[Armageddon]

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/ ... 720&page=1


Who saw this coming ?

[Tanada]

Let me be the first to say "Well DUHHH!"

Resturaunt eating is set up in three tiers, fast food for the workers who need to eat and jet, 'Family dining' where you can take the spouse and a couple kids out to a sit down resturaunt and be waited upon for under $100.00, and upscale places where you take a date or bussiness associate to impress them that can cost anywhere from $20.00 to unlimited for the Entre'

Fast food will weather the storm for a while as will upscale, but the 'family dining' niche will die off because a family can cook together at home, get quality time and quality food, and feed the whole family for $35.00 unless they decide to go for exotic food.

[lawnchair]

Of all the ridiculous excesses in our culture, restaurants are real damn high on the list. It seems to me that a lot of mid-level restaurants cater to people who want to converse over food (a very basic human tendency) but are scared that their own cooking or house might possibly be criticized by others at the table.

There are certain dishes that take some skill or equipment to make. But, basic pasta dishes for $15 a plate and way, way up from there? What a damn racket!

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') philosopher named Aristippus, who had quite willingly sucked up to Dionysus and won himself a spot at his court, saw Diogenes cooking lentils for a meal. "If you would only learn to compliment Dionysus, you wouldn't have to live on lentils."

Diogenes replied, "But if you would only learn to live on lentils, you wouldn't have to flatter Dionysus."

[WisJim]

We have never been much for "dining out" unless it was a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, or we were out of town at meal time, and didn't bring a lunch along or want to find a grocer to buy makings for lunch. Fast food is something I don't have much desire to eat, except for pizza, and that we usually get at a bit of a nicer place than Pizza Hut or that type of chain.

We do a lot of pot lucks and similar get-togethers that include a meal or snacks, so we have lots of opportunity to talk and visit over the table.

I am a bit surprised that the restaurants have held up this well, this long--but then it often has amazed me how much the "average" family spends on meals eaten away from home, and meals not cooked at home (carry outs etc.). I recall a survey that considered a frozen pizza, purchased ready-to-bake at the grocery store, to be a home cooked meal when cooked and eaten at home. Not quite what I consider "home cooked".

[sittinguy]

Went out to eat the other night with the family,, went to Denny's, Kids eat free on sat night, $23 including a $3 dollar tip. Not bad, but we have Definitly cut back on the high $$ dinners.

My wife is a Great cook, so we cook ALOT. But I do notice when we do go out, there is never a wait, except at the high $$ resturants, those still seem to be doing Great. I think fast food will do good because that will be the only option for many. Because I agree that the middle class places will die off. I think it will take some of the resturants a year or two to really figure out they are in the hole,,,,,,,, until then, enjoy them and eat out from time to time. Fast food sucks, so enjoy the middle while it is still here.

[mercurygirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he precise origins of fast food are vague, probably predating written history. Hungry people are as old as civilization itself, as are entrepreneurs eager to satisfy their hunger. Food vendors in ancient cities sold prepared items to passersby on the street. The actual foods varied greatly, depending on period and culture, but they generally comprised simple, inexpensive fare sold to people of modest means.

[Hawkcreek]

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