Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Food, Cooking, and Game Preparation Restaurant food quality with Covid

I figure this is the best place to put this, since the gourmands hang out here.

We don’t often eat out, usually 2 or 3 times a month. Slavyanka and I both enjoy cooking but when Covid hit we stepped things up a notch and started cooking more challenging dishes. Much of it was because friends of ours became our “bubble” and, eating at each other’s place 2-3 times a week, it became a bit of a contest to see who could WOW the others with our food. This couple used to go out 5 times a week and Covid put a real crimp in that.

But once restaurants opened up again, we started going out like normal. And we’ve noticed that the food just doesn’t seem to have the same quality.

I know many restaurants have scaled back their menus but even the stuff they offer doesn’t measure up. Beyond that, though, the ingredients just don’t seem to be as good. I know the other couple doesn’t go out near as much as they used to and the husband has commented on how much money they save (they aren’t hurting for $$) and he says he just doesn’t enjoy the food as much as before.

I heard a report that food prices will rise 10% because of Covid. This will hit restaurants hard when they’re already dealing with reduced seating. If they go to even poorer quality food to save money, I don’t see how they can survive.

We don't eat out a lot, maybe 5-10 times a year....

It seems unless I spend 50$ a plate or more I'm disappointed. Unless specific prescouted Mexican joints. But this is pre- Rona...

Maybe your paying more attention than you use to and change of your mindset.

I don’t think that’s it. When I go out to eat, I make a habit of ordering dishes that I don’t make at home, just so I can experience something different.

"Better a meal of herbs, than a stalled ox where hate abounds".

Close enough.

when traveling i eat out, haven't be doin much of that

Our favorite Mexican joint in town is even better than it used to be. My theory is their business is in the crapper and they are just happy to get some trade. I've been tipping the kids that wait on us well; I figure they need as much help as I can give them.

Added bonus, we are often the only couple in there. Win-win. We've been eating there a ton (too much, really).

We lost a bunch of good local eateries secondary to this government horsechit. We been to several since July and have no complaints. The ones that were good, are still there.

I do love going out for a good steak or piece of fish with a martini.

Could be that the lead cooks or chefs have moved on?

I know of two local places where that is exactly what happened. One is a "Comfort Food" diner joint and the other a Chinese place.

The diner slumped for a bit but whoever the replacement is now is cooking well, but a bit slow. I'm never in a hurry though. Short order cooking is not easy.

The Chinese place the food was so bad I'll not go back.

We love eating out when travelling.

Home town choice are poor.

We can cook better food ourselves, have a couple of libations & not have to worry about "plod" when driving home !

YMMV

We've noticed the same thing, wbw. Our local Black Bear Diner (a Western chain) was great pre-'rona. They went to carry-out only for several months, and we'd get Sunday steak and eggs there every week. Takeout is never as good as dine-in so maybe we didn't notice a decline. When they re-opened with minimal seating, we were eager to go, but after the meal we both said it was not up the previous standards.

It's probably a multi-factor cause. Less food being ordered means food that's less fresh, then food sitting in the freezer longer, good cook staff leaving, and every possible corner cut to stay afloat.

Paul, Kuppers was a good sandwich place. We have not been there for years.(of course)

Haven't observed that here but I mostly hit dive taquerias...

I had a chance to talk to the owner of one of our local places we like about the challenges (Pure Wine).

They have always had a small changing menu but he said some of the local places with big menus have realized that with the reduced volume they simply can't have everything on hand fresh nor do they have the staff to do the prep and such. The ones that he has seen keeping the quality up are the ones that have minimized their menu and focused on some key items.

We eat out perhaps 3-5 times a month if you count picking up a sandwich at the deli and unfortunately we've lost several higher end places we really liked. They mostly had food that wasn't suitable for takeout. Hopefully those voids will be filled but it would take an exceptional risk taker to open a restaurant now.

It is a rare restaurant that can cook better than I can.

I'm decent and I enjoy the process. Doesn't mean I don't like to see what others can do occasionally.

This ^^^^^.

Richard, John ran it into the ground, sold it, been 2 or 3 different owners since, either decent food, crap, service, or the polar opposite.

Completely agree with both sentiments.

As I said above, we love to eat out when we travel.

This is more about trying things we don't do at home !

As an easy example - Will never go to a high end streak house, but will look for something quirky !

Actually, really love "small share plate" places ! Typically high $ for not much food, but we can sample a variety of stuff, not available to us at home.

Internationally, we always chose, mom & pop, local cuisine - gotta sample "where you are at" !