The tough economic times have hit the restaurant business coast to coast—hard. Nationwide, sales at sit-down restaurants are forecast to be down 6% this year; for fine-dining establishments that’ll be 12% to 15%. In a business with narrow margins, those drops are like auto sales falling by 40%.
The LA Times reports that eateries on its patch had a bad year in 2008, where the Writers Guild of America strike hit hard. Even December—usually a boom month—tanked.
Restaurateurs are laying off staff, curtailing hours, doing their own shopping & flower arranging. They’re even offering deals & discounts to get butts in seats.
Across the country it’s the same story. Restaurants in Manhattan—notably attitudinal during normal times—are becoming downright obliging & amiable. Condescension is out, accommodation is in.
No more begging for a deuce near the kitchen any night at 8:45 during the next five weeks. If you call you may find a table is available tonight, at 7:30. & if it isn’t, the reservation-taker wants all your contact details to give you a call-back in case of cancellation.
Plus—they also have the deals & offers for their customers. At one place, owned by celebrity chefs, you can get the $250 20-course tasting menu for $175; the $175 nine-course tasting menu is now $125.
Ah, New York!
On the consumer side, those who are still eating out are looking for those deals, splitting orders & otherwise cutting back on restaurant costs. & they’re getting less attitude from servers or managers when they pull out the coupons or share an entrée.
What I find interesting, particularly with respect to the frugality blogger, is why it doesn’t seem to occur to these people that if they really want to save money on meals, eating out two or three times a week probably isn’t the best method.
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