Eating Out Is Crazy Expensive 🤣🤦♂️💰
🚨 I Finally Got My Homebody Best Friend To Leave The House For Dinner And I’m Still Not Recovered 🚨
POV: You have that ONE friend. You know exactly who I’m talking about. The one whose idea of a wild Friday night is a new Stanley cup flavor, their weighted blanket, and whatever’s trending on Netflix. Yeah. I dragged her out to dinner. And I have RECEIPTS.
First of all — the NEGOTIATION alone took three business days. Three. Days. She sent me a voice memo at 11pm that was literally just her listing reasons why DoorDash was a “superior dining experience.” She said, and I quote, “Why would I put on pants when the food comes TO me?” Bestie had a PowerPoint ready. No slides, just vibes and anxiety.
But I held firm. I said we’re going OUT. Like ADULTS. Like it’s 2019 and we don’t know what inflation means yet.
Oh. Oh no.
We sat down and I watched the color drain from her face as she opened the menu. Because let’s be real — going out to eat in 2025 hits DIFFERENT than it did five years ago. That pasta dish that used to be $14? Sis is now $26 and she’s not even sorry about it. Appetizers are $18. Water might as well come with a co-pay. We ordered two entrees, split an appetizer, got drinks, and the bill came out to $97 BEFORE tip. My homebody friend stared at that receipt like it had personally wronged her ancestors.
And then she pulled out her phone and started doing the DoorDash math OUT LOUD at the table. “Okay but if we had just ordered in, the delivery fee is $4.99, plus service fee, plus the tip, plus the—” I had to physically lower her phone because the waiter was RIGHT THERE.
But here’s the thing — she’s not entirely wrong?? Because delivery apps have somehow convinced us that a $4.99 delivery fee is a DEAL when they’re also charging a 15% service fee, a “regulatory response fee” (WHAT IS THAT), surge pricing, AND the food prices on the app are marked up from the restaurant’s actual menu. You’re paying like $22 for a $14 burrito and calling it a night in. We been COOKED, literally and financially.
And don’t even get me STARTED on the people using Buy Now Pay Later for Uber Eats orders. Babe. BABE. You are financing a quesadilla. You are making INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS on pad thai. Klarna did not come to play and neither did your credit score.
Meanwhile my introvert bestie is spiraling at dinner because there are “too many people” and “the acoustics are weird” and she’s calculating whether the social battery she’s spending is worth the $26 pasta. She lasted 47 minutes before she fake-yawned so hard I thought she dislocated her jaw.
But we laughed. We caught up. And honestly? It kinda slapped.
So I need to know — how do YOU justify it? Are you a “the vibe of eating out is worth the markup” person? Or are you a “I will pay three separate fees to eat on my couch in peace” person?
Drop it in the comments because I am TORN. 👇
#HomebodyEra #DinnerWithAnIntrovert #FoodInflationIsReal
Eating out in recent years has become a bit of a luxury experience, especially when you factor in inflation and the rising costs that restaurants face. From personal experience, even casual dinners now feel like mini splurges. The price of a simple pasta dish has nearly doubled compared to a few years ago. It's not just the main courses—apps and drinks have also seen significant price jumps. One surprising aspect is the hefty markups on delivery app menus compared to in-house pricing. I’ve noticed that what I’d pay for takeout directly from the restaurant increases drastically once you add delivery, service, and regulatory fees on apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats. It’s almost as if eating comfortably at home is charging a premium on convenience. Moreover, many friends I know hesitate to dine out because of the social energy it requires, especially introverts who find restaurants noisy and overwhelming. This social cost can sometimes make the high menu prices feel even less worth it. Personally, I find that balancing the social vibe and atmosphere is key—sometimes the experience of eating out makes the price worthwhile, but other times, comfort and savings win out. Another trend to watch is the use of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services for food delivery orders, which can lead to unplanned debts from everyday eating habits like ordering quesadillas or pad thai. It’s a financial pitfall I’ve seen people fall into, so being mindful about budgeting for dining—whether in or out—is essential. Ultimately, the value of eating out depends on what you prioritize: the atmosphere, the food quality, or the convenience and cost. For me, occasionally going out to reconnect and enjoy a change of scenery still feels special, but there’s no denying that the math behind dining out in 2025 is far more complex—and expensive—than it used to be. This perspective has taught me to appreciate both the joy of sharing a meal in person and the practicality of ordering in, depending on the situation.
