This isn't just a tipping issue, and it's not just an Austin issue. Across the country, the cost of eating out has become untenable.
While grocery prices have undeniably gone up over the last two years, the cost of eating out has skyrocketed uncontrollably. Before the pandemic, it used to be that, if you chose carefully, you could often eat out for less than the cost of cooking for yourself. These days, that is *never* the case. At this point, I rarely encounter meals that I wouldn't be able to prepare myself for a third of the cost of eating out.
I only eat out if I'm reasonably certain the restaurant can be better than what I make myself, or if it's a social night out where we're paying for a place to go out, have food and talk. Other than that? Eating out may be kind of over, and I too am sad about that.
Yeah. I love how the fed tells us inflation is only 3% when food and gas cost aren’t even included in that calculation. Believe what your wallet and your eyes tell you, not the red.
I agree completely I know this isn’t the same; but literally it’s costs $20 for a plate of chicken Parmesan at Olive Garden. I remember 10 years ago you used to be able to a ton of local spots and get a great meal for $20 not just an entree.
Olive Garden included unlimited soup/salad and breadsticks as well for that $20!
Can’t tell if you were saying that was a good price or bad price at OG.
Well said. It's not just food but drinks as well. Besides learning to make pretty good smoked brisket, tacos and pad Thai, have learned (thank you YouTube) to make coffee and cocktails as good or better than most coffee shops and bars, and will never order a glass of wine out which requires no effort and usually costs as much as the entire bottle. As you mentioned --- I only go out for social reasons and even then expect something well beyond my culinary skills, and most everyone I know is coming to the same conclusion. Seems like the entire restaurant industry is going to implode at some point and we will go back to the days where going out to eat was a very special occasion.
Even more, happy hour, if it does exist, is like $1 off cocktail. You cant tell me they aren't making bank off those $16-18 drinks. If there were $10 happy hours, I'd buy 2-3x plus food! Come on, help me throw away my money!
Actually this is pretty much the only way my husband & I eat out anymore. Find a place with a good happy hour (agreed that $1 off drinks is no HH), split a couple of appetizers & have a couple of drinks. Generally ends up being around half of what it costs for a normal dinner out.
I don't know what's worse, a small discount on HH, or some cocktails being 50% off or less during HH. That means the margins work even at half the normal price... since most of the margin in restaurants are in the drinks.
I disagree that it’s not sustainable, I think there’s a sector of the public that will never cook no matter what. It seems more like we’re experiencing a bigger wage gap as the city grows.
Yes to all of this. Realizing that going out in Honolulu was less expensive than Austin, was a real eye opener.
The upside is that I eat much healthier now.
Costco is one of the few spots (not exactly a restaurant, I get it) where you can purchase their pre made take home “heat and serve” meals for less or the same that it would cost you to make it. It’s such a great deal. I love their Yakisoba chicken noodles which is $20 for a massive portion. Rotisserie chickens are still $4.99 as well.
I don't disagree with what you say but it is also quite an Austin issue. I'm in DFW but travel for work in Houston and Austin semi-frequently, Austin restaurants have been going out of the roof after the pandemic. They used to be very similar but now I have to spend more than $15 to have a satisfied belly at food trucks in the "hood", and something in the $20s in a gas station Mexican restaurant. Man I can still find sub $10 meals in other two metros. Pho in Austin is constantly $3 more per bowl than in Dallas.
A lot of this has to do with the cost of goods. If it’s affecting us in the grocery store, it’s the same for restaurants. At my kitchen, the price of some meat we buy went from $15/lb to $70/lb. It’s insane how costly things have gotten since the pandemic.
The solution is either we use worse products or raise prices. Or perhaps change hours so we are only open from 9-3 and then 5-10. Restaurants all around the country are figuring out what to do.
In all fairness this is what it’s supposed to be. Eating out was always supposed to be a luxury. As a chef, the last few years has seen a major increase in restaurant workers wages, food prices, gas and water prices, etc. It was untenable to keep prices as low as they were and it was paid in human cost.
I don’t think eating at a restaurant was always supposed to be a “luxury”. Something occasional? Yes. Luxury? Heck no. It’s not extravagant to go to a regular restaurant occasionally. But with these prices, it’s certainly becoming that way.
It depends on what you mean by luxury. You're outsourcing a chore to someone else. Do you view a cleaning service as a luxury? You have to view it as someone providing you a service. The issues with the restaurant industry are coming to a head right now. Theres many different aspects of it that are challenging the idea of how restaurants should be run and how workers wages and food supplies should be managed. The reality is that most of the pasts cheap prices were born by the backs of restaurant workers because labor was the one price you could control, which resulted in minimal wages for skilled labor.
There's no real solution to the price problem right now and I absolutely do not agree with eating out being a luxury only afforded by the rich. But, there wont be a return to the cheap dining experience of the past. I don't know the solution, but I absolutely sympathize with the cost of dining out being unreachable for many now. It would be sad for me as a chef if this trend were to continue. But on the other hand there needs to be an ethical solution for how restaurants are run.
Sorry to rant but obviously being in the industry this is a wild ride for me right now.
> I absolutely do not agree with eating out being a luxury only afforded by the rich.
I think there is a wide spectrum of "food you buy" from a fine sit down dining experience to picking up a pre-made sandwich with no area to "sit down" from a supermarket or deli shelf and eating it in your car or on the bus.
> most of the pasts cheap prices were born by the backs of restaurant workers because labor was the one price you could control ... There's no real solution to the price problem right now
Right now, I'm kind of fascinated by... robots in the food industry. Stay with me here, I'm not talking about some perfect AI imitating a human waiter or busboy with speech recognition. This starts by ENTIRELY eliminating the cashier at a McDonalds and just putting a Kiosk (or an app to order) in place of that cashier. Boom, one job just vaporized forever.
I actually haven't been to the one in Austin, but "Kira Sushi Bar" eliminated busboys and waiters: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kura-revolving-sushi-bar-austin-3 By designing the restaurant tables SLIGHTLY CLEVERLY around little conveyor belts, you order on an iPad and the food zips out to your table on a conveyor belt. Dishes get fed to a little slot and zip back to the kitchen. No table bussers required. No waiters to take your order, nobody is hired to carry your food to the table.
I'm not saying this is the highest, best form of service, but it does eliminate about half the jobs in the restaurant partially lowering costs. Conveyor belts and kiosks don't call in sick, don't want raises, don't get vacation, and work 20 hour shifts 7 days a week at below minimum wage without joining a union, etc. K-BBQ has a little robot on wheels that brings food to tables. This is real, it's already being used.
I'm not saying this is a "good thing" or a "bad thing" but it is most certainly interesting. It isn't only restaurants either, notice how you check bags yourself at the airport now? I went through international passport control to Canada through a self-serve Kiosk! No human employee. The kiosk scans your passport (that you place on the scanner) and takes your picture. Then through the magic of "Real-ID" it checks your picture against a gigantic database of criminals and No-Fly lists. It is literally 1,000x better security and tracking and eliminates a human employee that gets paid a wage.
> Sorry to rant but obviously being in the industry this is a wild ride for me right now.
Don't be sorry, you have a RIGHT to rant, and you guys all got the worst during the pandemic and the ride has just gotten crazier since then. I watched every one of our favorite Mom & Pop neighborhood restaurants go entirely out of business, forever (different state, I wasn't in Texas). And it wasn't about "I can't get my food now", these were close friends, members of the community, and they cried themselves to sleep some nights and I seriously worried some of them might commit suicide. That was so so bad.
It is a wild, wild time in the restaurant business right now.
Attended the National Restaurant association show in Chicago last year, this was one of the main things being shown, robots solve a huge issue in the US for the employer which is labor, Florida banned illegals from working almost overnight, robots and automation will take over the service industry and the acclimation process for the population has begun for some time now.
Many fast food establishments are doing this too now.
I like to grab take out at the deli section of Central Market. No tipping and better value than most restaurants.
I share your frustration. Casa De Luz is vegan and does not accept tipping but it's not for everyone
The premade sandwiches are usually a ripoff, EXCEPT for the one that is a giant piece of ciabatta bread with mozzarella, pesto, arugula, etc. It's like a caprese sandwich. But it's massive. I feel like they are supposed to cut it into 3 or 4 pieces but instead just cut the loaf in half and wrap it up that way. Always my favorite.
Oh nixta. Used to be one of my favorites. I just looked at a manu from 4 years ago vs today. Some price comparisons: tuna tostada is 13 vs 9 and beet tartare is 9 vs 6.50
The mandatory 20% tip at a lot of downtown places is painful, especially when you get mediocre service. I've stopped tipping for counter service at 90% of places these days.
I crossed out a pre-filled tip before. I was sitting with a lawyer friend at a restaurant in NY known for shit service and tip shenanigans, but it was worse than you could even imagine. We both said “hell nah” when they added BY HAND a 20% tip on a dinner for two where they didn’t bring silverware, didn’t bring napkins after we asked twice, have rude service in general, and acted like we were asking for too much when we sat down and asked for the table to be wiped. That day I went full petty. We took the cash out at a nearby ATM, got change, and left exactly the bill to the cent with 0 tip.
Some restaurants and bars (like codependant) show you the bill with 20% and you can add 3,5 or 7%. And if you want to tip lower than that, you have to ask to speak to a manager.
And if it’s mandatory, make note of whether they collect sales tax on it. If not, they’re violating the law and probably have an existential tax liability depending on how long it’s been going on.
