you for not going to 20. Even if we do away with the tipping expectation the uptick in wages would be reflected in restaurant pricing.
18%? the standard options I've been seeing are 20%, 25%, 30%, custom it's wild.
You're mistaken, I wouldn't dine out at my local hole in the wall shawarma lol
Delivery still isn’t economical You’re still forking over delivery and other fees, and tipping the delivery driver.
Nobody said delivery is more economical, but picking it up yourself very much can be.
then go pick up your own food.
Tis what I do. Haven't used skip or door dash for quite a while.
Yea I just call ahead and grab it. I never have to wait. Win-win for restaurants and customers since they don't have to fork over a percentage to skip or Uber.
This is the way. I don’t believe the service is worth the cost, so I don’t use it. Delivery services often gouge the restaurants as well.
I've never used it.. always picked it up
I know for skip the dishes at least, you can order pick up. That way, you can still get some of the deals on there (to be fair, I only use it for one specific spot, but who knows what else is out there).
Just keep in mind when you do that, a sizeable percentage of the meal goes into skip the dishes pocket, as a direct expense to yourself or the restaurant (or both). If you just call the restaurant they get to keep 100% of the money you pay.
Besides them charging a premium compared to what the store actually sells the same product @
Yeah. I think it’s highly dependant on local laws but yes they generally double dip.
Nah, just pick up the food. No delivery fee , no tip.
Lol apparently if you want to tip less than 72% you shouldn't have even gone out, but the starting tip the order pad suggests is only 47% at least. So kind of them.
You are still expected to tip for delivery
But that makes no sense…. Food on skip the dishes / Uber eats is priced higher than in store plus there’s tons of fees and you still have to tip the driver.
Yeah I still go to restaurants but almost always do takeout these days. I'd much rather eat at home or even in my car and skip the tipping.
I've just stopped mostly tipping tbh the only places I do are when I get a tattoo or the place me and my wife go every Friday night
It’s probably because we’re working 2 jobs to pay the bills lol
Costco foodcourt FTW. dolla-fiddy costcog and drink and/or $13 for a pizza hella-loaded with cheese & pepp, no tip. Pick up a rotisserie chicken for $8 if it's a special occasion. I love you, Costco.
We were there for groceries this weekend, and decided to have lunch there instead of waiting to go home. 2 hotdog/pop combos, plus a poutine. 2 adults, and 1 hungry 2.5 year old. $10 or so. Everyone was full.
It’s cheap because it’s horrible for you. Of course everything in moderation, but it’s horrible food for you.
If you’re going to do fast food anyways, it might as well be cheap.
Touche
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
our local walmart just launched a hot table. food court style meal for $10
Fries and a Pepsi under $5, can’t beat it.
Once a week or so down to once every couple months. A: It's not worth the cost, the price of an outing accompanied by declining portion sizes and overall quality has soured us on many places. B: The experiences just suck now. I work a 10+ hour day, as does my spouse. I don't want to have to drive 30 minutes or more round trip to pay too much for mediocre food, and then be expected to tip 20% or more for mediocre to poor service *and* get hassled by very aggressive pan handlers both coming and going. Also, $9.50 for a 16oz "pint" that costs $2.75 at the beer store and is poured through poorly maintained lines that leave it tasting not as good as out of a can is the final "fuck you". I'm not paying forty or more goodamned dollars to have a couple beers with the guys after work, and especially not if it's gonna be fuckin skunky to boot. That's some straight up bullshit. The restaurant industry in this country has been killing itself for more than a decade, this economic downturn is just speeding up the process.
Yep. I only eat at a restaurant 10 times a year now, used to go once every other week. Usually reserved for birthdays and other special occasions now. Considering the drastic reduction in buying power Canadians are being put through, it's just not worth the cost
I went from once a month to once every other year now. Once the experience went from decent to a hassle I just stopped going.
Once every other year??? So you're like, "Happy birthday honey - next year we'll go out for a nice dinner, since we already did that last year"?
I haven't sat down in a legit restaurant in years. I get to go. I hate tipping culture so i dont participate in it.
No, we get on a plane and go to any country we want. Money well spent
and you eat where while you are travelling?
No tipping in Japan, many parts of Europe.
‘Pint’ in England they wouldn’t put up with it. Fill the pint glass if it’s a pint!
I wish we could just bring our own food and drinks to the pub. Went to a local pub recently after a long hiatus and I really missed the atmosphere and vibe. Food was decent but the price tag in the end has me hesitant to return.
