Is it cheap to eat out in USA?

[canetoad]

Seeing all the threads recently about tipping made me wonder if it is particularly cheap to eat out, given the low wages paid to waiting staff.

Here in Oz, the minimum wage is around $540 and the award rate for full time waiting staff about $570 or $15 an hour. Tipping is generally not expected, although is obviously welcome for good service. Main courses here start at around $20, obviously a lot more in top restaurants. What do you pay?

[BlooInBloo]

1. Depends heavily on where you go. But nowhere near as cheap as cooking with actual ingreds.

[tblue]

28. Not always. A lot of times, I go to Safeway and buy stuff for a dinner and end up spending

more than expected and a lot of time cooking and cleaning up. I often think, "Gee, we coulda eaten out for less." Of course there are leftover seasonings and what have you after cooking most meals, but it's often more affordable to eat out, especially for a small family -- though I prefer cooking because it gives me greater control of quality and ingredients.

[rcrush]

2. You gotta stick to the $1 menu.

Dollar menus are raging.

[canetoad]

3. What do you get for $1?

A sniff of the cook's wiping rag?

[doctor jazz]

5. Actually a dollar will buy many different food items that are reasonably nutritious

at various fast food joints. A fairly large 'burrito', a 'double cheeseburger', to name a couple of examples. Yes, they have too much fat and too many calories but a hungry person with not much loose change is more than happy to have the option.

[Ian David]

8. You buy the $1.00 hamburger and make a very small meatloaf at home with fresh vegies. n/t

[doctor jazz]

18. Look, I grow veggies. I buy half a cow at a time. Many people don't have the option to do that.

There are millions of Americans (you may be in another country) who have never ever seen a bunch of carrots or a head of lettuce that came out of a garden recently.

[Ian David]

23. This is true. In some neighborhoods, the only "grocery" is the 7-11. n/t

[doctor jazz]

31. Sadly, for many urban dwellers, there's just no feasible way to get actual groceries.

What a country.
:eyes:

[XOKCowboy]

6. The rag probably has more flavor than anything on the $1 menue

and more nutrition also.

[Ian David]

7. You can get a McDonalds hamburger, a 4-piece McNuggets, 2 apple pies...

any of those for $1.00

You can also get a soft taco at taco bell for $1.00

Wendy's has a dollar menu as well, but I forget what's on it.

[JVS]

22. Wendy's has...

Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger
Double Stack cheeseburger
Chili
Potato
Side salad
Value Fries
Frosty
Nuggets
Coke
Caesar salad

[Ian David]

24. Wendy's Frosty reminds me of the liquid barium they give you before an upper G.I. n/t

[paulsby]

47. wendy's chili is pretty nutritious

and a smoking good deal. actually is pretty low fat, high protein, and high fiber.

also, subway has ALL their 12 inch subs for $5 which is also a good deal.

im a competitive strength athlete. i need a lot of protein.

the chicken/bacon 12 incher has 72 gms of protein.

for $5 that's EXCELLENT

[old mark]

9. Nothing so grand. Some fast food places have single items, such as a small hamburger

or "fish" sandwich for a dollar, but no real meals.
Friday we went to Burger King, got 2 Whoppers, 1 large and 1 small fries a regular hamburger and a large soda for $18.15, IIRC.
Certainly not cheap. If you live in or near a big city, restaurant prices are outrageous.


mark

[Ian David]

4. You can buy a fast-food burger for $1.00

You can buy breakfast at a family restaurant or diner for about $5.00 per person including eggs, bacon, sausage, toast and coffee.

A main dish at a "family-style" restaurant can include a main dish for $7 or so if there's a special. A bowl of Vietnamese Pho soup is about $8.00.

Generally, a decent restaurant will be between $10.00 and $20.00 for a main dish, (pasta dishes as cheap as $8.00)

Higher-end restaurants that require coat-and-tie will charge a minimum of $20.00 for the cheaper dishes, with things like steak, lobster, etc. costing upwards of $30.00 at least.