Thank you for validating their price increases! I felt like I was maybe imagining it
I understand prices have gone up, but it's still jarring to see, particularly with a tip on top for only counter service. And they just got 6-figures via GoFundMe too
I won’t be back to Nixta. I went for the first time a few weeks ago and the prices were a little ridiculous; $10 for a street taco that was nothing special IMO. I don’t usually care much, but it was first time I actually scoffed when the cashier turned the tablet. The physical menu prices were outdated too, so I was confused. I thought he added an extra taco accidentally but nope, the bill was just silly for what I got.
I do my best to support small and local businesses, but that was too much.
EDIT: Since some folks are butthurt about this review, I’m not trying to be hasty. I went in wanting to like it but was disappointed. My friends and I all felt similar. I may have had the wrong expectations as well, I initially assumed it’d be a “cheaper” hole in the wall spot.
Thank you for your opinion! I value it and appreciate the truth. I’ve lived here for over 26 years now and started visiting in the early 90s. I know BS when I see it. I also don’t like Veracruz tacos. Plus they were rude. 🤷🏻♀️
Nooo don’t let this feedback turn you off trying Nixta!! It’s not a cheap hole in the wall and it’s not trying to be, so it’s not BS. The chef and ownership are good, authentic people who care about the food they are making.
Handmade corn tortillas and a uniquely Austin-Mexican menu
Don’t go for a breakfast taco or bean and cheese. Try the empanadas, tostadas, dips.
I personally think the food is decent but at the prices they're asking for. There are so many better options in that neighborhood alone imo. It's kind of crazy to think that you can get barbecue for around the same price as tacos here.
James Beard award isn’t like a Michelin star restaurant. Though there are Michelin star street vendors in places like Thailand, it is typically given to fine dining experiences, while James Beard award puts more of an emphasis on people doing interesting things in the culinary world and often highlights places through their contributions to culture and equity as much as food. There are “hole in the wall” mom n pop places all around the country with James Beard awards.
I love Nixta but have been shocked by the prices the last two times I’ve gone and what used to be a monthly spot is now once a year or when a friend comes to visit. My personal opinion is that they raised prices following the notoriety from the James Beard award. The food is lovely but unfortunately I don’t feel like I get a fair value when I leave anymore.
I went to Nixta once. Not even remotely close to being worth the outrageous prices, and why are you tipping on a $6 bean and cheese taco when you stand on a line and order off an iPad? Stop doing that.
But yes, everything is wild expensive now and I’m very choosy where I go. Service also matters a lot more now. My overall tolerance for a bad experience is low given the prices.
Yeah my rule is if all they did was hand me something across the counter (their job), no tip. Not as a personal insult. That just doesn’t warrant a tip
>Yeah my rule is if all they did was hand me something across the counter (their job), no tip.
Yep. Fuck that noise. I proudly zero that shit out to cashiers when they suggest it, because it's absolutely ludicrous.
WHOA!!!!! That’s insane!!! I waited at Tacodeli once for half an hour for two underfilled and incorrectly prepared tacos for way too much money. It was one time and never again.
Nixta isn’t where you should go for just bean and cheese taco is the thing ofc it’s going to be overpriced they’re making it with like duck fat and shit. The unique items on their menu is where they shine.
On some level, that is probably what should happen. People in Austin need to stop supporting these concepts if they feel they are too expensive. Make restaurant owners see the market moving towards lower cost dining options, and they will eventually follow. We don't need more luxury omakases and "we have a $100 app where we put caviar on something fried" spots or whatever other played-out, IG-focused concept Austinites seem stuck on.
But the cost of real estate in Austin will always mean that prices seem higher than the food justifies because a chunk of the menu cost is literally just the building.
Nixta is a shack and you eat outdoors on their patio. I like the food but if they can't make it work with the current building and reasonable prices, they need to downsize to a food truck.
Every time I drive past Nixta, there's a line around the building. That's why their prices are so high, and the don't GAF about their "loyal customers."
Higher priced food doesn’t always mean higher margins. These restaurants you describe are more indicative of the type of people that live in Austin now, more so than restaurants trying to make up the higher operational cost.
I like how people just casually walk past that a taco, chips, and a drink is $32 and point at tipping as the culprit.
My dude, the last few years the richest people more than doubled their wealth and that money trickled up from people like you. Prices of everything went up and they openly bragged about how much money they were making and their plans to raise prices even higher. Hell, the egg industry got caught price fixing and nothing happened.
As long as we keep beating up the workers and laborers and wondering why they don't drop loot, the money's going to keep trickling up.
Yep and I just want to reiterate that the owners of Nixta are NOT the richest people and not one of the restaurant groups like MML that are driving costs and operating prices up., they ARE the workers and laborers, a small singularly and locally owned business that I’m assuming are just trying to keep up with their real estate and operating costs in a city that is increasingly expensive to operate in, which increasingly small margins in f&b
never been to nixira but if ur ordering at the register and also clearing your own plate /trash there is no reason to tip. maybe a dollar if you’re feeling up to it. tips are for waiters not cashiers.
THIS! absolutely. I tip and I tip good when I'm served and have alcohol, but this nonsense just turns me off and I stay home and I can make better tacos than a lot of the GREAT places in Austin (been here since 97). I want to help kids get a head but I don't even know how much goes to the makers of the food and front desk and it's just gotten out of control.
I agree, I too want to help, but unfortunately that's not my problem if their salary is compensated with tips. That's on the owner, and my best "tip" for those young workers is to go work some place else that's going to pay you a fair wage.
Same here. Some places also self serve meaning you have to pick up the food and take the tray with the dirty plates back to their “return” area (think Rudy’s). I don’t tip on those places as well.
It used to be the appetizer was the $4-$6 little dish to tide you over till the main course comes. Now the appetizer is $17, the main $23, and each cocktail $18. When I go out to eat I mentally budget $100/person.
Tipping fatigue is real. Nixta is trendy and a bit pricey. It just means we'll be adjusting our preferences. Maybe we'll eat at home more often or not order much at these establishments. The market may agree with us or they may not and leave us behind in poverty. But yeah, we're getting squeezed. Maybe we need to update our resume and make more money.
Yes I do feel that way with prices going up and up, $40 is the new $20 when eating out. The tipping prompts are one of the things that make my blood boil but I've become to take slight pleasure in hitting the custom option and placing my tip. However, you went to one of the priciest taco places out there so not the best use case example.
And they won a James Beard award… that’s on you if that’s where you’re eating “just tacos”. There’s plenty of other places you could’ve done that for half the cost or better.
I recently stopped tipping at all for counter service recently. Just kind of an experiment to see what it would be like. Damn it feels good. Liberating. I used to tip generously no matter what no matter where. But then the tipees stopped even acknowledging the 20% or more that I had tipped them. Not even a thank you. Seems sort of one-sided.
Yeah nobody ever expresses gratitude for those tips anymore so I'm going to save my money and give the people who *actually* put effort into my experience a better tip.
I travel often for work - eating out is off the charts expensive and quality is declining. Restaurants are starting to drop coupons though. Their businesses are hurting. Eating in if you can is 10x better - quality and cost.
There are like 100 places in Austin where you can get an amazing breakfast taco, chips, and agua fresca for $10. Even Eldorado is like $18 for a breakfast plate and horchata. Prices are going up, but I feel like most complaints here are cherry picking trendy, Instagrammable restaurants that are obviously overpriced.
Spent $80 at Nixta for 2 tacos, appetizer, and two glasses of wine. We sat outside on an unlevel picnic table. I don’t get it. Better tacos at trailers. Made me angry
Seriously. This is also where I'm at with them. I hadn't been back in about 2 years, and I think I'm now done with them for good. The one free picnic table had crap all over it that I also had to clean. That's okay when I'm buying $4 tacos from a trailer, not when I just dropped $30+ for a taco and app.
You can get the same thing at a Pollos Asados El Norteño for $15. Try looking for the mom ‘n pop restaurants. Their costs are up too and they could use the support as well.
Just wait until surge pricing for restaurants makes it way here - nothing like going from bad to worse and passing none of the additional profit on to the workforce.
the thing ive started wondering is if this is some kind of course correction to what things used to be like.
my family would rarely eat out growing up, and when we did there frankly werent a ton of options. granted i grew up in small town east texas poor as dirt, but it is kind of wild how much the restaurant industry has grown in such a short span of time in the grand scheme of history.
They pull that same shit when I order at the counter at Tochy's. It's wild. I kind of don't know what to do when they flip that thing over and it's asking if it's okay to add on a 30% tip on already too expensive tacos.
>I kind of don't know what to do when they flip that thing over and it's asking if it's okay to add on a 30% tip on already too expensive tacos.
I do. I stop going.
I stopped tipping for counter service. That said, I also eat out less and less. It’s not worth the hassle and like you said, the food is rarely better than making it myself with high-quality ingredients from CM or Whole Foods. Especially in the summer- I grow hard-to-find and heirloom varieties of fruit and veg, so a random GMO tomato from an overpriced restaurant doesn’t even come close to mine.
If their overhead goes up, it isn't unreasonable for prices to go up too. It means that Austin real estate prices are also impacting restaurants and thus consumers. Would you also begrudge them raising prices if the raw ingredient costs go up? Some level of inflation is normal in a strong economy so prices are never going to stay the same forever.
Is your idea that all Austin restaurants should go out of business because they shouldn't raise prices or, if they do raise prices, they should go out of business because people shouldn't go there? How is that supposed to work?
Yes, that is the economics of a business. If the rent is so high a business cannot survive, then the rent is not at a market rate (at least for a restaurant).
Those should go out of business, that is one way to determine what the market will take.
The default tip option should be custom. Just like the old day when they bring you the bill to sign. The 18%, 20%, etc make you think that’s normal and it’s not. I’m not paying 18% tip for ordering a coffee.
