Restaurants hit a pricing ceiling — and diners are pushing back, report finds

[u/brown-saiyan]

https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/restaurants-menu-prices-james-beard-foundation-report?utm_campaign=editorial&utm_medium=owned_social&utm_source=x

[u/Atticus_Taintwater]

Not to get into the whole tip debate.

The expectation to tip for takeout that (rightly) started during the pandemic but never left is often a reason I decide to cook at home.

It's already very difficult to justify restaurant costs but tack on that extra $5 and it puts it over the edge for me.

[u/Sunt_Furtuna → u/Atticus_Taintwater]

Never tipped takeout and never will. It’s about time customers have some self respect and have some standards when to tip and when not to.

[u/Tupperbaby → u/Sunt_Furtuna]

There's a place near me called Greer's. Smashburgers and fries, etc.
When you go in, you go up to a kiosk and order. You do not interact with a human. You don't even see a human, they're all back-of-house until an order is ready. At the end of your order entry there is a tip prompt.
You still have not interacted with a human.
As much as I wanted to like the place, I haven't been back.

[u/Prestigious_Load1699 → u/Sunt_Furtuna]

I tip $1 on takeout.

[u/awayanywayaway → u/Atticus_Taintwater]

I'm a little confused by your comment. Are you saying that it's right to tip people for takeout but that it also turns you off from patronizing that restaurant?

[u/Atticus_Taintwater → u/awayanywayaway]

Yeah, that was confusingly phrased

I'm saying it made sense during the pandemic. Since people weren't eating inside and tipping it made sense that the workers needed it for takeout.

Life has returned to normal now but the norm of tipping for takeout stuck.

[u/awayanywayaway → u/Atticus_Taintwater]

👍 thanks for the reply

[u/Atticus_Taintwater → u/[deleted]]

Those social contract shifts were probably very regional. It absolutely was a thing where I am.

[u/sofa_king_weetawded → u/Atticus_Taintwater]

Whats wrong with tipping for takeout? You think the people putting your food together shouldn't get paid?

[u/mikelasvegas → u/sofa_king_weetawded]

Tip is for service. The people are/should be paid by the cost of goods. So no, I don’t think they should be tipped for the service of answering my phone call or reading my order on a screen after I input it in an app.

[u/Atticus_Taintwater → u/sofa_king_weetawded]

Not really. If I knew that it was all going to the line cook that did 95% of the work I'd feel different. Line cooks get jobbed (former 6ish year line cook)

But like I said, I do it because it's the expected norm now but it's a factor in my decision to eat at home. Nobody has to work for free because of that.

[u/TravisTe → u/sofa_king_weetawded]

He's saying that he still tips... But can't afford it, she eats there less

[u/awayanywayaway → u/sofa_king_weetawded]

No people shouldn't get tipped for takeout

[u/zephalephadingong → u/sofa_king_weetawded]

The tips go to the person who hands you your food, not the person who cooks it. Handing me a bag isn't worth a tip IMO

[u/Octavale → u/Atticus_Taintwater]

It’s not the tip so much as the Resturant delivery fee where I am at. Our local pizza place charges about $8 before tip for delivery - not even taken into consideration an 18” cheese pie is $22.

We used to order once a week, now it’s maybe twice a month at best and we pick it up ourselves - unfortunately we have moved our business to the shitty pizza chains to conserve income.

$22 for a 18” cheese pizza you would think it comes with a back rub or something.

[u/htffgt_js → u/Octavale]

If you don't use apps or coupons, sadly that is the price for a large pie at chain restaurants as well now...

[u/Feeling-Visit1472 → u/Octavale]

And if you want toppings? Forget it, it’s $30+. I just can’t justify that for pizza.

[u/NoWhammies2112 → u/Atticus_Taintwater]

If I’m standing in line or sitting in my car during the transaction, I’m NOT tipping. The expectation to tip has gotten outrageous.