At least, that's been my experience in Boston, New York, Orlando, and a few other areas lately.

There are always places where a cup of french onion soup will cost you $30.00 and a steak will cost over $100.

[canetoad]

10. Thanks

It sounds like you pay a lot less than we do. The breakfast would start at around $15 and there is absolutely nothing edible for $1.

[Ian David]

16. If you want to eat in America on-the-cheap, don't use the tourist book.

Just watch about 8-hours of local television one day, between the hours of 3 PM and 11 PM, and write down who advertises.

And then pick up a local newspaper, to find the family-owned restaurants that aren't part of a chain.

[csziggy]

48. Frankly the $1 menu items are not very edible, IMO

We don't go out much but here if you know the right places, you can get an excellent though not fancy dinner for $5-10 per person, especially the fresh seafood. It really helps to drive closer to the coast for the lower prices. The fanciest place we eat out costs about $12-25 per person, but that is more a gourmet meal with buffalo, fresh seafood, and other really great ingredients.

There are much fancier places in town, but we don't like dressing up enough to go there and spend exorbitant amounts.

For breakfast, I go to Waffle House for bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast are under $5 or were the last time I had it. But we live 10 miles from the closest restaurant so we don't eat breakfast out very often. More often I get their Bacon, lettuce tomato sandwich with hashbrowns for lunch - at $4.50 it makes a nice lunch or brunch.

[doctor jazz]

11. Exactly. I've dined at a roadside stand selling chicken & noodles for 30 cents

and restaurant atop a high rise building having Kobe beef for $125.00 a plate. And pretty much everything in between.

[JVS]

12. What kind of money are you talking about US dollars or Aus dollars?

[canetoad]

17. Both

Trying to get a feel for comparative prices because waiting staff in the US seem to desperately need tips just to survive.

[Ian David]

19. That's one reason why the food is so "cheap." Wait staff depend on their tips. n/t

[JVS]

26. I repeat. What kind are you talking about when you say

"ere in Oz, the minimum wage is around $540 and the award rate for full time waiting staff about $570 or $15 an hour. Tipping is generally not expected, although is obviously welcome for good service. Main courses here start at around $20, obviously a lot more in top restaurants. What do you pay?"

[canetoad]

39. Sorry, I missed your point

Those obviously are AUD.

[On the Road]

37. Saying US Waiters Desperately Need Tips

is true in a sense, but waiters in decent restaurants often make two or three times what people in comparable jobs will pay.

The issue is usually the place. In a good evening dinner place with an expensive menu, 15-20% is the norm, plus it's on top of much higher prices. In a cheaper family chain, it's less -- poster JeffreyWilliamson is saying 8% from a family place in Galveston, Texas.

The bottom line is it's extremely variable. You can starve or make a killing.

[alarimer]

46. The base wage is much less than minimum wage.

Minimum wage is $5.85 per hour. Waitstaff get about half of that (in other words, they do not even make minimum wage) so they do live off tips.

Of course in this crappy country we can't pay anyone a living wage because it would be "bad for business". I swear I am ready to leave this godforsaken place. I'd much rather pay higher taxes for a living wage and universal health care.

[mainer]

13. Yes! It's extremely cheap to eat in the U.S.

I've traveled around the world, and am used to paying a lot for meals anywhere in Europe. Then I'm always blown away when I get home and stop in at my favorite Japanese restaurant in Boston. And the bill is only $30.00 for two for a very nice lunch.

Of course, it's cheaper in many parts of Asia and in Mexico. But for the most part, eating out is affordable in the U.S.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

27. When eating out overseas, you have to take into account the devalued dollar. I know people

who have recently been to Europe and costs compared to a few years ago are dramatic.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. Prices here in the middle $5

than on the coast. I'm talking about local restaurants, mind. Our local Mexican restaurant has dinner entrees from about %5 to $14, with most entrees around $8. The Chinese buffet is under $7 for dinner. Middle Eastern restaurants are pricier, at around $12-$16 for a complete meal. American style food (freshly made soups, fresh bakery products, etc) runs about $10 for a dinner. I believe the wage for a waiter or waitress is under $3 an hour here in Arkansas.