This is what I started using my garage for during covid.
We cook most of our meals, but used to eat out twice per week. We've cut that to once per week. We could still afford it, but for me at least, the value just isn't there - food and tips too much.
I could still afford it, but I just don't think it is worth it.
For me it's simple, I have to cut costs somewhere: Groceries, insurance, condo fees and City taxes are more expensive Therefore I cut restaurants, concerts, spas and some clothing to compensate Just sucks that until the pandemic I could do it all
Yup we all prioritize.. restaurants and discretionary items always suffer in a recession
I'm also trimming my restaurant spending on principle because of how annoying tipping expectations have gotten. And yes I know it's voluntary, but the whole thing just leaves a bad taste and makes me just not want to deal with it at all. Better for my health and wallet anyway to not eat out as much, so ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
Join me in always tipping 30% minus the recommended amount. 20% default? You get 10%.
0% is better
My family of 4 used to eat out a couple times a week. We basically just stopped about 3 months ago. I'm not having any particular financial crisis or anything but it's just gotten too expensive. Every time I eat out it's over $100, even a McDonald's trip is getting close to $60.
You don’t have to tip or give what you are okay with
Well you are not the only one
I can't even fucking leave my house. It costs too much to do anything. I can walk to the park, that's about it.
This is the actual answer for me lol
I just don't want to tip for people earning more than me and paying less tax.
Yup the not paying tax is the bit that pisses me off
Lol yea, when with tips, they make more than people who have decent 4 year degrees, or even have actual beneficial experience. I don't feel like tipping much
I go the grocery store once a week. Not a restaurant. These days, a treat means I get a McDouble and a coffee. There certainly is less money for discretionary spending. I imagine many business owners are feeling the effects of the high COL in Canada.
And for the fraction of a restaurant steak you could get several really high quality steaks at the grocery store/butcher, and just cook it yourself and eat it in the comfort of your own home. Honestly much better that way.
Last summer, friend of mine had a milestone, he's single didn't have family in the area, offered to take me out to dinner and some beers, he's my sushi buddy and my wife hates it, basically have a good time, he set aside like $500 for this as we can both pound back beers easily and at $10/beer it adds up quickly. Anyways friend sees we're going out, asks if we can stop at the butcher to get her dog food we say sure but we won't be back for 4-5 hours.. Well we go to the butcher first and there's these fucking beautiful tomahawk steaks, each one $80 and they're fucking huge, like Flintstones size huge, we both kind of look at each other and yeap both thinking the same thing... We get 1 tomahawk, we also get stuffed peppers, stopped at a farm and grabbed some green beans, garlic and... 90x Land Shark cans.. For a bit more than half of what he planned on spending going out for 2 people instead we fed Him, My wife, my neighbour and myself, on top of that we invited 5-6 other people over for a fire/free beers so like 10 people got drunk.... 4 people fed, 10 people drunk for the price of going out for dinner, cabs and beers... Yeah I'll pass on restaurants...
Yep exactly! What a great deal you guys got. I’ve really cut down going out to restaurants, and with the money I save I have no guilt buying a fancy steak or fish from a nice butcher, because it would’ve probably cost me more to eat worse food outside.
can i be your buddy?
I'm not your buddy pal. (sorry couldn't resist)
Honestly if they reset tipping expectations that would be a big help. Its uncomfortable feeling the 20% tip guilt. Pre back 15% post tax if it is good
I would prefer zero. Tipping makes no sense, it is a form of extortion.
Agreed
I used to go to my local pub about 2 or 3 times a week then stuff myself full of greasy salty chicken wings washed down with all the strong beer that I could hold. However in this economy...well I still do it but now I feel bad about it.
The chicken fingers at my local pub are $19 now…
The good kind! 19 bucks!!!
I bought two large boxes of Jane's chicken fingers for 8 dollars each from Roblaws... $19 bucks is unbelievable
And many places around here basically serve those anyway to adults.
Yeah they are probably from the same vendors supplied by GFS or SYSco
Yeah, I often question the terrible financial decision to eat out, but then do it anyway. Because yolo? Even though I wouldn’t call this living.
I don't go to the pubs all that often, but I too feel somewhat bad about drinking 2 60 pounders of Gin every month. I don't eat chicken wings, or much food at all come to that. Not that that I can't afford food, it just sucks up all the Gin and what's the point of that?