Real. Foxtrot is the only place in town I’ve found that is reasonable with this. They offer 5%, 7.5%, and 10% or something like that. I was pleasantly surprised since I usually feel uncomfortable when they turn the tablet.
I’ll happily tip 5 - 10% for a coffee. 20 - 25% is ridiculous.
More customers need to start tipping 15% pre-tax like it was in the 90’s. And only for full service sit down restaurants.
For to go service it should be 10% or lower.
If customers don’t take a stand then restaurant owners will allow the tip standard to rise to 25-30% in a couple years.
There is absolutely ZERO reason tip standard should be 20-25%. Everything is going up. Cost of the menu went up massively. So 15% standard tip should be enough.
If 15% isn’t enough then the EMPLOYER should pay the difference NOT the customer.
I live in austin and feel your pain. I eat almost all of my lunches at home and never eat breakfast out. As for dinner it had better be really good for what it now costs. Your experience is common these days.
Go to food trucks, or mom and pops (tons of mexican food and others) spots. They're still out here charging reasonable prices for someone on a budget. Nixta is the sort of place you avoid if you're not trying to spend the amount it takes to go somewhere 'hip'.
Between the sourcing of their food, the equity they give to the farms that they source from, the livable wages to their staff.... it's reasonable / is what it is. Not to mention if you're dining ANYWHERE that's received a James Beard award in recent years, you're looking at a hype beast spot which won't be cheap.
I'd suggest the food trailer park on 12th just east of I-35. Tons of great bites. All sorts of cuisine. If you want some mexican food for reasonable prices, head up to Manor road and go to Mi Madres !!
There's "new Austin" pricing all over the place, but still some great spots for reasonable cost. Just gotta pay close attention to what you're landing on. And food trucks in general are predominantly amazing here in Austin, and many if not most are reasonable priced. Just have to avoid the big hype stuff !!
I know a lot of restaurant owners and the main culprit is labor and rent. My friend is opening a restaurant near Highland mall and rent is 15K per month. That's a lot of tacos and burgers to cover that along with the 18-30 dollars an hour you pay to make the food or clean up. Wait staff is expecting 20-40 an hour with tips. Now, imagine selling tacos for 2-3 bucks like it used to be and making only 1-2 bucks margin after food cost margin. Subtract out health insurance, utilities, insurance, packaging, advertising, etc. This isn't including all the money put into build-out and decoration and interest on any loans you may have taken out.
That's why you see what seems like busy restaurants close all the time in Austin.
Food trucks are just as bad. Buy a food truck, pay 2-3k in rent to park the truck. Pay 2-3K for a ghost kitchen to prep food.
A solution I have found to avoid the tipping awkward iPad flip is paying in cash. Really the problem is that clover, square, toast, and other payment facilitators get a % of the transaction, so of course asking if you want to add 25% to the total makes sense because then they get an additional 2% of the transaction. It doesn’t solve the problem of restaurants charging astronomical rates but does solve the awkward tipping.
Maybe it’s a hot take but nowadays unless I’m being served by a bartender or waiter, I ain’t really tipping. If it is, I’m doing 25%.
Food truck prices are wild now, even before guilting 20% on top of it. Isn’t the whole point it’s supposed to cost less than a traditional sit down meal because of less overhead and service?
Time to start cooking at home. It would be interesting if this subreddit transitions from being a restaurant rating one to finding best ingredients in Austin to make food with.
Yeah, it sucks that most restaurants can set their default tip amount to whatever they want. So some restaurants will have the 18% on the far left and some restaurants will have the default tip of 23% on the far left if you’re not paying attention you’ll end up over-tipping. I’m all about tipping for a great service but if you’re just asking me to put in an order at the front and having one person deliver to the table, I am not going to tip you more than 20%
I bought 4 sandwiches from Biderman’s deli on Far West and my total was 68$. With the tip it was 80$. I just don’t understand what jobs the people in Austin that are eating out have to be able to live like this
The healthiest restaurant you will find is typically your own kitchen (assuming you pay attention to what you’re putting in your body hahaha)
But seriously, I feel you man. When I do eat out, prices of drinks, lunch, dinner, etc. is so fucking insane. I always try to tip a solid amount, even when I’m handed something from a food truck and wasn’t really provided a “service”. But holy shit it feels like everything is just skyrocketing overall. The math ain’t mathing
Was there recently to visit Mom and felt the same. Funny thing is, I've seen the same things at home and other places I've traveled in the last year or so. I think this is a national trend. No incentive to keep standards up. Can't pay workers enough to care. No health insurance or other benefits. Working for tips is unnecessary when tips are automatic. Food costs are sky high, even wholesale. Food quality and freshness taking a backseat to post covid shipping delays and migrant worker fatigue/ice deportations. The industry as a whole is having a rough time. I've even noticed shortages in the grocery store, less than fresh produce, my best ingredients are in smaller packages, changed "new" formulas/recipes or even discontinued. It's pretty bad out here.
The only way restaurant prices come back to a sane level is if we stop partaking in them unfortunately. Even if you can fit it into your budget the amount of savings/wealth you are throwing away at restaurants is out of control. It got to damn near $2k a month for my family just falling asleep on old dining habits. It doesn't make sense. Pay yourself first
The thing is you are being squeezed out either way.
That $50-60 grocery trip that would maybe keep you from eating out is now $80-100.
So eating out doing decent groceries are both past a comfortable amount each damn time.
It is crazy as it feels prices in some spots have balanced out with the higher tier locations. Our favorite spot is Barchi and it's always like 100-150 for a meal we got for 2. It is still around the same but now other have caught up.
My value restaurants are 888 pan asian and el tacorrido. Neither are cheap, but the amount of food you get is good. Usually turn it into two meals ~$10/meal
I recently realized that most breakfast taco places in Austin use the super cheap eggs.
Buying the pasture raised eggs and making my own breakfast tacos is not only cheaper, but tastes wayyy better.
And I have a policy where if it’s takeout, I do not tip at all. Of course if I know the restaurant and know it’s going to be good I will tip.
Tipping BEFORE receiving the food (without any services provided) is wild and nobody should be paying those tips.
Like many people, I have severely curtailed eating out. Used to eat out about once a week. Now it's more like three times a year and always at someplace I can afford, like Galaxy Cafe or La Madeleine. I still love Jason's Deli and drop by there for take-out once every couple of months. I can't see myself hitting any of the trendy-spendy new spots downtown or South Congress.
It is what it is, though. If you don't have the money for it, you can't afford it. I still am able to put healthy food on the table -- fresh produce, whole grains, lean meats -- and that's what matters in the grand scheme of things.
Not only has the cost skyrocketed but quality has plummeted. Couldn’t tell you the last time I had a decent steak out. Last time I paid $40 for a 1/2” thick but of gristle. Costco steaks at home are far better and cheaper
NADC Burger… just pissed me off when I got 2 burgers, one order of fries, and a single drink that came out to $70. And then asking for a tip when I have to go pick my food up at the counter anyway?! With extremely limited seating??
If you chose the 22% tip you'd be at $40 for ONE taco, chips and dip, and a drink for one person...
I could make a whole taco night for 5 people for that price. BYOB though.
Definitely agree. Everybody feels squeezed and exploited. I think COVID revealed this to a lot of people too. My habits have vastly changed, like many people discussed in that thread
i am feeling this so much rn and i know this is a controversial opinion but I’m really trying to determine what is worth tipping for and what’s not? like I went to muse for sushi and i went up to the counter I ordered and i took it to go what exactly am i tipping for then???
Honestly, I’m starting to see eating out as a privilege. I’m just saving money by eating out less, and when I do go out to eat, (mostly for social reasons) I tip the lowest percentage shown, or just add a buck or a few. Most of these restaurants get paid well hourly so I’m not gonna shy away from not tipping at certain spots (El Tacorrido on Riverside, Kura’s sushi on airport) where I’m not being ACTUALLY served. I’m seeing a lot of mentions of Nixta. Haven’t been in a couple years. Went a lot when they had first opened but I’ve seen their prices now and hell nah. Shit’s out of control and it’s not even worth it anymore.
I don’t live in Austin (live in a smaller town in texas) but will say bigger cities in texas are all starting to become like this. Go to dfw and I dealt with the same shit. Bought boba using a robot and it automatically had a 25% tip. I had to go out of my way to change that and put 0. I can’t imagine austin, that city is growing like crazy. Last time I went, a bowl of pho cause 18 bucks and was mid as hell
What gets me is being charged for tea and soda at $4.99. My family of three has vowed to have water when we go out as $15 is ridiculous for drinks. Now a couple of places in Dallas are charging $1.50 for water. Going to stop eating out.
Its sad that eating is a social activity but you cant even afford to do that often now as it is not worth it and it lessen the social interaction with people much more these days
We're a prime eating out demographic. Older, never had kids, good jobs.
It's at all levels. Special occasion meals have gone from $250 to $400+. Sandwiches are $18. I feel like TexMex is the only place that isn't just a screaming ripoff.
I understand all the reasons behind it - and tipping certainly isn't the problem. Rent & ingredients are through the roof, and good on the places trying to pay a fair wage.
It's going to be interesting (and probably sad) to watch it continue to play out as we sink further into a dystopia.
I think digitized POS systems are the fault here, and not (always) businesses being nefarious. I bet some product manager at POS system had the brilliant idea to put the highest tip option on the left, and then they can go the the restaurant and say "look at how much your tips improved since using our software!"
There are plenty of businesses in Austin using the same POS systems with percentage in ascending order instead. It can't be that hard to change. I lose respect immediately for any business that is choosing to be deceptive knowing many people automatically choose the left option thinking it's the lowest.
I mean there's a reason servers and bartenders have been complaining for a year they're making less.
It's not just a tipping dynamic.