[Ian David]

20. Oh, yeah... buffet restaurants are often an excellent bargain, but can be dicey on quality & hygiene

[doctor jazz]

38. That's true. A kitchen employee might have peed on the chicken fried steak half an hour ago

instead of just before you got it served by a waitperson.

[Ian David]

40. Remind me never to have lunch with you or to let you cook for me. n/t

[doctor jazz]

42. If you come to my house for lunch, I promise nobody will pee on your freedom fries.

:eyes:
edit: please don't bother replying...we obviously have nothing to discuss.

[Ian David]

43. I wouldn't eat with anyone who calls them "Freedom Fries."

Even the Repuke who came up with that nonsense has renounced that.

It's interesting that you find yourself on a board for Progressive Democrats and still cling to that.

Sad, really.

[NeedleCast]

15. For a typical mid-range restaurant

Appetizers: 4-8
Entrees: 10-20

portion sizes tend be be VERY large though.

[depakid]

21. It depends on the nature of the restaurant or cafe

In general, eating out (or purchasing take away) at ethnic places or cafes is a bit more expensive in Oz- though one has to factor in exchange rates and the usual non-expectation of tips.

That said, higher end meals in major US cities are comperable to Sydney and Melbourne prices- though on average, "middle tier" establishments are often considerably less than meals at similar places down under.

So far as I can tell, -the obscene (and obscenely priced) steak house type places in the Midwest and South don't exist down under (which is a GOOD THING).

Unfortunately, Aussies also miss out on inexpensive, authentic yet healthy taquerias- which I think would be an incredible business opporunity for an enterprising and connected person.

Likewise, Americans have nothing like Darby's pies.

Pizza- now that's a funny thing. For some reason, it's much cheaper in Australia. Haven't figured out why that might be.

btw: don't fall for the empty calorie, high frustose corn syrup non-sense. That stuff is absolute CRAP, mate. You're fortunate that it hasn't proliferated anywhere near the extent down under than it has in the states. Indeed, one has to actually search for corn syrup in Coles just make certain recipes.

[canetoad]

30. Have you lived in Australia?

You would know first hand the differences. I'm in Melbourne and I enjoy busy Vietnamese restaurants for cheap, healthy food. Generally costs about $20 - 25 per person.

[depakid]

36. Lived in both countries

and not too long down the line- if all goes well, I'll be standing on Australia Day (you know what I mean). ;)

Yep- the ethnic places are a bit more. The current PPP (purchasing power parity) is at about 140 -which translates into an exchange rate on about .70 on the Aussie.

Using that as the baseline, it's more expensive to go to the little ethnic places (or Modern Australian cafes) even factoring in 15% to 20% tips, but not all that much- and of course, smaller cities like Newcastle, Wollongong, etc., are less expensive than the large metro areas. With respect to Modern Australian and Northwest fusion- a good guess on comperable places would be that all things considered, it's in the range of 10% to 15% cheaper in the states.

Beer- now that an entirely diferent matter.

Haven't been to Melbourne in over 10 years, but I imagine it's about as pricey as Sydney. Damn good Turkish food in Melbourne as I recall- both reasonable take away stuff like Pida's and fine sit down meals.

[mclovin]

49. I am not sure where you are eating out

but it sounds like you have only spent time in Aus as a tourist!!

As a Melbourne boy I can assure you that if anything, it is the "ethnic" places that provide the most amazing food for next to nothing. A particular favourite of mine is Tattersals Lane in the CBD (Cami Dumpling will feed 4 people for under $40 easily).

Plenty of obsecenly priced steak houses (if that is what you are looking for) - Rockpool Bar & Grill springs to mind in Melbourne (and now Sydney??). It is certainly not the only one.