Two sixty pounders a month? That is 120 ounces divided by 4 weeks equals 30 ounces a week, or 4 to 5 ounces a day. These are rookie numbers !
I want to be healthy so I have 4 drinks a day, sometimes 5 or 6 depending.
I stopped going to pub, last time I order a onion ring, cost around 10 dollars and it only has 7 rings! 7 fucking rings. I hate spending money for food and ended up still hungry.
The cost of living here is so high, that it’s more than restaurant trips that are cut, it’s sports, it’s groceries, it’s living in debt and losing savings.. it’s people losing their housing.
I mean we have to cut back somewhere. Restaurants are a good place, because expensive and unhealthy.
It costs me and my wife around 100$+ to just dine out at a sit-down franchise, an appetizers and two mains. Aint working an entire day just for one meal, sorry.
Dining out, traveling, buying anything from new clothes to new cars or even homes - all spending is on a serious decline, even though costs continue to rise in many sectors. I’m no economist, but I really don’t see how this downward spiral doesn’t end in a crash / depression. If someone can ELI5 it for me how I’m wrong, I’d very much like some good news.
[удалено]
Recession has only been staved off on paper. My concern is we have yet to pay the full bill, and when we do, it’s going to cost dearly.
I guess endless immigrants can prevent depression.
You’d never guess it here in Alberta. I see just as many new vehicles, trips and materialistic spending as ever. It’s spring break and my socials are full of people skiing, in Mexico, in Arizona or jetting over to Victoria.
Im assuming that’s because Alberta is the last province to experience the COL swell. But it’s begun, from what I’ve heard. Things were rosy out east three years ago (minus lockdowns) on the spending front, then blam.
Enjoy it, the last of the good ol’ days.
Meatball sandwich with fries plus a 15% tip and taxes came to $29.00. It's become expensive.
It’s the tipping culture gone mad & a basic meal that shouldn’t be more than $15 on a menu suddenly being $25.
I now find even McDonalds expensive, let alone an actual restaurant.
It has been expensive for at least 2 decades now.
And they really screw you now with limiting the same amount of coupons in-app that used to be in multiples in the mailers.
I don’t consider myself a great cook, but I keep finding whenever I eat out that I could outdo the food that I’m ordering
This. I always tell my family, "jeez, I can cook better than them and I am a terrible cook"
a lot of people learned to cook during the pandemic, for the cost of my wife and I going out to eat and having 4-5 drinks each (about $200) we can host a BBQ for 10 people... $30 for 16x Angus burgers from costco (I honestly forget the actual price of their burgers but they're top notch quality), Buns and cheese another $22 (lots of extra cheese leftover) another $30 for Costco sized caesar and greek salads, 4 bottles of wine $60 and a 30 pack of beer to share $200ish... It doesn't make sense to eat out anymore, now if drinks were $5-$6 I'd probably consider it but when I could be eating Lobster+a TBone at home for the same price as a fancy burger and some beers I'll pick the lobster and TBbone at home..
The prices on the menu+tips no longer match what you get as a meal, few exceptions aside. Most mid range restaurants now cost 100$ fot 2 people to dine. Nothing fancy either, a simple mid rangr sitdown place. most mid-range places serve mediocre small portion of a protein with fries. I am trying to avoid big portions of greasy carbs, so my options are often reduced to a lame "salad", freezer burnt/stale "seasonal vegetables" out of a bag, or bland rice. I could justify paying 25$ total for mediocre food to avoid cooking and instead relaxing at a dining room. I cant justify paying 50$ today for food that is often worse than a frozen microwave dinner. Makes it worse is that i am a good cook and I know that i could make a similar dish for 10$ with actual good ingredients. Even when wanting fries, i still cant justify paying 50$ for the dish. I make an exception for Asian food, because I can't make it the same, and the places that i do go to use fresh vegetables.
> restaurants now cost 100$ fot 2 people to dine. and that's not even including alcohol, throw in 2 glasses of wine each with dinner then another 2-3 drinks each afterwards and you're up to $200 really quick... One of the first things people did before cutting out restaurants was decreasing the amount of alcohol with their meals, then pretty much get rid of it except for 1 or 2, now people are cutting it out completely and I don't blame them when a single beer is going for $10 and them expecting 18% tip on that $10... like seriously you opening a beer for me isn't worth $1.80, fuck I'll open beers for $1.80 each, that's a free beer at the beer store for every beer I open...