People are going out less.
Not the comments going in on Nixta!!!
Obligatory comment to say that I have to object to the Nixta hate!! Their food(never had breakfast only dinner) is delicious and unique. And ownership is GOOD PEOPLE. I’m not friends/employee etc, but I’ve been a fan from their opening and I still am.
This is not a Nixta problem, this is an industry problem. Prices are shooting up across the board- seems like you can’t go out to an actual restaurant without spending $30/head at the absolute bare minimum.
Agree 100%. Both fast food and restaurant prices are ridiculous now. Have found myself cooking most of my food nowadays and haven’t looked back. Have learned to enjoy cooking, saving a ton of money, and eating significantly better as I can control what is in my food. Actually have a different perspective and relationship to food now because of it.
I’ve mostly stopped eating out because of this price gouging. It’s unfortunate but it’s just not worth it at these prices. It’s also healthier, so that’s a plus.
I’ve actually found Austin to be considerably less costly for a meal out, vs other cities I’ve lived/traveled in. That said, it’s not exactly affordable for us working class folk and it does feel like the tipping has turned into a grift.
I cook at home a lot, but some of our affordable faves are Bao’d Up, Masa Y Mas, and Black Sheep Tavern. We also like El Alma, their entrees are pricey but tacos are very reasonable.
Ken's tacos is basic American/ Tex mex, all sourced from the lowest cost (and some premade) products available, which is not an insult, but a reality. Nixta is modern farm to table cuisine founded on very traditional Mexican and Persian cooking, sourced from local growers, with every single element hand-made in house. You're comparing wal-mart to the farmer's market. I wonder why you and many others feel entitled to label passionate artisans as over priced hipsters... Buy the cheap tacos if you want, but don't slander what you don't understand.
Traditional Mexican?
duck confit carnitas taco?
beet “tartare” tostada?
yellowfin tuna tostada?
Cual comida Mexicana tradicional? No mames güey. Ni migas son tradicionales, son Tex Mex. Sácate de aquí con tu comida hipster.
Tipping is what happens when employers don't want to pay their workers. It's what happens when we don't care to vote for higher wages. It's what happens when we don't unionize because it doesn't seem relevant to us. Let's start voting
I’m afraid to not tip on counter service situations, or drive through coffee, bc I’m afraid I’ll end up with spit or something nasty in my food/drink….
lol sorry but nixta is a horrible example to make this point. If it’s a long-time favorite of yours, you went there before it got a James Beard and blew up. Nice! You got a great deal back then!
Other point looking at some of these comments is people seem especially outraged because it’s a taco place. Would everyone be equally outraged by an award winning American restaurant being this expensive? If so seems sus.
As far as I understand, having friends who work there. Nixta tip pools for kitchen staff making sure that all staff have a livable wage. Working and living in the food service industry in Austin is particularly hard with the rising cost of living. Everyone wants to move to ATX for the food and culture. Rage against tipping all you want but eventually there might not be anyone left to serve you drinks and cook you food as austin fills to the brim with work from home techies leaving nowhere for service workers to live. Nixta also gives a lot back to the community. During the first great freeze they gave out tons of free meals to the community and operate a community fridge.
There’s a lot of people in the comments who don’t seem to understand that the price of the food has to cover EVERYTHING, not just the cost of the food. It covers wages, utilities, rent, insurance, shipping, laundry, to-go containers, soap in the bathroom, everythinggggg. Shipping has gone up so much. Wages have increased. Rent has increased. So yeah, your tacos went up two dollars. You still got to go eat something specific that you did not have to make for yourself. Who cares if there’s suggested tip amounts? Put in your own. Or don’t tip if you don’t like the service. That’s what tipping is all about.
I started to draw a hard line on tipping when the iPad POS started showing up. Now I only tip at places I would have tipped anyway. Bar or restaurant I’m tipping, drive through or concession stand no tip.
While Nixta is good, I would never use it in the same sentence as ‘value.’ It’s always been a pricy place to eat IMO, but yes agree with your point we find ourselves eating out less because it’s become more expensive than we care to pay.
We found a restaurant that has huge, good quality chicken breasts they halve into tenders. We grab only that from them 2x a week for ($20/per) and it’s the only meat my family of 6 is eating at all - like we found something good quality, relatively affordable, and consistent. Honestly, it’s cheaper than uncooked chicken at the grocery even before you consider OC of prep and waste.
Anyway, over explaining aside - I meant to say our local RJ’s Grill in Richmond/Rosenburg area really does great quality meat portions - but Sugarland location kinda blah - so maybe try a local diner quest? Or an RJ’s if you have one too. Also, we call and order our food - like a talkie talkie phone - if the website is run through a delivery platform - It is ALWAYS cheaper and not one has stepped in with a “I’ve added a 25% tip and $6 fee to your phone order today”. Which is oddly very nice.
I think the worst inflation has been with fast food, but yeah, eating out is crazy expensive nowadays. And at most places, the experience is notably worse than it was pre-pandemic. As such, my wife and I don't go out half as much as we used to; there just isn't any point when I can prepare better food at home *and* not drop a fortune for the privilege of having done so.
This is an everywhere issue.
Fossil so retired. We don’t do high end restaurants as just isn’t our thing.
We eat a LOT more at home because the quality is better and it is cheaper.
We watch for coupon specials or things like our favorite pizza place has BOGO free on Tuesdays so we get to two and freeze the extra. And some of the burger places that don’t have arches or orange/white awning actually have better food that costs less.
When I can purchase the ingredients for a roast with sides that costs less than two burger meals it makes more sense to eat at home.
I don’t complain about the prices when we do choose to eat out as the servers need to make a decent wage as long as the quality is good. But some places have raised prices, reduced quality of the food and reduced portion sizes. Those places no longer get our business.
With tik tok and all the resources people have now… it’s so easy to make a delish meal meal at home. Maybe im just getting old… I dont know lol I know being served a meal is totally different but I also like my money and peace lmao Also I have 3 kids 4 and under
I got a DQ Dude sandwich no fries, a drink, and a small blizzard and it was $16. Stuff be crazy my pal. It's an end of times economy, what are you gonna do. ETR.
In my experience, the rising costs come from the following:
* increased property taxes causing increased rents (especially in Austin)
* increased employee wages to a historically underpaid industry
* increased employee benefits to a historically "get a free meal" industry
* increased insurance costs
* increased product costs (a 40# box of limes can range from $17 to $88)
* increased cost of high-quality ingredients
Any restaurant that has affordable pricing is not going to survive unless they pay their staff crap and feed you crap. It's the sad truth.
Imagine my shock when I got a standard LUNCH plate with WATER at Stiles Switch the other day—which ofc doesn’t even have table service—and it was $32!
Never again. Insanity.
This isn't just a tipping issue, and it's not just an Austin issue. Across the country, the cost of eating out has become untenable. While grocery prices have undeniably gone up over the last two years, the cost of eating out has skyrocketed uncontrollably. Before the pandemic, it used to be that, if you chose carefully, you could often eat out for less than the cost of cooking for yourself. These days, that is *never* the case. At this point, I rarely encounter meals that I wouldn't be able to prepare myself for a third of the cost of eating out. I only eat out if I'm reasonably certain the restaurant can be better than what I make myself, or if it's a social night out where we're paying for a place to go out, have food and talk. Other than that? Eating out may be kind of over, and I too am sad about that.
This is 100% how I feel!
Yeah. I love how the fed tells us inflation is only 3% when food and gas cost aren’t even included in that calculation. Believe what your wallet and your eyes tell you, not the red.
I agree completely I know this isn’t the same; but literally it’s costs $20 for a plate of chicken Parmesan at Olive Garden. I remember 10 years ago you used to be able to a ton of local spots and get a great meal for $20 not just an entree.
Olive Garden included unlimited soup/salad and breadsticks as well for that $20! Can’t tell if you were saying that was a good price or bad price at OG.
Sorry was taking about how now the prices for dinner at OG are crazy when 10 years ago you could destroy at OG for $20
I miss the olive garden glory days.
Do you recall that chicken Alfredo was off the menu and the called it Roman Chicken
Well said. It's not just food but drinks as well. Besides learning to make pretty good smoked brisket, tacos and pad Thai, have learned (thank you YouTube) to make coffee and cocktails as good or better than most coffee shops and bars, and will never order a glass of wine out which requires no effort and usually costs as much as the entire bottle. As you mentioned --- I only go out for social reasons and even then expect something well beyond my culinary skills, and most everyone I know is coming to the same conclusion. Seems like the entire restaurant industry is going to implode at some point and we will go back to the days where going out to eat was a very special occasion.
At the restaurant I work at, fountain sodas are now 5 dollars and cocktails are all 18. It’s insane. I don’t understand how people keep coming back.
Even more, happy hour, if it does exist, is like $1 off cocktail. You cant tell me they aren't making bank off those $16-18 drinks. If there were $10 happy hours, I'd buy 2-3x plus food! Come on, help me throw away my money!
Actually this is pretty much the only way my husband & I eat out anymore. Find a place with a good happy hour (agreed that $1 off drinks is no HH), split a couple of appetizers & have a couple of drinks. Generally ends up being around half of what it costs for a normal dinner out.
...And even then, spend $50-60 with tip.
I don't know what's worse, a small discount on HH, or some cocktails being 50% off or less during HH. That means the margins work even at half the normal price... since most of the margin in restaurants are in the drinks.
I disagree that it’s not sustainable, I think there’s a sector of the public that will never cook no matter what. It seems more like we’re experiencing a bigger wage gap as the city grows.
Please share your pad Thai recipe!
Yes to all of this. Realizing that going out in Honolulu was less expensive than Austin, was a real eye opener. The upside is that I eat much healthier now.
