My midday late breakfast today at IHOP: a story

[Lance]

I took my brother for a doctor appointment today, so we decided to stop after at an IHOP restaurant as I had a strong urge to have just a plain old waffle, no fruit, nothing on it, just plain with a little maple-type syrup. The waffle was $13.49. I wanted four crispy bacon strips. It was $4.09 for that, and a glass of orange juice: $4.19 - all plus taxes. Not a problem to pay for it and it tasted good. But we were only two of a total of five people in the restaurant. It was a bit chilly in there (no heat was on; it's still late winter in Upstate New York). For the both of us, it was a total of $48. Naturally, a 20% tip or a bit larger was left. Why am I telling you this? How can these kinds of places even begin to stay open? A preponderance of people would never spend $13.49 for a single, no-frills waffle simply because they might not be able to afford it. Driving down the highway, looking at all the other restaurants - no cars in the parking lots (zero!), no business. When I leave the university some nights late, there's a Denny's close by that I stop at for something having missed a normal dinner. Guess what; sometimes I am the ONLY person there (this could be 10pm to midnight or so). Sometimes it's like that at 5pm or 6pm (dinnertime). Service was lousy, it took forever to find someone at a register to be paid. I guess the cook in the back takes care of everything ... take the order, fix it, deliver it, takes your money when it's convenient. I also read an article today that Red Lobster national chain may be filing for bankruptcy. Eventually, we will all be eating at home again like it was in the "good old days."

I'll bet many of you have similar stories, eh? How is it in the big cities?

[david johnson]

I'm not in a big city. All the local beaneries around me are booming. All seem to have recovered from pandemic problems. A larger town nearby has a few 'big name' spots that have shut down. The IHOP there is not quite as good as it used to be

[lennygoran]

I'll bet many of you have similar stories, eh? How is it in the big cities?

Lance, NYC much worse! Still we love NYC so it is what it is! Regards, Len

[diegobueno]

Someone's gotta maintain those CEO yachts and vacation homes, and that would be you, the consumer.

You've got to seek out the mom 'n pop diners for the kind of honest breakfast you're looking for. Good luck.

[maestrob]

Restaurants here in the Big Apple have indeed slowed down considerably due to huge price increases since the pandemic. We used to go out to dinner at a favorite neighborhood haunt for about $110 or a bit more in 2020 several times a month. While that place closed down and never reopened when the pandemic hit, two similar restaurants now charge $175 for a full dinner for two, including a drink, salad and main course with a shared dessert and tip!

For special occasions, one can easily spend $600 at a high end French restaurant (Le Pavillon), or $325 at a famous steakhouse (Gallagher's)!

Still, at these prices, they are quite full even during the week.

Restaurants used to be jam-packed, demanding 30 days' notice for a reservation with cancellation penalties and filling up the very morning that the day would become available. Now you can make a reservation well in advance if you like, or last-minute during the week, with no cancellation fee. Fridays and Saturdays can be difficult still, so we stay away.

Interestingly, if we want to eat at home, there's a nearby deli and a pizza place that will deliver dinner platters or a salad and a sandwich that have enough food for dinner for two at around $30! Both of these are family-owned.

The lesson to be learned here is that rents for businesses have skyrocketed since the reopening, due mainly to NYC tax increases on landlords. Our real estate taxes went up 18% this year (We are appealing!), so I can imagine what it's like for landlords with small businesses in their buildings.

[Rach3]

IMF warns US about US spending:

https://www.axios.com/2024/04/19/imf-wa ... t-spending

[Lance]

Well, I don't have a yacht or a vacation home, and it's nice that I can "help" others who have these things - maintain them. How very nice, indeed. [But I do have music, CDs, books, etc. in abundance!] Insofar as mom-and-pop diners and restaurants, I sure do use them, know owners well and support these people. I still visit Applebee's (they are about the best chain restaurants around here at this point), and I no longer visit Friday's ... the quality/service has fallen dramatically. Yes, I do support the big high-class places from time-to-time, but only occasionally if some great artist is in town and I want to show them our best! So, when you have a concert schedule like I do, I want to eat well at odd hours, etc., and the Mrs. can't wait for me at midnight or at any hours (though she is willing), I try to take care of myself. In the last three plus years, however, it is very interesting to see a major decline. In cities, such as New York, given the population and a higher percentage of wealthier people, they will support the high-end places because they can afford to and still want the best for themselves. Most people I know are now buying online (everything you can think of), which has had a negative affect on local businesses. Indeed, we are all seeing major changes in our lives. I'm dealing with it, eat more at home (frozen dinners at times). We have learned to "cope." Let me just say that it is a bit more difficult to be happy - like we used to be. Perhaps we have been "spoiled."

Someone's gotta maintain those CEO yachts and vacation homes, and that would be you, the consumer.

You've got to seek out the mom 'n pop diners for the kind of honest breakfast you're looking for. Good luck.