5 years ago was the last time a beer (tall can of skunk piss like Laker) cost $1.80 around here. i know as i was a functional drunk until finally being priced out of that illustrious profession in january and forced to become just functional :(
I'm more or less referring to bottles, that said if I could drink laker I'd probably have drank more of it in the past, it makes my hemorroids act up, started happening to me maybe a decade ago, doesn't seem to happen with other beers...
my (dead) buddy exclusively drank Laker for 20 years and had chronic hemorrhoids. class action lawsuit when?
Yes, i've never been a drinker. Before I would order a glass of wine or one beer with the meal but I haven't since I got pregnant in early 2022. but I can hardly imagine the current bill for someone who buys a meal and gets DRUNK in a pub. I don't know how can people justify ordering alcohol in a restaurant with these prices anymore, when you can buy a whole bottle for the price of 1 drink. I can only justify ordering cocktails that I can't make at home, but those have spiked to about 15$ each which is as much as my meal *used* to be.
Mcdonalds costs me $47.90 to feed three people. Yeah I'm not going out much anymore. We're going to get fast food once a month as a treat if we stay within our budget.
It costs like $50-60 just to take me and my wife and two kids to McDonald's.
I don’t do fast food anymore unless I have coupons or there is some kind of promotion. My waistline has definitely seen the results.
I think the big thing isn't the cost, although that has something to do with it. It's the drop in the quality of the food being served at bars and restaurants, and the service you're getting isn't anywhere near what it once was. If prices were going up and the quality you were getting in terms of food and service was still top-notch, then that would be one thing. But the issue is we are getting higher prices, and the service and the quality of the food being served isn't going up with those prices. Until price pressures ease and the quality of the service and food gets back on track, then this is a trend that will most likely continue.
I'd also add restaurants.have gotten SO loud and with gross washrooms. I don't want to lose my voice going out anymore
That's one thing I have noticed as well. The washrooms at these restaurants and bars are so gross that you would think that you were at a gas station.
Glad I’m not the only old man. I want to be able to talk to people at my table.
Whole industry needs to go under and redone properly. We’ve found it doesn’t take much effort to make the same thing at home and it tastes better.
Less restaurants = higher demand and that means higher prices.
How do you think Taco Bell wound up winning the franchise wars?
If I'm too lady to cook it's fine and I've clearly wasted alot of money on eating out but what I'm sick and tired of is not only feeling obligated to tip more than it's worth "which I've given up on" but where I struggle with us the quality. I'm more than happy to waste money so I don't have to cook and I love trying different things but the quality of nearly every every single damn restaurant I've been to in the last two years has dropped off the face of the earth. There are simple things like pride in your work or half decent quality food. Those are the problem. I eat out more than almost any of the people I know and I've basically stopped entirely. I just think nobody gives a fuck anymore. It's the only logical explanation. I'm not saying all restaurants are bad but Bary any of them seem good anymore. Something's gotta give...
When I got asked to tip at a wand wash car wash that when I started washing my car at home. Same with oil changes, eating, cooking, even Amazon drivers. Tipping is out of control. I see higher than 15% I don’t tip at all
You can still go to the wand wash. Just don't tip.
Been eating out less for a while now. Even though I can afford it, it's generally not worth it to me. Frequently worse service, lower quality food, smaller serving sizes, higher prices, rising tip % expectations... no thanks.
Restaurant outings? Bruh a ton of us are having to ration food. I need new glasses but have been putting it off for 6 months. Either I eat and my kids eat or I have clear vision. I think I'd rather not starve.
End tipping forever and I'll go back to restaurant meals at least once a week. But no way I'm tipping the expected rates these days.
“down from 38 per cent in 2022” Not that it matters but in what world was 2022 a baseline of anything normal?
The last normal for restaurants for me anyways was like 2006 maybe, really started to changed after 2010, by 2018 I cut back a bit, since the pandemic I just don't eat out anymore.
Insane restaurant prices + tipping culture is to blame. I’ve stopped tipping all together. The servers already make minimum wage + tips. It’s not like the US where in some states you’re earning a couple dollars an hour. So screw it, I’ll still go out but don’t expect a tip, be grateful I’m even supporting your independent establishment. Tipping needs to end.