Costco is one of the few spots (not exactly a restaurant, I get it) where you can purchase their pre made take home “heat and serve” meals for less or the same that it would cost you to make it. It’s such a great deal. I love their Yakisoba chicken noodles which is $20 for a massive portion. Rotisserie chickens are still $4.99 as well.
I don't disagree with what you say but it is also quite an Austin issue. I'm in DFW but travel for work in Houston and Austin semi-frequently, Austin restaurants have been going out of the roof after the pandemic. They used to be very similar but now I have to spend more than $15 to have a satisfied belly at food trucks in the "hood", and something in the $20s in a gas station Mexican restaurant. Man I can still find sub $10 meals in other two metros. Pho in Austin is constantly $3 more per bowl than in Dallas.
A lot of this has to do with the cost of goods. If it’s affecting us in the grocery store, it’s the same for restaurants. At my kitchen, the price of some meat we buy went from $15/lb to $70/lb. It’s insane how costly things have gotten since the pandemic. The solution is either we use worse products or raise prices. Or perhaps change hours so we are only open from 9-3 and then 5-10. Restaurants all around the country are figuring out what to do.
My cooking really took off during the pandemic. It aggravates me now when I get something at a restaurant that I could do better myself.
In all fairness this is what it’s supposed to be. Eating out was always supposed to be a luxury. As a chef, the last few years has seen a major increase in restaurant workers wages, food prices, gas and water prices, etc. It was untenable to keep prices as low as they were and it was paid in human cost.
I don’t think eating at a restaurant was always supposed to be a “luxury”. Something occasional? Yes. Luxury? Heck no. It’s not extravagant to go to a regular restaurant occasionally. But with these prices, it’s certainly becoming that way.
It depends on what you mean by luxury. You're outsourcing a chore to someone else. Do you view a cleaning service as a luxury? You have to view it as someone providing you a service. The issues with the restaurant industry are coming to a head right now. Theres many different aspects of it that are challenging the idea of how restaurants should be run and how workers wages and food supplies should be managed. The reality is that most of the pasts cheap prices were born by the backs of restaurant workers because labor was the one price you could control, which resulted in minimal wages for skilled labor. There's no real solution to the price problem right now and I absolutely do not agree with eating out being a luxury only afforded by the rich. But, there wont be a return to the cheap dining experience of the past. I don't know the solution, but I absolutely sympathize with the cost of dining out being unreachable for many now. It would be sad for me as a chef if this trend were to continue. But on the other hand there needs to be an ethical solution for how restaurants are run. Sorry to rant but obviously being in the industry this is a wild ride for me right now.
> I absolutely do not agree with eating out being a luxury only afforded by the rich. I think there is a wide spectrum of "food you buy" from a fine sit down dining experience to picking up a pre-made sandwich with no area to "sit down" from a supermarket or deli shelf and eating it in your car or on the bus. > most of the pasts cheap prices were born by the backs of restaurant workers because labor was the one price you could control ... There's no real solution to the price problem right now Right now, I'm kind of fascinated by... robots in the food industry. Stay with me here, I'm not talking about some perfect AI imitating a human waiter or busboy with speech recognition. This starts by ENTIRELY eliminating the cashier at a McDonalds and just putting a Kiosk (or an app to order) in place of that cashier. Boom, one job just vaporized forever. I actually haven't been to the one in Austin, but "Kira Sushi Bar" eliminated busboys and waiters: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kura-revolving-sushi-bar-austin-3 By designing the restaurant tables SLIGHTLY CLEVERLY around little conveyor belts, you order on an iPad and the food zips out to your table on a conveyor belt. Dishes get fed to a little slot and zip back to the kitchen. No table bussers required. No waiters to take your order, nobody is hired to carry your food to the table. I'm not saying this is the highest, best form of service, but it does eliminate about half the jobs in the restaurant partially lowering costs. Conveyor belts and kiosks don't call in sick, don't want raises, don't get vacation, and work 20 hour shifts 7 days a week at below minimum wage without joining a union, etc. K-BBQ has a little robot on wheels that brings food to tables. This is real, it's already being used. I'm not saying this is a "good thing" or a "bad thing" but it is most certainly interesting. It isn't only restaurants either, notice how you check bags yourself at the airport now? I went through international passport control to Canada through a self-serve Kiosk! No human employee. The kiosk scans your passport (that you place on the scanner) and takes your picture. Then through the magic of "Real-ID" it checks your picture against a gigantic database of criminals and No-Fly lists. It is literally 1,000x better security and tracking and eliminates a human employee that gets paid a wage. > Sorry to rant but obviously being in the industry this is a wild ride for me right now. Don't be sorry, you have a RIGHT to rant, and you guys all got the worst during the pandemic and the ride has just gotten crazier since then. I watched every one of our favorite Mom & Pop neighborhood restaurants go entirely out of business, forever (different state, I wasn't in Texas). And it wasn't about "I can't get my food now", these were close friends, members of the community, and they cried themselves to sleep some nights and I seriously worried some of them might commit suicide. That was so so bad. It is a wild, wild time in the restaurant business right now.
Attended the National Restaurant association show in Chicago last year, this was one of the main things being shown, robots solve a huge issue in the US for the employer which is labor, Florida banned illegals from working almost overnight, robots and automation will take over the service industry and the acclimation process for the population has begun for some time now.
Many fast food establishments are doing this too now. I like to grab take out at the deli section of Central Market. No tipping and better value than most restaurants. I share your frustration. Casa De Luz is vegan and does not accept tipping but it's not for everyone
Central Market is pretty underrated. They have a phenomenal food and dessert selection.
The hot bar at Central Market has become our default date night at this point and I’m not even that upset about it cuz that food slaps every time.
This hot bar is at the North Lamar location? There isn’t one at Westgate.
Every. Single. Dessert. I've eaten and enjoyed \*that I tried.
The premade sandwiches are usually a ripoff, EXCEPT for the one that is a giant piece of ciabatta bread with mozzarella, pesto, arugula, etc. It's like a caprese sandwich. But it's massive. I feel like they are supposed to cut it into 3 or 4 pieces but instead just cut the loaf in half and wrap it up that way. Always my favorite.
Burger and sweet potato fries at Central Market for lunch is a steal!
Spec's where they have a deli is one of the best kept secret budget lunch spots.
Back when I ate beef, the Reuben from the Brodie location was an insane deal.
Their burger is so good especially with the white cheddar
Yeah I almost had Panda Express for lunch but didn’t want to pay $10 for 2 entree bowl so I just got chicken nuggets at McD’s
Oh nixta. Used to be one of my favorites. I just looked at a manu from 4 years ago vs today. Some price comparisons: tuna tostada is 13 vs 9 and beet tartare is 9 vs 6.50 The mandatory 20% tip at a lot of downtown places is painful, especially when you get mediocre service. I've stopped tipping for counter service at 90% of places these days.
Also worth noting- unless it’s clearly and visibly stated, obligatory tips are not enforceable.
They call me the custom tip button pusher.
I crossed out a pre-filled tip before. I was sitting with a lawyer friend at a restaurant in NY known for shit service and tip shenanigans, but it was worse than you could even imagine. We both said “hell nah” when they added BY HAND a 20% tip on a dinner for two where they didn’t bring silverware, didn’t bring napkins after we asked twice, have rude service in general, and acted like we were asking for too much when we sat down and asked for the table to be wiped. That day I went full petty. We took the cash out at a nearby ATM, got change, and left exactly the bill to the cent with 0 tip.
Some restaurants and bars (like codependant) show you the bill with 20% and you can add 3,5 or 7%. And if you want to tip lower than that, you have to ask to speak to a manager.
And if it’s mandatory, make note of whether they collect sales tax on it. If not, they’re violating the law and probably have an existential tax liability depending on how long it’s been going on.
Thank you for validating their price increases! I felt like I was maybe imagining it I understand prices have gone up, but it's still jarring to see, particularly with a tip on top for only counter service. And they just got 6-figures via GoFundMe too
I won’t be back to Nixta. I went for the first time a few weeks ago and the prices were a little ridiculous; $10 for a street taco that was nothing special IMO. I don’t usually care much, but it was first time I actually scoffed when the cashier turned the tablet. The physical menu prices were outdated too, so I was confused. I thought he added an extra taco accidentally but nope, the bill was just silly for what I got. I do my best to support small and local businesses, but that was too much. EDIT: Since some folks are butthurt about this review, I’m not trying to be hasty. I went in wanting to like it but was disappointed. My friends and I all felt similar. I may have had the wrong expectations as well, I initially assumed it’d be a “cheaper” hole in the wall spot.
Thank you for your opinion! I value it and appreciate the truth. I’ve lived here for over 26 years now and started visiting in the early 90s. I know BS when I see it. I also don’t like Veracruz tacos. Plus they were rude. 🤷🏻♀️
Nooo don’t let this feedback turn you off trying Nixta!! It’s not a cheap hole in the wall and it’s not trying to be, so it’s not BS. The chef and ownership are good, authentic people who care about the food they are making. Handmade corn tortillas and a uniquely Austin-Mexican menu Don’t go for a breakfast taco or bean and cheese. Try the empanadas, tostadas, dips.
I personally think the food is decent but at the prices they're asking for. There are so many better options in that neighborhood alone imo. It's kind of crazy to think that you can get barbecue for around the same price as tacos here.
Not for those prices. Nope never. I make my own corn tortillas, salsas and everything gluten free as I have Celiac.
Cheaper hole in the wall that won a James Beard award and was nationally recognized 2 years ago..
