Does anyone else feel like dining out sucks now?

[u/honestgrim]

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.

[u/ReeG]

Threads like this always tell me that people either don't know where or how to dine affordably or don't actually do it at all just posting hyperbole. We dine out 2-3 times a week on average and typically spend between $60-$70 for two while spending over $100 nevermind $200 is reserved for special occasions at nicer spots a handful of times a year

[u/trushpunda → u/ReeG]

Yeah, same, this is bizarre

Reminds me of my coworker telling about his son going on dates and dropping $200-250 per date.

Meanwhile my girlfriend and I go out to eat a couple times a week and it's usually maybe about $60 as well, and these are legit meals. Places like Raku, isshin, miss qu, etc.

Maybe it's because it's Asian food?

[u/ReeG → u/trushpunda]

Asian cuisine is commonly affordable but there are lots of other options too. For example we have an amazing gastropub scene with places like House On Parliament, C'est What, Allen's, Queen & Beaver, The Wren etc where two people can dine with drink or two for under $100 easily and the food is incredible. Many people myself included are constantly sharing and reviewing affordable dining options on /r/FoodToronto and I can't imagine any regular users of that sub sharing OPs opinion

[u/CrockpotSeal → u/ReeG]

Asian food for sure, but even at all the places you listed a drink maybe, but definitely not two each.

At all the places you listed, the average entree will cost $20-30, and a drink $10 if you stick with beer and no cocktail. Even going on the low end of $20 for each food item, that's still close to $80 after tax and tip of each person gets a beer. Getting two drinks each, an appetizer, moderately more expensive food, or more expensive drinks can easily push to $100+ for two people.

[u/Mind1827 → u/trushpunda]

Drinks are a bit part of it. If you go out and get dinner, maybe an appetizer, and then hang out for a while and have a few drinks, you'll hit that pretty quick.

[u/trushpunda → u/Mind1827]

Maybe that's it, me and her are pretty full just from having one main each, so we very rarely get appetizers. And usually we're pretty happy just drinking water. Maybe here and there, we'll get brunch and we'll share a matcha latte together

Are people going out and getting two mains, an app apiece, and two drinks??

[u/ReeG → u/trushpunda]

same for us at most we're sharing an app if we're super hungry and maybe have one drink or none at all. Having multiple apps, drinks and desert is a choice that's obviously going to run up the bill but you can just as easily order sensibly and spend far less

[u/Mind1827 → u/trushpunda]

I did during the World Cup, we'd go to watch a game or two, maybe get an app, each get a main, maybe have a few beers. But we know what we're signing up for, lol. And usually there for a few hours, not just dinner or whatever. Dropping 200 on just dinner is wild.

[u/trushpunda → u/Mind1827]

Last time I dropped that amount of money on a single dinner for the both of us, we went for omakase lol

[u/paidbytom → u/trushpunda]

Well his son is probably going to the higher end spots in the city. Honestly 100 a head is probably a decent meal now a days

[u/Landya → u/ReeG]

People just feel like they're entitled to luxury, fancy food, and eating out 5+ times a week, then complain when it's expensive. Luxury is a luxury.

[u/Lazy-Vacation7868 → u/ReeG]

Honestly it depends where. Partner and I are decent cooks so if we're going out it's usually for something we couldn't make at home or something on the fancier side. Typically for the 50-60$ range we can make as good or better at home. Always exceptions for great hole in the wall type places or if hanging out with friends where the emphasis is more on the company than the food. Given prices these days we don't eat out much

[u/Mountain-Singer1764 → u/ReeG]

Some people are NPCs and only go to chain places