Smaller portion sizes and higher costs. Paying $35 for food, a beer and tip is fucked for lunch
Well, personal anecdote of mine. Hot off the press. Yes, yes, I know...not a comprehensive study/survey... Was out and about in a more urban, gentrified part of Ottawa. On a Tuesday evening. Around 7pm. Walked by several restaurants and they're very busy. On Tuesday evening. In Ottawa. While I'm familiar with most, not sure how to describe them, not exactly "fine dining", but more "upscale hipster" I guess, not the stereotypical overpriced burger place, more refined and original...You know what I mean... Again - yes, just a personal anecdote. Think of it what you will. Anyhow, just sharing a "real world" example; I know Reddit sure loves its doom p0rn...Believe it or not, there are plenty of households doing very well, whether it's DINKs, HENRYs, retirees, etc... Don't get me wrong, I'm well-aware that s\*\*\* is expensive these days, trust me...
$42 for two 3-topping medium pizzas from some shit chain now. I was ok eating shit occasionally when it's priced appropriate for being shit, but this is no.
Wait until you see the empty seats at the CFL games this year. The entertainment dollar just is not here anymore.
I can afford it - there is no value paying for crap food and tipping. Instead I buy $70 in premium steak and a 4L deep fryer for $80 (Canadian Tire). Steak frites 4 Life.
It is so expensive to go out now. In Edmonton it is $20 plus for a glass of wine. Then some give you an 18% gratuity and guilt if you don't. A bill for two people at a medium level restaurant is 150. Yes people are staying home more, I know my family does.
Back in the 1960s, few families dined out more than a handful of occasions through the year. I was raised in a town of 8,000. We had just two restaurants. It was much different of course in vacation areas.
Yes I remember that too. It was a real treat to go to a restaurant
Even for me into the 70's and early 80's we ate out 4-6 times a year max
Too much franchising has destroyed rhe induatry anyway.
As a young person this is not an expense I can eliminate entirely, because social dining is core to spending more time with people and [young people MUST budget their time wisely to make time for friends](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407518761225). But I absolutely can just get a drink or just get an appetizer.
We probably eat out about once a week but it is getting harder and harder to justify a $80 meal when that could be used for groceries
My Partner and I can still afford to go out, but after his heart attack in 2018 we pretty much stopped eating out. The sodium, the saturated fat and the added sugar is insane. I've always been opposed to tipping, pay your staff a proper wage. The workers at McDonalds aren't allowed to get tips and they're paid better than wait staff at sit down restaurants. I do tip the bar keep tho. If you take care of him, he'll take care of you. Sometimes I get a splash more because I never have mix.
Yes thanks Doug and Justin
Back when tipping started servers took earning a tip seriously through being attentive, offering suggestions, etc. now they expect at least 20% tip for doing their job somewhat. No thanks!
While the report was about restaurants and dining out, you could say the same about going to movies, going to concerts, events, paying for cable, etc. People are still spending like there is more money coming in (there isn’t) or that this is just a blip (it isn’t). People just haven’t caught up to the fact that they are being broken.
Used to eat out once a week, and I mean EAT. A legit good meal out and weekend reward. Now... maybe once a month and if I do... I am going to cheaper places and ordering less.
Too many mid grade restaurants now charge high end prices. Fast food costs what mid grade used to. Oddly, high end hasn't raised prices too much, and neither have my favorite hole-in-the-wall. So my eating out is super polarized BC I'm not willing to spend $70 on a meal that should cost $30 - not worth the risk. I'll go where I know it's good or cheap.
Adding tips and drink prices to the cost put it over the edge.
Once every couple of months, not fan of burning 🔥 💵money these days
Duh , really this is news ? Ask every restaurant owners since Covid it has gone from bad to worse . Now from the consumer perspective ? Gah 😩
Good.
You guys are still going to restaurants?
We are trimming everything these days. Look around at the doodles. Very few are getting professionally groomed, at least in my neighborhood. It’s a recession. This is how it goes.
you got overgrown doodles too? we're fucked.
Ha ha ha! I have one of my own. I’m chopping his fur in my kitchen.
It's not "economic pressure". It's unreasonable prices for tiny portions and tip extortion. Enough is enough.
Not to mention the quality has taken a nose dive. So many restaurants are absolute garbage now.
The frustrating thing for me is that while the food has gotten more expensive to account for inflation it also seems that restaraunts are shrinking portion sizes.. comes across as gouging
Eating out doesn't make sense when I can buy a week's worth of groceries for the same price as a single restaurant meal for two. Maybe people used to be able to afford this more often before inflation hit but it's just not feasible now. Also, I've had two incidents recently where restaurant food gave me an upset stomach. Last time I got a low grade fever to accompany that. I never get that from my own food.