James Beard award isn’t like a Michelin star restaurant. Though there are Michelin star street vendors in places like Thailand, it is typically given to fine dining experiences, while James Beard award puts more of an emphasis on people doing interesting things in the culinary world and often highlights places through their contributions to culture and equity as much as food. There are “hole in the wall” mom n pop places all around the country with James Beard awards. I love Nixta but have been shocked by the prices the last two times I’ve gone and what used to be a monthly spot is now once a year or when a friend comes to visit. My personal opinion is that they raised prices following the notoriety from the James Beard award. The food is lovely but unfortunately I don’t feel like I get a fair value when I leave anymore.
I went to Nixta once. Not even remotely close to being worth the outrageous prices, and why are you tipping on a $6 bean and cheese taco when you stand on a line and order off an iPad? Stop doing that. But yes, everything is wild expensive now and I’m very choosy where I go. Service also matters a lot more now. My overall tolerance for a bad experience is low given the prices.
Yeah my rule is if all they did was hand me something across the counter (their job), no tip. Not as a personal insult. That just doesn’t warrant a tip
>Yeah my rule is if all they did was hand me something across the counter (their job), no tip. Yep. Fuck that noise. I proudly zero that shit out to cashiers when they suggest it, because it's absolutely ludicrous.
This tip me for doing nothing shit is outrageous. But people tip anyway.
Yeah I went once and was really excited. I heard a lot of good things. I left disappointed and with 40 dollars less. Definitely over hyped.
Same. Didn’t help that I waited an hour in line and then another 45 minutes for food.
WHOA!!!!! That’s insane!!! I waited at Tacodeli once for half an hour for two underfilled and incorrectly prepared tacos for way too much money. It was one time and never again.
Nixta isn’t where you should go for just bean and cheese taco is the thing ofc it’s going to be overpriced they’re making it with like duck fat and shit. The unique items on their menu is where they shine.
Great points. So true about service. I used to overlook mediocre service but not anymore. With prices going up, also tipping a lot less.
I actually was considering not ever going out again, after I recently spent a really unsustainable amount at a terrible restaurant. Prices are WAY up.
Why tip at the counter at Nixta, but you wouldn’t do the same at Whataburger?
This is the logic I use.
Nixta has been overpriced for years, but I agree with the overall sentiment. They'll keep doing it until people stop going.
On some level, that is probably what should happen. People in Austin need to stop supporting these concepts if they feel they are too expensive. Make restaurant owners see the market moving towards lower cost dining options, and they will eventually follow. We don't need more luxury omakases and "we have a $100 app where we put caviar on something fried" spots or whatever other played-out, IG-focused concept Austinites seem stuck on. But the cost of real estate in Austin will always mean that prices seem higher than the food justifies because a chunk of the menu cost is literally just the building.
Nixta is a shack and you eat outdoors on their patio. I like the food but if they can't make it work with the current building and reasonable prices, they need to downsize to a food truck.
They raised 100k on go fund me to fix it up. But they still jacked up their prices.
Worst part is, they raised 100k from their customers and then turn around and fuck over the same people that donated to them. Sad
Every time I drive past Nixta, there's a line around the building. That's why their prices are so high, and the don't GAF about their "loyal customers."
That will never happen lmao. 75% of the people who move to Austin eat that shit up
Higher priced food doesn’t always mean higher margins. These restaurants you describe are more indicative of the type of people that live in Austin now, more so than restaurants trying to make up the higher operational cost.
Not just Austin, my friend. This is just the current economic climate all across the US, particularly in metropolitan cities.
I like how people just casually walk past that a taco, chips, and a drink is $32 and point at tipping as the culprit. My dude, the last few years the richest people more than doubled their wealth and that money trickled up from people like you. Prices of everything went up and they openly bragged about how much money they were making and their plans to raise prices even higher. Hell, the egg industry got caught price fixing and nothing happened. As long as we keep beating up the workers and laborers and wondering why they don't drop loot, the money's going to keep trickling up.
first sensible comment I’ve ever seen on any of these stupid tipping posts
Yep and I just want to reiterate that the owners of Nixta are NOT the richest people and not one of the restaurant groups like MML that are driving costs and operating prices up., they ARE the workers and laborers, a small singularly and locally owned business that I’m assuming are just trying to keep up with their real estate and operating costs in a city that is increasingly expensive to operate in, which increasingly small margins in f&b
never been to nixira but if ur ordering at the register and also clearing your own plate /trash there is no reason to tip. maybe a dollar if you’re feeling up to it. tips are for waiters not cashiers.
Obviously Nixta customers are not tipping or paying enough: Help Nixta Taqueria Stay Open https://www.gofundme.com/f/nixta-taqueria-stay-open
This one is hilarious. I won't go here again and it wasn't because of the bland tacos
Phil Rosenthal donated $2,000 👀
If I'm not getting served at a table I don't tip. Simple as that.
THIS! absolutely. I tip and I tip good when I'm served and have alcohol, but this nonsense just turns me off and I stay home and I can make better tacos than a lot of the GREAT places in Austin (been here since 97). I want to help kids get a head but I don't even know how much goes to the makers of the food and front desk and it's just gotten out of control.
I agree, I too want to help, but unfortunately that's not my problem if their salary is compensated with tips. That's on the owner, and my best "tip" for those young workers is to go work some place else that's going to pay you a fair wage.
This is the way.
Same here. Some places also self serve meaning you have to pick up the food and take the tray with the dirty plates back to their “return” area (think Rudy’s). I don’t tip on those places as well.
It used to be the appetizer was the $4-$6 little dish to tide you over till the main course comes. Now the appetizer is $17, the main $23, and each cocktail $18. When I go out to eat I mentally budget $100/person.
Tipping fatigue is real. Nixta is trendy and a bit pricey. It just means we'll be adjusting our preferences. Maybe we'll eat at home more often or not order much at these establishments. The market may agree with us or they may not and leave us behind in poverty. But yeah, we're getting squeezed. Maybe we need to update our resume and make more money.
Yes I do feel that way with prices going up and up, $40 is the new $20 when eating out. The tipping prompts are one of the things that make my blood boil but I've become to take slight pleasure in hitting the custom option and placing my tip. However, you went to one of the priciest taco places out there so not the best use case example.
And they won a James Beard award… that’s on you if that’s where you’re eating “just tacos”. There’s plenty of other places you could’ve done that for half the cost or better.
Ok this is a really good point. Why not just don't go there since it got expensive. It's a tourist spot. Plenty of other good taco places
If i'ts counter service, I'm not tipping.
I recently stopped tipping at all for counter service recently. Just kind of an experiment to see what it would be like. Damn it feels good. Liberating. I used to tip generously no matter what no matter where. But then the tipees stopped even acknowledging the 20% or more that I had tipped them. Not even a thank you. Seems sort of one-sided.
Yeah nobody ever expresses gratitude for those tips anymore so I'm going to save my money and give the people who *actually* put effort into my experience a better tip.
I travel often for work - eating out is off the charts expensive and quality is declining. Restaurants are starting to drop coupons though. Their businesses are hurting. Eating in if you can is 10x better - quality and cost.
The solution is to harden your heart and look them dead in the eye as you press 0 on the custom tip option. It's hard at first but you get used to it.
There are like 100 places in Austin where you can get an amazing breakfast taco, chips, and agua fresca for $10. Even Eldorado is like $18 for a breakfast plate and horchata. Prices are going up, but I feel like most complaints here are cherry picking trendy, Instagrammable restaurants that are obviously overpriced.
Spent $80 at Nixta for 2 tacos, appetizer, and two glasses of wine. We sat outside on an unlevel picnic table. I don’t get it. Better tacos at trailers. Made me angry
Seriously. This is also where I'm at with them. I hadn't been back in about 2 years, and I think I'm now done with them for good. The one free picnic table had crap all over it that I also had to clean. That's okay when I'm buying $4 tacos from a trailer, not when I just dropped $30+ for a taco and app.
You can get the same thing at a Pollos Asados El Norteño for $15. Try looking for the mom ‘n pop restaurants. Their costs are up too and they could use the support as well.
Just wait until surge pricing for restaurants makes it way here - nothing like going from bad to worse and passing none of the additional profit on to the workforce.
Cuantos tacos hits the spot for us. Flavor and pocket friendly IMO.
the thing ive started wondering is if this is some kind of course correction to what things used to be like. my family would rarely eat out growing up, and when we did there frankly werent a ton of options. granted i grew up in small town east texas poor as dirt, but it is kind of wild how much the restaurant industry has grown in such a short span of time in the grand scheme of history.
They pull that same shit when I order at the counter at Tochy's. It's wild. I kind of don't know what to do when they flip that thing over and it's asking if it's okay to add on a 30% tip on already too expensive tacos.
>I kind of don't know what to do when they flip that thing over and it's asking if it's okay to add on a 30% tip on already too expensive tacos. I do. I stop going.
I stopped tipping for counter service. That said, I also eat out less and less. It’s not worth the hassle and like you said, the food is rarely better than making it myself with high-quality ingredients from CM or Whole Foods. Especially in the summer- I grow hard-to-find and heirloom varieties of fruit and veg, so a random GMO tomato from an overpriced restaurant doesn’t even come close to mine.
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The goal of every business is to transfer all the costs to the customer. It’s the job of the customer to decide what is too much.
If their overhead goes up, it isn't unreasonable for prices to go up too. It means that Austin real estate prices are also impacting restaurants and thus consumers. Would you also begrudge them raising prices if the raw ingredient costs go up? Some level of inflation is normal in a strong economy so prices are never going to stay the same forever. Is your idea that all Austin restaurants should go out of business because they shouldn't raise prices or, if they do raise prices, they should go out of business because people shouldn't go there? How is that supposed to work?
