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For many families, restaurant visits were one of the first things to go when the economy began sliding in 2007.
Now, the kids appear to be coming back.
After several years of weak traffic, this summer saw a slight year-over-year gain in the number of restaurant visits by groups that included children. That’s according to researchers at The NPD Group, which closely tracks the food service industry and other retail segments.
The 1 percent year-over-year increase in restaurant visits with kids during June, July and August isn’t much. Still, NPD says it could be a sign that business is starting to pick up for the restaurant industry.
Although childless diners may not love their pint-sized counterparts, families are an important demographic for the industry. For all of last year, NPD said groups that included kids accounted for $70 billion in sales, and 14 billion meals and snacks. That was out of a total $386 billion in sales and 59 billion restaurant visits.
Readers, are you eating out more with your kids?
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Restaurants would do better if they didn't super size. Recently went to Olive Garden. We get asked if we want an appetizer, we say no. We get our meals and all three of us have to ask for take home trays because we can't finish it all. Then of course we are asked if we want dessert. ???
Drop the prices by $2 and cut the meal sizes in half. Then I might be able to eat an appetizer and a dessert. I've also noticed that restaurants have cut back on service. Fewer staff working more tables. So you don't get the service that would make that $2 price drop acceptable. For the lack of service the price ought to go down $5. And before anyone says I'm cheap I have actually increased the size of the tip I give because I know they are over worked.
This is a big reason we don't go out very often. It's not that we can't afford to it's because we can't eat all that is placed in front of us. Yes, we can take the leftovers home but what if you are making a day of it? Shopping or a movie along with eating out? Just let the food sit in the car and spoil?
It's gotten to where you can get small portions at a fast food restaurant that tastes bad an isn't worth the money or waste food going to a nicer place because the servings are too big.
Almost nothing in between.
Now that my 3 boys are getting older, they don't want the stupid hamburger or nuggets for $5. They're asking for the adult meals for $13, plus the drink for $3, so it's too expensive to take the family out to dinner anymore. We do fast casual like Chipotle or take-out Panda Express if we want to eat for less than $40.
We've always taken our kids out - just teach them the correct table manners and other people don't mind them at all - we actually get comments about how well behaved they are. They are also very adventurous eaters - their favorite thing to go out for is sushi!
My kids are teens now, we always took them out, always (well, almost always!) got compliments on their behavior.
Yeah, we still go out as a family, the money situation didn't change how often we went out, just which restaurant we go to (Perkins instead of the nice tapas place).
And I agree with economy killer - the restaurants could drop the prices by a third or less and cut the size by half!! They would make more profit, we would eat less, and spend less!! Win-win
Unless things have changed recently the food is one of the lower expenses for a restaurant. It costs very little for the cooks to double the potatoes and cut a bigger piece of meat. For what I pay when I eat out I look forward to having another meal or two at home.
What is appalling is the size of so-called appetizers. And their price. I would often love to try one of these but they are full meals in themselves.
Options for those who want smaller meals: Order an "appetizer" for the main course. Share the entree (some restaurants will charge a small fee for the extra plate.) If there is a senior menu ask if you can order from it. Find old-fashioned restaurants that offer a full meal - does anyone remember getting a glass of juice, soup or salad, and dessert with a dinner? This probably won't work at the big chains, but try asking for smaller portions of more courses. At restaurants where they really do prepare and cook the food themselves the chef can make all sorts of adjustments for you if you go when they are not swamped with customers.
Kudos to economykiller for being nice to the wait staff. I don't often eat at places like Olive Garden but they feed me for several days. All that salad? Wonderful. And most of the main course can go home with me. But I recommend that if you don't like what you are getting at the chains you should support your local restaurants. Not every town is as fortunate as Buffalo or Chicago or even Tucson. But they all have some locally owned restaurants where you can get good food prepared just for you, not preportioned and heated.
Well, I have some steak medallions and broccolini waiting for me in the refrigerator. Courtesy of a nice little local restaurant where we shared some bruschetta for an appetizer and I got a free dessert because it was my birthday. Bon Apetit.