I wouldn't even call it economic "pressure". I hit a point about a year ago where I just got tired of being disappointed in restaurant food. Everything is worse: portions, food quality, variety, service, etc. The exorbitant prices are really just the final nail in the coffin when you are easily spending $70 for a night out only to be disappointed half the time.

Oh well, it pushed me to get more into meal prepping so I eliminate eating out when it just isn't convenient to cook, plus it is healthier.

Restaurants increasing their prices made me reach a threshold where I can no longer justify the extra cost for the convenience I'm getting in exchange.

I just cook at home and buy prepped meals at the grocery store.

Didn't this trend start in 2021 or 2022? When the price of living is continuously going up, spending less is the only way to survive

TouchBistro recommends restaurants respond to the changing trends by changing policies to emphasize the human connection.

The articles bizzarely focuses on restaurants leaning on tech as the problem. As someone who used to spend $1,500 a month on food the tech changes is no where near the top reasons why I almost stopped eating out these days.

One of examples is grabbing a beef fried rice in Vancouver 90% of places has soggy rice due to being cooked in to big of a batch, barely enough rice to fill you up and essentially what is less than a tea spoon of beef. This doesn't even account for most places asking $20 for it now.

Canadians also appear fonder of takeout as 31 per cent of respondents are eating takeout weekly, up from 25 per cent.

Avoid paying 20% on top of your dinner bill with one simple trick!

Yeah a lot of eating out isn't worth the price. If it's just myself I'd rather just prep some $3 meal at home, I'd only jump at eating out if it's something over $30 and actually nice to make it an event. I'm not going to have a dine in Pizza Pizza or restaurant unless they have a rep for good value or exceptional food.