Eating out- Is it really worth it.

[Twelvefret]

The pay appropriately part is the job of the employer and not mine. If the employer has to raise the price of a meal by 20% to be able to pay appropriate, I have no problems with that. I then would still reserve the right to leave a tip based on service above the expected norm. Tipping should not be an expected given to subsidize an employer too cheap to pay their staff enough as in a living wage. What other industry expects their customers to subsidize their employee's wages beyond the price of the product they are buying?

Bob

I love these sorts of questions because it makes me think, but not about the food service industry as much as reading how some people think about what they deserve. You are a self-styled "grumpy old man" even though you are younger than me from what I have read. I don't want to be grumpy. I've seen enough grumpy. I want to help a young person along their way by providing whatever help I can whether they deserve it or not. I want to be nice to you, whether you deserve it or not, but I do also have provide an honest appraisal.

So, when I go out to eat with my daughter on Friday noon, the cost is $30. I leave a $6 tip. We always enjoy great service. I bet the servers love getting our table.

Something I learned from Zig Ziglar, "you can get everything in life you want if you first help others get what they want".

 

[Smiffy]

I must admit that if the service was poor I wouldn't be looking at the serving staff but at the employer for not providing the right training.

 

[Jfett]

Thought this was a shaving forum LOL

 

[chazt]

The pay appropriately part is the job of the employer and not mine. If the employer has to raise the price of a meal by 20% to be able to pay appropriate, I have no problems with that. I then would still reserve the right to leave a tip based on service above the expected norm. Tipping should not be an expected given to subsidize an employer too cheap to pay their staff enough as in a living wage. What other industry expects their customers to subsidize their employee's wages beyond the price of the product they are buying?

Bob

Excellent post.

 

[chazt]

You know what, fellows? It would seems that eating out is just as ymmv as is shaving. To each, his own

 

[Twelvefret]

Why have a ATG Cafe if competing ideas cannot be expressed respectfully?

 

[chazt]

I don't want to be grumpy. I've seen enough grumpy. I want to help a young person along their way by providing whatever help I can whether they deserve it or not.*

Something I learned from Zig Ziglar, "you can get everything in life you want if you first help others get what they want".

I’m approaching 65. As a general rule, I don’t want to be grumpy. It just happens. It’s not a static condition; it comes and goes. I think grumpiness hits us all at one time or another. Anecdotal observation of my parents’ and my generation suggests to me that frustration, sadness and change seem to be the factors that stimulate grumpiness in people as they age.

Sometimes it’s difficult to remain happy and upbeat when we see loved ones living with sickness. This has been especially difficult for me…

Hatred and xenophobia abound; it’s frightening!

But then my 15 month old granddaughter smiles and says, “I love you,“ and nothing else matters.

Btw… You had me until this*

Don’t know Zig Ziglar, but I appreciate the sentiment.

 

[Twelvefret]

I’m approaching 65. As a general rule, I don’t want to be grumpy. It just happens. It’s not a static condition; it comes and goes. I think grumpiness hits us all at one time or another. Anecdotal observation of my parents’ and my generation suggests to me that frustration, sadness and change seem to be the factors that stimulate grumpiness in people as they age.

Sometimes it’s difficult to remain happy and upbeat when we see loved ones living with sickness. This has been especially difficult for me…

Hatred and xenophobia abound; it’s frightening!

But then my 15 month old granddaughter smiles and says, “I love you,“ and nothing else matters.

Btw… You had me until this*

Don’t know Zig Ziglar, but I appreciate the sentiment.

I should ask Bob to forgive me for being too personal. That was not my intention. I see the servers as mostly "younguns" as they say in the South. They need us older adults more than they know. They need our wisdom and mercy. I think how we treat others is important. It is essential for them and for us.

 

[R181]

I should ask Bob to forgive me for being too personal. That was not my intention. I see the servers as mostly "younguns" as they say in the South. They need us older adults more than they know. They need our wisdom and mercy. I think how we treat others is important. It is essential for them and for us.

No offense taken. Maybe, it is time for us older adults to pass on the wisdom of organizing to achieve a better wage and as a result better standard of living.

Bob

 

[Twelvefret]

No offense taken. Maybe, it is time for us older adults to pass on the wisdom of organizing to achieve a better wage and as a result better standard of living.

Bob

Thank you for being gracious and forgiving, Bob. I do agree.

Education should not be only for the wealthy, and it should not take a lifetime to pay off, for starters.

 

[R181]

Thank you for being gracious and forgiving, Bob. I do agree.

Education should not be only for the wealthy, and it should not take a lifetime to pay off, for starters.

Now I am blushing. Gracious and forgiving are adjectives that people who know me generally don't use and for good reason I suspect. Just a 70-year-old curmudgeon here with a grade 9 education.

It should not take a university education to take a hint from your elders that if you want a better hourly wage organize into a union to fight for a decent wage. With the ever-larger number of people getting university degrees, I think it has diluted the value of such a degree to a great extent. In any event that is a whole other subject, possibly for a different thread.

Bob

 

[Xring3]

This is a typical senior breakfast at a local cafe that I frequent. One egg, bacon ad toast. $5.99. Coffee or orange juice extra.

 

[chazt]

View attachment 136063This is a typical senior breakfast at a local cafe that I frequent. One egg, bacon ad toast. $5.99. Coffee or orange juice extra.

Seems quite reasonable. Too bad they don’t include a cup of coffee for the price. Then it’d be the deal of the decade. How much extra for another egg and slice of toast?

 

[MPF9]

Booked Lunch today at Pub we have not visited in a while. Looked at menu and mains around £ 17 but many at £20 +. luckily we are not up to Starters, but often try a Dessert but as nearing £7 a meal for Two with drinks is easily £60 + without tip/ service charge.
I know the good pubs need our support but getting to be a tad pricey to do on a regular basis.

 

[Vacumatic]

Booked Lunch today at Pub we have not visited in a while. Looked at menu and mains around £ 17 but many at £20 +. luckily we are not up to Starters, but often try a Dessert but as nearing £7 a meal for Two with drinks is easily £60 + without tip/ service charge.
I know the good pubs need our support but getting to be a tad pricey to do on a regular basis.

Agreed

I think there is a lot to be said for a fixed price two course meal, perhaps with a limited choice as part of an early bird type deal, say 6-8pm.

You could do this off the menu, on a chalk board, perhaps a simple mains with a vegetarian alternative.

I used to be involved with an Italian restaurant which had the problem of being quiet on a weekday lunch time, we started doing fixed price deal, something like spag boll followed by apple pie and ice cream/ afogato/tiramasu for £10. A different deal every day.

An important aspect was to remember that people just had an hour for lunch including travelling.

We were soon at 95% occupancy consistently.