Happy hump day all. It is a 60* morning here and a little cloudy. Still haven't had rain - more chances today. My plants would love it! We need to enjoy these next few cooler days - as we are to get hot by next week. June will start in a very warm way! Close to 90* by Tuesday.
Seems we can go from running a furnace for a few minutes to needing AC in a week or so!
We have had a new restaurant open up close by. They sent out flyers. You can order and have delivered, or you can pick-up. From where it is located, I don't think there is any restaurant seating (it is a tiny store front in not a great area).
There were things on the menu - I have never seen before.
Are they charging for cooking/frying the food or are they charging to package it? This isn't even a delivery fee or tip! DANG!
Most of the food is being fried - so is it to just throw the food in the fryer?
I looked at the kid's meal. You get one of those main things and a few fries and a can of pop for 7.99 plus $1 prep fee.
Now mind you, I can buy a whole roasted chicken every day at WM or Sam's for a lot less than that!
4 wings - 8.99 +1.00 with a few fries!!!!! Seriously? I would still be hungry!
Now, I know things have gone up - but this is crazy to me. I do go out to eat at decent restaurants every couple months and usually don't pay these prices for a nice meal.
How do people do this? How do they feed a family?
Even so called 'fast food' is crazy expensive now.
A simple cheese nacho - is a total of $10.99. Mac n Cheese poppers are a total 5.69. A garden salad is 7.99.
I make nachos all the time - and basically it costs very little. You can get a whole lot of servings from a bag of chips. A little cheese and a couple toppings, boom - you have nachos!
Mac n cheese is so easy and cheap to make - you can even make a boxed mac for much less than a $1 - then make little balls and fry. I can buy a lot of veggies and feed many with salad for 7.99.
It just amazes me.
Every day I hear how tough times are and people can't afford this or that. Every day around here, you can drive by dozens of restaurants, and they all have full parking lots. New ones are opening all the time. Well, that speaks volumes to me. Priorities!!!!
I know not everyone will agree with me, but dang, this is crazy. I know people can spend the way they want (no nasty comments) - but I just don't understand this kind of spending.
So anyway, all that being said - have you ever seen 'prep fees' on a menu? This is a first for me. I am curious what it is for. I always thought 'daily operations' were just included in the price of my meal.
Guess that is what I get for thinking.
As for me - I prefer my home cooking 99% of the time. It is so much cheaper and fresher and it just plain tastes better. I know how it is prepared and the 'cleanliness of the cook and kitchen'!
YEP!
So that is my two cents!
Have a great day all.
I have never heard of prep fees either. That is new to me. Those prices seem very high, so why not just add the prep fees to the prices. I also noticed several spelling errors on the menu pictures. Unless their food is out of this world good, I don't see them lasting very long.
ReplyDeleteI hear that! I kind of thought the same thing. The prices are really high for this area and the location really does not reflect that. It sure was something new to me as well.
DeleteIt's new to me... and a real turnoff. I agree with you... eat at home. I recently was on a road trip, very few restaurants met our "happiness level" expectations and prices were high. I brought some foods from home but "eating out" was part of the trip and it wasn't spectacular or better than what we could have done ourselves, unfortunately. I felt more satisfied with the meals we made ourselves. Julie V
ReplyDeleteGlad I am not the only one! Then you add taxes, delivery and tip - yikes!
DeleteI am most generally more satisfied with my home meals. The taste is so much better, not to mention the frugality of it!
I've never heard of that fee either. Oh I could get on my soapbox about people who bemoan the cost of this or that but get their nails done every week etc.
ReplyDeleteSeems to be something new - I guess I could call and ask.
DeleteI hear ya - fancy nails, new tattoos and then needing help for food (I have family - so I mention)! I could get on the soapbox too. I guess we were raised to provide for your family and pay your bills - then do the play stuff!
You are so right about eating your own cooking! Never heard of prep fees. Guess we wouldn't as we very seldom eat in a restaurant or buy prepared food. I was telling Erin this morning that we would not get the good breakfast that we make in a restaurant. If you asked to have your eggs prepared the way we do, they would look at you like you were crazy and charge twice as much.
ReplyDeleteI am with you and Miss LaurieS about folks kvetching about prices but are decked out with a fresh mani-pedi. Years ago I was at the library and there was a program to feed children free meals. I have absolutely no problem with feeding children, or anyone else for that matter. However it you are irresponsible with your funds, you should not beg for necessities IMHO. One little girl's mom was dressed to the nines with an elaborate pedicure (which I noticed right away). Kinda like vices such as smoking, drinking, gambling, tattoos; set your priorities, folks. Sermon over, now I'll pass the plate...ha!
It's just at 11:00 a.m. and we had a light shower pass through. It would be nice to have another before the day is over; however, I am grateful for every drop of rain.
Enjoy your day! Good day to snuggle with a four-legged baby!
I seldom eat out as well - but this is something new. I get other ads for local delivery places and have never seen this.
DeleteYep, seems like many of us were brought up the same. Be responsible for self and family - provide first - then if anything left, do the other stuff. I just can't get past it.
It is raining softly here - has been for a good half hour or so. I bet my garden plates are loving it. By the weekend they will have grown from the rain!!!!
We are sitting here together, Bitsy is asleep and a nap sounds perfect to me too!
It looks like a way to increase prices even more in a backhanded way. If the “no tax on tips” provision passes, I’ll be eating out less and when I do eat out I’ll decrease my tip.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem to be another way to raise prices. Kind of sneaky to me - yet very out there!
