Restaurants brace for dreary season as consumers lose appetite for dining out

LAT ^ | 11/24/09 | Jerry Hirsch

[TigerLikesRooster]

Restaurants brace for dreary season as consumers lose appetite for dining out

The number of people visiting restaurants has plunged for four quarters in a row, according to NPD Group. Some higher-end establishments are offering discounts for holiday parties.

By Jerry Hirsch

November 24, 2009

Adele Cabot and her husband used to dine out three to four times a week, regularly spending $75 to $100 at a sushi bar sampling rainbow rolls and yellowtail nigiri sushi.

But that changed after Cabot, an adjunct professor of theater at UCLA, had to take a 6% salary cut. The couple now eat out half as much and frequent less expensive Mexican and Italian places.

"I just don't want to spend the money to eat out a lot," Cabot said.

[TigerLikesRooster]

I know I am off the main theme of the article, but I cannot help but notice this.

But that changed after Cabot, an adjunct professor of theater at UCLA, had to take a 6% salary cut.

I am 99% sure that she is a liberal.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[FormerACLUmember]

More economic fallout from the escalating Obama/Democrat Depression.

[FoxInSocks]

But that changed after Cabot, an adjunct professor of theater at UCLA, had to take a 6% salary cut. The couple now eat out half as much and frequent less expensive Mexican and Italian places.

Why don't they eat out only 6 percent less? What a hardship. Just a wild guess, but Cabot's probably worth about 10 percent of her salary.

[Nervous Tick]

>> I am 99% sure that she is a liberal.

Only 99%? Why the confusion?

Oh, I get it. Because she showed the ability to take personal responsibility and make a rational financial decision. That’s not typical lib behavior.

:-)

[Star Traveler]

Restaurants brace for dreary season as consumers lose appetite for dining out

I think their appetites are probably still in good working order. It's more like their banks accounts are not... :-)

[A_Former_Democrat]

But that changed after Cabot, an adjunct professor of theater at UCLA, had to take a 6% salary cut. The couple now eat out half as much and frequent less expensive Mexican and Italian places.

Wow, what a sacrifice. Tears.

Why not a good soup and salad bar for $10 bucks each? Naw, not an “adjunct professor of THEATER” That’s where the white trash and minorities hang out.

[Yossarian]

But the Chozen Wun pwomised he'd be better!

[TigerLikesRooster]

As another interesting side note, whenever liberal rags like LAT are looking for a man on the street to give feedback from the ground level, they use their own acquaintance, who always turns out to be another liberal.

[Grizzled Bear]

Better headline -

“Men lose interest in eating out; women hit hardest.”

[Clemenza]

As another interesting side note, whenever liberal rags like LAT are looking for a man on the street to give feedback from the ground level, they use their own acquaintance, who always turns out to be another liberal.

Because liberal J-school graduates in LA can't speak Spanish.

[SeaHawkFan]

Four choice 16 oz. rib-eyes from Costco = $26.00

One steak dinner in a restaurant = $30.00.

Can’t even go to Subway for less than about $8.00 per person.

[Marie2]

I am always amazed at how much people eat in restaurants. Do my fellow FReepers do the same?

I literally eat in a restaurant about five times a year. Half that time, I am someone’s guest.

I do get cheapie burgers more often, and coffee for a treat, if McD’s and Starbucks are considered restaurants.

[ditto h]

frequent less expensive Mexican and Italian places.

I guess if he takes another 6% salary cut he will be eating at an Irish restaurant. ( 7 course meal.... a potato and a six pack ) For those who care, I'm Irish.

[madison10]

We were going out every Sunday, sometimes more. Now it’s once a month and I’d like to cut back on that.

[GnuHere]

Isn’t a UCLA prof, lowly as she is, paid with public dollars? I’m sure taxpayers will be glad to hear she has to cut down on her sushi budget ($100 a pop, up to 4 times a week - are you kidding me?? $1600/mo sushi budget - can you say OVERPAID??) Of course we don’t know what her husband’s salary is - maybe he’s a community organizer/ACORN employee!

[MplsSteve]

I’m speaking only for myself - but I eat out about 2-4 times a week.

My tastes are pretty tame though. Nothing like the expensive sushi. I tend to eat at chain restaurants and a few local restaurants in the Twin Cities area.

I’m not a good cook and my schedule isn’t always conducive to eating a regular meal at home.

[Major Matt Mason]

Sounds like the restaurant industry needs a bailout. Obama to the rescue!

[PackerBoy]

My wife and I used to eat out 2-3 times a week. Typical bill was $25; in fact, it's our inside joke that we rarely exceed it. But in recent months, that number has dropped to once every two weeks or so.

I know many who have done the same thing. Small wonder some of the the mid-level restaurants in our area are really hurting, and several have filed for bankruptcy/reorganization. Over time, eating out several times a week will equal a big ticket purchase, and they are the first to go when the economy hits the skids.

[zerosix]

".......dine out three to four times a week, regularly spending $75 to $100 at a sushi bar sampling rainbow rolls and yellowtail nigiri sushi.:

Obviously such expensive "dining" selections as well as "chic eateries" will give-way to less pricey items and restaurants.

Not everyone will be going to Burger King or the Golden Arches, but Chinese and Italian restaurants generally did very well in less extravagant eras.

BYW - an "adjunct professor of theater" is earning way, way too much if the menu items were that costly. No wonder that educations are so "expensive," especially when they are FREE in CA.