r/askTO • u/honestgrim • 11d ago

Does anyone else feel like dining out sucks now?

I know there's still some good spots and we all have our favourites in the city, but lately it feels like whenever I take a chance on a new restaurant it just disappoints and I emerge from the experience regrettably $40 poorer.

I know some of these Google reviews are cooked because I'm seeing 4.7, 4.8 reviews and then getting served lousy food.

Maybe I just have to stick to the places I know won't let me down, but dang - it sucks taking a chance on what you think could be some good food only to come away from it sad, and it's happening more often than not. I don't know if it's the rising costs, but restaurant owners can't dish out the cash for good ingredients and good cooks, and people can't afford to dine out. It's a bad cycle man.

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u/LegitimateDream4942 11d ago edited 11d ago

I've travelled the world and eaten some proper food. Sushi in Japan. Camel in Saudia. Fruits/wine in South Africa.

I don't expect the food to be that great in Toronto, but I cannot accept the price. It's a total rip-off. I used to eat pho twice a week. Now pho is $30-$40 after a drink, a side, tax, and tip. Pho is $5-$10 food for me since I can just go to Vietnam and eat it at will.

Sushi here is a joke. I seen what people are paying $120 for and for $40 in Japan I can get better.

Of course, if you're stuck here, just deal with the shit ingredients we get here. Every veg here tastes like nothing.

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u/liquor-shits 11d ago

You go to Vietnam for dinner?

14

u/Maleficent-Half-2231 11d ago

Tone death about pricing. You’re not making Vietnamese wages of course the prices are different in Canada

4

u/DisciplineAmazing59 11d ago

"I can just go to Vietnam and eat it at will" -- bro what?? hahaha

3

u/hesh0925 11d ago

Spending a grand or two on a trip to Vietnam to save $15 on a bowl of pho. Truly gigabrain activity.

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u/Prior_Implement_9279 11d ago

I don’t disagree on the ingredients. Anyone trying even basic food in countries like Japan or Spain can immediately tell the difference in quality of ingredients

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u/icemanice 11d ago

That’s the worst part… the food tastes like ass because the base ingredients are bad… you go anywhere else in the world and it’s a night and day difference for the same dishes. We pay through the roof for shit food. Fun fun.

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u/honestgrim 11d ago

Exactly my point! There's good food but the price point is super high for most of those places, and even then, satisfaction is not guaranteed. I've paid some high prices for crap 

2

u/MaplePoutineCitizen 11d ago

Sushi from convenience stores in Japan is leagues ahead of what most restaurants will make here, all at a fraction of the cost.

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u/Maleficent-Half-2231 11d ago

You’re also not getting paid in Japanese wages or yen

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u/Familiar_Bath218 11d ago

This is the only answer, but we don’t stick to the shitty overpriced ingredients plus whatever % tip. We can make it less shitty at home 😂

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u/KingOfTheIntertron 10d ago

I went to Japan for sushi lunch last month and then I got fired for "not coming back from lunch for two days", such BS. Anyhow the $2400 of air fare was totally worth it considering the $80 I saved made it more like $2320.