DeleteNo, I've never seen such a thing as a prep fee. I agree with Barbara, it's simply a way to increase pricing. I understand their costs are higher than what we would pay for cooking a similar meal at home because they are paying for the rent/mortgage of the property, wages for their staff, and other overhead costs that have to be factored into the price we pay for the convenience.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly wouldn't appeal to me. I've really come to enjoy cooking at home, even if the meals I make are generally simple.
We're warmer again today than you! It's currently 66F at 9:30 a.m. and we'll reach the 80's later this afternoon. Crazy!
Yep, I think you guys are right. I won't be buying anything there. Home cooking is just so much better. I really enjoy those simple meals - they are generally my comfort foods!
DeleteWay warmer! Have fun and get lots of outdoor time while you can!
That's a new one on me too.
ReplyDeleteSeems to be the case for all of us!
DeleteI am right with you there. Prices are outrageous and the food seldom as good as what I can make.
ReplyDeleteThe food is NEVER as good as home in my humble opinion!
DeleteI've never heard of a "prep fee" charge -- could it be for different types of preparation, like corn meal vs. seasoned flour vs. battered??? Or for pan seared vs. deep fried??? Virtually every restaurant in my area is now charging a 3% fee to pay by credit or debit card. I did have a meal with friends recently at a nice more upscale restaurant and there was an option on their payment platform to "tip the chef" if you felt your meal was prepared especially to your liking, in addition to the regular line for tipping your server -- that could quickly add up to 30-50% of the total bill, if you were tipping multiple people (are you then expected to tip the host or hostess? the person who brings water? the busboy? the bar tender who pours the wine for the server to bring to your table -- after all, you'd tip him/her if you were sitting at the bar, no???). And, a lot of carry-out places near me now have a tip jar on the counter to leave a tip for the person that takes the order (in person or over the phone) and brings it to the counter for pick-up. To me, it's just getting out of hand. Do I tip the person at the meat counter or the clerk who rings up my order at the grocery or drug store? The guy who performs my oil change? Or, who conducts my emissions check to get my license plate renewed? It's getting to the point that everyone has their hand out, and I'm at a loss . . . If you happen to try this place, please ask about the "prep fee" and fill us in, so we can be better prepared, should those type of fees pop up in our area, too.
ReplyDelete100% AGREE!!!!!
DeleteTotally out of hand. Everyone is looking for a hand out! They aren't going to get it from me. If I go out and the tip is listed on the bill - I mark it out and leave my own tip in the amount I prefer. I also always leave a tip in cash.
I do understand that there are fees for places accepting CC, so my choice is not to use them if possible. I am a pay cash kind of person.
You can be assured I will NOT be trying this place, but I may call and ask just to settle my mind (and obviously others).
Well I’ve read bloggers in this circle who go get items from the food bank then swing by Burger King. So yeah… there’s always gonna be an audience for fast food.
ReplyDeleteSure there will be - that doesn't make things right. If you need help - by all means get help - but be careful how you spend your dollars. I haven't read those stories.
DeleteI can't tell you the last time I went to a fast-food place. First not good, then the cost is crazy.
The post was really about the 'prep fee' - trying to find out what it is.
It’s seems to be an English translation or English second language situation based on the simple typos. Regardless - I stopped giving to food banks when I learned people have fast food after a trip to one. When I don’t spend my own money on fast food given the prices.
DeleteI haven't heard of this either. I did take my brother out for breakfast recently when we were traveling together. He got a 2-egg dish and was charged an extra 50c per egg.
ReplyDeleteI think it's ridiculous to add extra fees to the price. And I suspect it will affect business. The people who won't notice are those who order a lot of meals delivered. That already costs extra with all the fees.
I have heard of the egg fees. Yes, just change your prices if necessary - don't keep adding extra fees for things. I have a couple neighbors who get a lot of those food deliveries from restaurants - I can't imagine how much it all costs.
DeleteWhat on earth is a Prep Fee? I wonder if it is kind of a tip for the cooks???? I went out for lunch with my sister-in-law today, and while it was lovely, I don't think I want to do that too often.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I have no idea either. Crazy stuff.
DeleteI go out every couple months with friends and while I have a good time, it isn't something I would want to do often. Decent food usually, but never great.
The prep fee is something I’ve not heard of either, next thing they’ll want to charge us for is the air we breathe when we go inside. 😂 we’ll continue to eat at home except maybe on special occasions but even this month we had my birthday dinner at home. The price of eating out now is more than I want to spend at this time.
ReplyDeleteSeems none of us have heard of it. They charge for everything. I understand making a living, but gee whiz!
DeleteSome people spend more on a meal, than I spend on groceries for weeks!
I have never seen prep fees, but I would guess that most of younger crowd don't look at that and even accept it. These kids haven't been taught to go the distance on their dollars. I feel bad for the economy they are in, but then again starbucks is booming, so yeah, priorities. I m ean, I am still weighing things I buy "is it worth it?". Sometimes, it is but mostly, nope. Good luck to the future generations.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn’t t totally lay in on the young people. More than ever women are working and bringing in salaries the “older” people never even saw in their homes.
DeleteI don't have an answer. So many things today don't get questioned. I like saving a buck, and don't just spend willy-nilly. But I made decent money when I worked and still wouldn't just spend it on something I didn't know what it was.
DeleteI agree - priorities is huge. Starbucks and fast food IS priority to a lot people - old and young.
I’ve never seen prep fees before either. But no prep fees on the salads? Hmmm
ReplyDeleteI know right? Makes me think, that throwing it in a fryer means 'prep'! Beats me.
DeleteThere's a reason the US household debt is now a record breaking $18 trillion.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what that has to do with this post.
DeletePeople spend more than they have = debt! Pretty simple