I would suggest going and buying a copy of 'Cheap Eats' - its published every year and provides a wealth of information.

Don't believe the 'no tip' thing either. I would say that my friends and I all tip in about 80% of cases.....


EDIT: I just googled darbys pies - I couldn't bring myself to eat any type of 'meat' that could be sold in the form of a pie for $1... then again, "meat" can be camel, hare or many other things provided it is farm raised :)

[Mike 03]

25. Well probably most of the discussion had to do with fast food.

You can get a half pound of red meat, plus bacon, mayo, and a ton of refined crap for four or five bucks.

It's fast food that is making people sick and obese, although more expensive restauraunts are certainly not helping much.

[Ian David]

29. All the money we Americans "save" on "cheaper" food, we spend on health care.

The food we eat does not reflect the true cost-- the cost has been socialized, and is paid for in extra health care.

We subsidize the various agriculture industries, and then we have to pay for our own health care when we get sick from the food we helped subsidize in our taxes-- but we "save" at the cash register!

And of course, the REAL benefits all go to the stockholders.

[tblue]

32. You are so right.

But most of us don't think that deep into it. We spend $60 at Safeway and think we're getting a bargain compared to either buying organic and/or gardening, which almost no one has the time or inclination to do. You make a very, very valid point. I'm lucking my hubby is into vegetable gardening. I don't think I'd ever do it on my own.

[Mike 03]

34. Yup. I agree 100%. Who could argue with this?

The greatest tragedy of America is our failure to engage in preventative medicine.

It's the single greatest failure of our lives, and it costs us billions in dollars, and billions in minutes.

[Coyote_Bandit]

44. It is exceptionally cruel

to demand that a poor hungry malnourished person accompany you to a resturant and pick up your tab while they are unable to afford food for themselves.

Yet that is exactly what we demand of uninsured taxpayers.

They get to pay for all sorts of other folks to have the care they cannot secure for themselves. That would include Native Americans, politicians, government employees, prisoners, veterans, the disabled, the young, the elderly, the poor, illegal immigrants, etc.

I do not begrudge anyone access to health care but we need to recognize this kind of cruelty for exactly what it is.

[XemaSab]

33. Low= $5

Medium= $15

High= $30+

Low would be McDonald's, medium would be Denny's or just about any neighborhood Mexican place, high would be a fancy steakhouse, fancy Japanese food, or so forth. Prices are per person, and include beverages and sides.

:shrug:

[bridgit]

35. That depends fully upon where you go to eat...

Chinese (not talking about the deli stuff in grocery stores) has always seemed expensive but you eat for 2-3 days plus it's yum :9; Mexican? Pancho's is cool, he does Cocina real simple no frills scoops rice & beans with an ice cream scooper recipes are way good way tight @ 10$/entree plate, but Zocolo's is high-end Mexican a night there plus drinks is some 100 bucks plus...but it's yum :9 Thai's yum too took a friend didn't seem like we ordered all that much and it was still 85 bucks plus

Things being tight now even Ruth Chris knows it, seen a 2nd entree free coupon http://www.ruthschris.com/Menu No way around it depends where you go

[TK421]

41. It really varies around here

just a couple doors down you could feed two people comfortably for about $17.00-$20.00. Just a few blocks down you're talking double that.

[kiva]

45. One big difference is that in many US restaurants--

not the top ones, more everyday restaurants--dinners often include salads and vegetable sides, and many chains are putting together meals that include starters and desserts. This really brings down the cost of a dinner compared to other countries I've visited. Also buffets are popular--despite what some purists say, buffets can be a much better choice, both nutritionally and economically, than a sit-down restaurant. Of course, I live in the ultimate buffet city, so have some great choices.

[SmileyRose]

50. I can't afford to eat out.

Well, I could, but the tradeoffs I'm not willing to make.

[cherish44]

51. You can get fast food CRAP fairly cheap

If you want anything decent it's cheaper to eat at home.