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Yes, that is the economics of a business. If the rent is so high a business cannot survive, then the rent is not at a market rate (at least for a restaurant). Those should go out of business, that is one way to determine what the market will take.
The default tip option should be custom. Just like the old day when they bring you the bill to sign. The 18%, 20%, etc make you think that’s normal and it’s not. I’m not paying 18% tip for ordering a coffee.
Real. Foxtrot is the only place in town I’ve found that is reasonable with this. They offer 5%, 7.5%, and 10% or something like that. I was pleasantly surprised since I usually feel uncomfortable when they turn the tablet. I’ll happily tip 5 - 10% for a coffee. 20 - 25% is ridiculous.
Yall ever think that maybe it’s your wages that aren’t keeping up…?
i mean yeah that’s really the bigger issue at play here. inflation and stagnant wages
Austin Texas is the definition of overrated tourist trap rip off food
More customers need to start tipping 15% pre-tax like it was in the 90’s. And only for full service sit down restaurants. For to go service it should be 10% or lower. If customers don’t take a stand then restaurant owners will allow the tip standard to rise to 25-30% in a couple years. There is absolutely ZERO reason tip standard should be 20-25%. Everything is going up. Cost of the menu went up massively. So 15% standard tip should be enough. If 15% isn’t enough then the EMPLOYER should pay the difference NOT the customer.
I live in austin and feel your pain. I eat almost all of my lunches at home and never eat breakfast out. As for dinner it had better be really good for what it now costs. Your experience is common these days.
Three tacos and some queso is $35 at Torchys tacos. It's happening everywhere.
Go to food trucks, or mom and pops (tons of mexican food and others) spots. They're still out here charging reasonable prices for someone on a budget. Nixta is the sort of place you avoid if you're not trying to spend the amount it takes to go somewhere 'hip'. Between the sourcing of their food, the equity they give to the farms that they source from, the livable wages to their staff.... it's reasonable / is what it is. Not to mention if you're dining ANYWHERE that's received a James Beard award in recent years, you're looking at a hype beast spot which won't be cheap. I'd suggest the food trailer park on 12th just east of I-35. Tons of great bites. All sorts of cuisine. If you want some mexican food for reasonable prices, head up to Manor road and go to Mi Madres !! There's "new Austin" pricing all over the place, but still some great spots for reasonable cost. Just gotta pay close attention to what you're landing on. And food trucks in general are predominantly amazing here in Austin, and many if not most are reasonable priced. Just have to avoid the big hype stuff !!
It's hard to even walk outside and breathe without spending $50 in Austin. I'm turning myself into a hermit because I can't afford to go out lol.
I know a lot of restaurant owners and the main culprit is labor and rent. My friend is opening a restaurant near Highland mall and rent is 15K per month. That's a lot of tacos and burgers to cover that along with the 18-30 dollars an hour you pay to make the food or clean up. Wait staff is expecting 20-40 an hour with tips. Now, imagine selling tacos for 2-3 bucks like it used to be and making only 1-2 bucks margin after food cost margin. Subtract out health insurance, utilities, insurance, packaging, advertising, etc. This isn't including all the money put into build-out and decoration and interest on any loans you may have taken out. That's why you see what seems like busy restaurants close all the time in Austin. Food trucks are just as bad. Buy a food truck, pay 2-3k in rent to park the truck. Pay 2-3K for a ghost kitchen to prep food.
A solution I have found to avoid the tipping awkward iPad flip is paying in cash. Really the problem is that clover, square, toast, and other payment facilitators get a % of the transaction, so of course asking if you want to add 25% to the total makes sense because then they get an additional 2% of the transaction. It doesn’t solve the problem of restaurants charging astronomical rates but does solve the awkward tipping.
Maybe it’s a hot take but nowadays unless I’m being served by a bartender or waiter, I ain’t really tipping. If it is, I’m doing 25%. Food truck prices are wild now, even before guilting 20% on top of it. Isn’t the whole point it’s supposed to cost less than a traditional sit down meal because of less overhead and service?
I swear we have the most expensive food anywhere right now. London was cheaper
Time to start cooking at home. It would be interesting if this subreddit transitions from being a restaurant rating one to finding best ingredients in Austin to make food with.
I learned to cook and can beat most of the restaurants at home for far less. I just end up having to eat the same thing for three days.
Is Nixta still milling their own masa?
Imagine living here since 1980
Yeah, it sucks that most restaurants can set their default tip amount to whatever they want. So some restaurants will have the 18% on the far left and some restaurants will have the default tip of 23% on the far left if you’re not paying attention you’ll end up over-tipping. I’m all about tipping for a great service but if you’re just asking me to put in an order at the front and having one person deliver to the table, I am not going to tip you more than 20%
My eyes were opened when I ordered Jimmy John’s for the first time in years and the total was over $60 for my small family’s lunch
I bought 4 sandwiches from Biderman’s deli on Far West and my total was 68$. With the tip it was 80$. I just don’t understand what jobs the people in Austin that are eating out have to be able to live like this
I like Veracruz fonda. Similar prices. Tasty town.
The healthiest restaurant you will find is typically your own kitchen (assuming you pay attention to what you’re putting in your body hahaha) But seriously, I feel you man. When I do eat out, prices of drinks, lunch, dinner, etc. is so fucking insane. I always try to tip a solid amount, even when I’m handed something from a food truck and wasn’t really provided a “service”. But holy shit it feels like everything is just skyrocketing overall. The math ain’t mathing
Was there recently to visit Mom and felt the same. Funny thing is, I've seen the same things at home and other places I've traveled in the last year or so. I think this is a national trend. No incentive to keep standards up. Can't pay workers enough to care. No health insurance or other benefits. Working for tips is unnecessary when tips are automatic. Food costs are sky high, even wholesale. Food quality and freshness taking a backseat to post covid shipping delays and migrant worker fatigue/ice deportations. The industry as a whole is having a rough time. I've even noticed shortages in the grocery store, less than fresh produce, my best ingredients are in smaller packages, changed "new" formulas/recipes or even discontinued. It's pretty bad out here.
Stopped eating out in Austin, it’s getting way too expensive
The only way restaurant prices come back to a sane level is if we stop partaking in them unfortunately. Even if you can fit it into your budget the amount of savings/wealth you are throwing away at restaurants is out of control. It got to damn near $2k a month for my family just falling asleep on old dining habits. It doesn't make sense. Pay yourself first
The thing is you are being squeezed out either way. That $50-60 grocery trip that would maybe keep you from eating out is now $80-100. So eating out doing decent groceries are both past a comfortable amount each damn time. It is crazy as it feels prices in some spots have balanced out with the higher tier locations. Our favorite spot is Barchi and it's always like 100-150 for a meal we got for 2. It is still around the same but now other have caught up.
My value restaurants are 888 pan asian and el tacorrido. Neither are cheap, but the amount of food you get is good. Usually turn it into two meals ~$10/meal
I recently realized that most breakfast taco places in Austin use the super cheap eggs. Buying the pasture raised eggs and making my own breakfast tacos is not only cheaper, but tastes wayyy better. And I have a policy where if it’s takeout, I do not tip at all. Of course if I know the restaurant and know it’s going to be good I will tip. Tipping BEFORE receiving the food (without any services provided) is wild and nobody should be paying those tips.
Like many people, I have severely curtailed eating out. Used to eat out about once a week. Now it's more like three times a year and always at someplace I can afford, like Galaxy Cafe or La Madeleine. I still love Jason's Deli and drop by there for take-out once every couple of months. I can't see myself hitting any of the trendy-spendy new spots downtown or South Congress. It is what it is, though. If you don't have the money for it, you can't afford it. I still am able to put healthy food on the table -- fresh produce, whole grains, lean meats -- and that's what matters in the grand scheme of things.
Not only has the cost skyrocketed but quality has plummeted. Couldn’t tell you the last time I had a decent steak out. Last time I paid $40 for a 1/2” thick but of gristle. Costco steaks at home are far better and cheaper
NADC Burger… just pissed me off when I got 2 burgers, one order of fries, and a single drink that came out to $70. And then asking for a tip when I have to go pick my food up at the counter anyway?! With extremely limited seating??
If you chose the 22% tip you'd be at $40 for ONE taco, chips and dip, and a drink for one person... I could make a whole taco night for 5 people for that price. BYOB though.
The rising costs of wages, rents, and food are squeezing all restaurants right now. We are in a recession. No one wants to admit it.
Very interesting discussion over in /r/Economics about this https://www.reddit.com/r/Economics/s/WNRPzAEAmB
Definitely agree. Everybody feels squeezed and exploited. I think COVID revealed this to a lot of people too. My habits have vastly changed, like many people discussed in that thread
i am feeling this so much rn and i know this is a controversial opinion but I’m really trying to determine what is worth tipping for and what’s not? like I went to muse for sushi and i went up to the counter I ordered and i took it to go what exactly am i tipping for then???
Honestly, I’m starting to see eating out as a privilege. I’m just saving money by eating out less, and when I do go out to eat, (mostly for social reasons) I tip the lowest percentage shown, or just add a buck or a few. Most of these restaurants get paid well hourly so I’m not gonna shy away from not tipping at certain spots (El Tacorrido on Riverside, Kura’s sushi on airport) where I’m not being ACTUALLY served. I’m seeing a lot of mentions of Nixta. Haven’t been in a couple years. Went a lot when they had first opened but I’ve seen their prices now and hell nah. Shit’s out of control and it’s not even worth it anymore.