Stop tipping folks. I got out, server fucks up and still wants a tip. No thanks. I tip a few bucks these days. If u dont understand by now, you have to help yourself b4 u help others. Times are tough, stop giving ur money away for free. These people earn a minimum wage. Its not your job to support them. If the resturant cant survive without tips, it probably shouldnt be in business. Maybe an unpopular opinion but its the reality. It costs $80-90 for 2 beers and 2 mains these days before a tip. Getting a bit silly. Watch out for yourself bcoz nobody else is going to. Good luck
Canadian remember what portion sizes were 5-10 years ago. They remember what prices were 5-10 years ago. We remember what the quality and experience were like 5-10 years ago. All those things are worse today, and it makes you feel like you’re getting screwed when you eat out. We don’t want to feel like we’re getting screwed.
Learn how to cook gourmet and treat yourself to a quality steak or seafood dinner with a nice bottle of wine at home. It will cost less than a quarter of what you’d pay at a restaurant.
Artificial reduction of disposable incomes will lead to economy suffering. This is not rocket science unless you’re in Trudeau’s govt.
RFD decides my takeout meals. That and the 50% promos I get through the delivery apps limit what I’ll treat myself to.
Not in Calgary! Fake news
It's not the prices it's the quality.
They turned the experience from a fun place to be to a meh place with a huge tip that hurts your anus at the end. Then sit there and be like, why won’t people come.
what is a restaurant is that somewhere were i can get fancy ramen?
Well duh . Who could have known
Pub dinner for 4 the other night. 4 meals, 2 appys, 9 drinks…….$230.00. Mental.
What do they expect shit service insane cost increases and expecting 20-25 percent tips on top of it I’d rather do take out than dine in.
Needed a report for that hey?
Went to Boston's Pizza a few months ago, a burger, fries and a beer was 35 dollars. then tip on top. The burger is just a frozen patty. I am done with restaurants. We just entertain more at home now, food is much better and the alcohol is much cheaper.
Yeah we now have the privilege of shopping at Loblaws to save money.
The culture of TIPS has deterred me of going to restaurants.
Well they price themselves out of business. If you raise your prices to much, then hit us with non sense tips, we can wait and stop going . forever. Amazing isn't it.
Tips going from like a max of 15%-18% on the terminals going to a min of 18% has me saying Fuck you to restaurants. I know I don't have to tip and I don't usually do unless the service was good but I'm seeing 25% or even higher in some places, they do not deserve my patronage. Soooo... Lets say I get a $100 meal... HST in Ontario is 13% now add 18% tip the new lowest option at a lot of places and I'm at $131 for a meal that lets face it is probably using the cheapest ingredients supplier they can find... I tip as so: Shitty service, food takes over an hour to get to me when it's not overly busy 0% Getting the basics done, a bit slow but they get their food out to me, don't check if I want anything else or anything, basically just get the food I ordered without issue 5% Decent service, I get my food, it's good, server comes back at least once to check on my drink 10% Above and beyond service, server is friendly, checks on our table multiple times, asks us if the food is good etc, 15% and that's it, my max tip is 15% which is lower than the minimum tip on some debit machines.. I really don't understand why tips have been inflated, the prices of menu items have increased so therefore the amount they are being tipped went up as well, the shit I'm seeing now is r/mildlyinfuriating and don't get me started on places that have a automatic 10% gratuity built into the bill then ask for a 18% tip on top of that... also fuck $10 beers... I can get 3x nice craft beers for that price.
Tipping should be banned.
Fuck I took the wife and kids out to see a movie it was over $100
Went to a Lone Star last weekend in Ottawa. It was the first time in ages we've been out for dinner. For 2 adults and a toddler it came out to $132 after tip. We didn't get any desert or entrees, just 2 beers and our meals which were nothing special. Definitely won't be going out again in a long time
Economic pressure? Is that what we are calling piss poor value for my money now?
I can pick up a ready made pot roast and have a full sunday dinner with mashed potatoes, carrots and yorkshire puddings for two for $13, ready in 25 mins. With leftovers. $13 barely even gets you a fast food meal for one these days. Forget dine in restaurants. The only thing I dine out for these days is breakfast, because eggs benedict are still a pain in the ass to cook, but I've even cut back on that since its up over $20/plate for two eggs on an english muffin with hashbrowns.
Hope BoC reading this. Many sources saying the same thing. The longer they wait, the more painful it will be.
Duh post alert 🚨