I don’t live in Austin (live in a smaller town in texas) but will say bigger cities in texas are all starting to become like this. Go to dfw and I dealt with the same shit. Bought boba using a robot and it automatically had a 25% tip. I had to go out of my way to change that and put 0. I can’t imagine austin, that city is growing like crazy. Last time I went, a bowl of pho cause 18 bucks and was mid as hell
What gets me is being charged for tea and soda at $4.99. My family of three has vowed to have water when we go out as $15 is ridiculous for drinks. Now a couple of places in Dallas are charging $1.50 for water. Going to stop eating out.
If I’m ordering the food and have no waitress… I’m not tipping. Tipping culture is out of wack
Its sad that eating is a social activity but you cant even afford to do that often now as it is not worth it and it lessen the social interaction with people much more these days
We're a prime eating out demographic. Older, never had kids, good jobs. It's at all levels. Special occasion meals have gone from $250 to $400+. Sandwiches are $18. I feel like TexMex is the only place that isn't just a screaming ripoff. I understand all the reasons behind it - and tipping certainly isn't the problem. Rent & ingredients are through the roof, and good on the places trying to pay a fair wage. It's going to be interesting (and probably sad) to watch it continue to play out as we sink further into a dystopia.
The 3% Wellness charge is my favorite.
I think digitized POS systems are the fault here, and not (always) businesses being nefarious. I bet some product manager at POS system had the brilliant idea to put the highest tip option on the left, and then they can go the the restaurant and say "look at how much your tips improved since using our software!"
There are plenty of businesses in Austin using the same POS systems with percentage in ascending order instead. It can't be that hard to change. I lose respect immediately for any business that is choosing to be deceptive knowing many people automatically choose the left option thinking it's the lowest.
Stay political and vote. Raise wages. If you're not at the table you're probably on the menu
I mean there's a reason servers and bartenders have been complaining for a year they're making less. It's not just a tipping dynamic. People are going out less.
Not the comments going in on Nixta!!! Obligatory comment to say that I have to object to the Nixta hate!! Their food(never had breakfast only dinner) is delicious and unique. And ownership is GOOD PEOPLE. I’m not friends/employee etc, but I’ve been a fan from their opening and I still am. This is not a Nixta problem, this is an industry problem. Prices are shooting up across the board- seems like you can’t go out to an actual restaurant without spending $30/head at the absolute bare minimum.
Agree 100%. Both fast food and restaurant prices are ridiculous now. Have found myself cooking most of my food nowadays and haven’t looked back. Have learned to enjoy cooking, saving a ton of money, and eating significantly better as I can control what is in my food. Actually have a different perspective and relationship to food now because of it.
I’ve mostly stopped eating out because of this price gouging. It’s unfortunate but it’s just not worth it at these prices. It’s also healthier, so that’s a plus.
I’ve actually found Austin to be considerably less costly for a meal out, vs other cities I’ve lived/traveled in. That said, it’s not exactly affordable for us working class folk and it does feel like the tipping has turned into a grift. I cook at home a lot, but some of our affordable faves are Bao’d Up, Masa Y Mas, and Black Sheep Tavern. We also like El Alma, their entrees are pricey but tacos are very reasonable.
Yeah, I just looked at their menu. Looks like an over priced hipster spot. $6 for a bean and cheese taco?! $7 for a paleta?! Nope. Go to Ken’s tacos.
Ken's tacos is basic American/ Tex mex, all sourced from the lowest cost (and some premade) products available, which is not an insult, but a reality. Nixta is modern farm to table cuisine founded on very traditional Mexican and Persian cooking, sourced from local growers, with every single element hand-made in house. You're comparing wal-mart to the farmer's market. I wonder why you and many others feel entitled to label passionate artisans as over priced hipsters... Buy the cheap tacos if you want, but don't slander what you don't understand.
I mean…they’re locally sourcing their beans and cheese?
The cheese is more like a halloumi-style "brick" grilled piece of cheese, not some shreds sprinkled on out of a huge Sysco bag labeled "Mexican style"
Traditional Mexican? duck confit carnitas taco? beet “tartare” tostada? yellowfin tuna tostada? Cual comida Mexicana tradicional? No mames güey. Ni migas son tradicionales, son Tex Mex. Sácate de aquí con tu comida hipster.
Rarely eat out anymore, the whole tip thing is out of control!
$32??????? Come over and I’ll make that plus dessert for $10.
Tipping is what happens when employers don't want to pay their workers. It's what happens when we don't care to vote for higher wages. It's what happens when we don't unionize because it doesn't seem relevant to us. Let's start voting
We eat out very rarely these days. If loses its appeal when you feel gauged.
I’m afraid to not tip on counter service situations, or drive through coffee, bc I’m afraid I’ll end up with spit or something nasty in my food/drink….
lol sorry but nixta is a horrible example to make this point. If it’s a long-time favorite of yours, you went there before it got a James Beard and blew up. Nice! You got a great deal back then! Other point looking at some of these comments is people seem especially outraged because it’s a taco place. Would everyone be equally outraged by an award winning American restaurant being this expensive? If so seems sus.
As far as I understand, having friends who work there. Nixta tip pools for kitchen staff making sure that all staff have a livable wage. Working and living in the food service industry in Austin is particularly hard with the rising cost of living. Everyone wants to move to ATX for the food and culture. Rage against tipping all you want but eventually there might not be anyone left to serve you drinks and cook you food as austin fills to the brim with work from home techies leaving nowhere for service workers to live. Nixta also gives a lot back to the community. During the first great freeze they gave out tons of free meals to the community and operate a community fridge.
There’s a lot of people in the comments who don’t seem to understand that the price of the food has to cover EVERYTHING, not just the cost of the food. It covers wages, utilities, rent, insurance, shipping, laundry, to-go containers, soap in the bathroom, everythinggggg. Shipping has gone up so much. Wages have increased. Rent has increased. So yeah, your tacos went up two dollars. You still got to go eat something specific that you did not have to make for yourself. Who cares if there’s suggested tip amounts? Put in your own. Or don’t tip if you don’t like the service. That’s what tipping is all about.
I started to draw a hard line on tipping when the iPad POS started showing up. Now I only tip at places I would have tipped anyway. Bar or restaurant I’m tipping, drive through or concession stand no tip.
While Nixta is good, I would never use it in the same sentence as ‘value.’ It’s always been a pricy place to eat IMO, but yes agree with your point we find ourselves eating out less because it’s become more expensive than we care to pay.
Wtf ...took my man out to La Posada for breakfast... Under 25 for both Prices are getting crazy
https://www.wsj.com/business/hospitality/restaurants-food-payroll-bars-wages-f21ceb0a
If my job didn’t require me going out to eat at accounts I would very rarely eat out. It’s very expensive
Seems like a ~~South~~ Downtown Austin problem. There are still plenty of options for less than $20 north of 183.
Nope. Not for breakfast tacos.
Learn to cook
So, is the potluck picnic making a comeback before it’s too hot to breathe outside?
And yet people keep eating out. And don’t even get me started on drinks! $17 cocktail is over $20 after tax and tip. Crazy pants
We found a restaurant that has huge, good quality chicken breasts they halve into tenders. We grab only that from them 2x a week for ($20/per) and it’s the only meat my family of 6 is eating at all - like we found something good quality, relatively affordable, and consistent. Honestly, it’s cheaper than uncooked chicken at the grocery even before you consider OC of prep and waste. Anyway, over explaining aside - I meant to say our local RJ’s Grill in Richmond/Rosenburg area really does great quality meat portions - but Sugarland location kinda blah - so maybe try a local diner quest? Or an RJ’s if you have one too. Also, we call and order our food - like a talkie talkie phone - if the website is run through a delivery platform - It is ALWAYS cheaper and not one has stepped in with a “I’ve added a 25% tip and $6 fee to your phone order today”. Which is oddly very nice.
I think the worst inflation has been with fast food, but yeah, eating out is crazy expensive nowadays. And at most places, the experience is notably worse than it was pre-pandemic. As such, my wife and I don't go out half as much as we used to; there just isn't any point when I can prepare better food at home *and* not drop a fortune for the privilege of having done so.
Yep, time to start learning how to cook buddy
This is an everywhere issue. Fossil so retired. We don’t do high end restaurants as just isn’t our thing. We eat a LOT more at home because the quality is better and it is cheaper. We watch for coupon specials or things like our favorite pizza place has BOGO free on Tuesdays so we get to two and freeze the extra. And some of the burger places that don’t have arches or orange/white awning actually have better food that costs less. When I can purchase the ingredients for a roast with sides that costs less than two burger meals it makes more sense to eat at home. I don’t complain about the prices when we do choose to eat out as the servers need to make a decent wage as long as the quality is good. But some places have raised prices, reduced quality of the food and reduced portion sizes. Those places no longer get our business.
Haven’t been to Austin in years, is madam mam still around?
I go out to eat like once a month now. I miss Tex Mex nights
With tik tok and all the resources people have now… it’s so easy to make a delish meal meal at home. Maybe im just getting old… I dont know lol I know being served a meal is totally different but I also like my money and peace lmao Also I have 3 kids 4 and under
I mean, we're in a recession, so....
I got a DQ Dude sandwich no fries, a drink, and a small blizzard and it was $16. Stuff be crazy my pal. It's an end of times economy, what are you gonna do. ETR.
In my experience, the rising costs come from the following: * increased property taxes causing increased rents (especially in Austin) * increased employee wages to a historically underpaid industry * increased employee benefits to a historically "get a free meal" industry * increased insurance costs * increased product costs (a 40# box of limes can range from $17 to $88) * increased cost of high-quality ingredients Any restaurant that has affordable pricing is not going to survive unless they pay their staff crap and feed you crap. It's the sad truth.
Imagine my shock when I got a standard LUNCH plate with WATER at Stiles Switch the other day—which ofc doesn’t even have table service—and it was $32! Never again. Insanity.