Tipping Point: Dining Out Is Breaking Us

By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | July 19, 2025
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During the height of the pandemic, restaurants were shuttered for weeks or months, and dining out became a luxury many couldn’t access. Those who braved the new reality of restaurant dining were met with spaced-out tables, plexiglass barriers, and strict entry rules, especially for the unvaccinated. You might have to share your contact details, wash your hands with hand sanitizer and wear a mask at the door. To help struggling waitstaff and restaurant owners during this time, customers were encouraged to tip generously—15%, 18%, even 20%.

Fast forward to 2025, and that generosity has become the new norm—with some establishments now pushing default tips of 25% to 30%. For the average working family, what was once an occasional treat is turning into a financial burden. Dining out has become a stressor, not a relief. Even a simple meal at McDonald's can now cost $25 in some neighborhoods—just for a Big Mac, fries, and a drink. Only a few years ago, that price could have bought you a full steak dinner. Today, that same steak dinner can easily hit $38, or soar to $67 if you add shrimp or a glass of wine.

Meanwhile, grocery prices continue to rise with few signs of relief. Shoppers are watching their bills climb, even as they try to prepare more meals at home. Yet wages haven’t kept pace. Many families find themselves trapped between skyrocketing restaurant prices and inflated grocery bills, with no clear path to financial relief.

So what needs to change?

First, restaurants should consider transparent pricing and stop relying on "guilt-tipping". If menu prices reflect the true cost of doing business, tips can return to being a bonus for great service—not an obligation. Governments need to support small businesses with fair tax breaks and subsidies that encourage affordability, not inflation. At the same time, workers across all industries deserve a living wage that adjusts for the cost of food, fuel, and rent.

Until then, the dining experience—once a joyful social tradition—may become a luxury enjoyed only by the wealthiest among us. For everyone else, it’s another reminder that the cost of living has outpaced the dream of a simple night out.

TAGS: Tipping Inflation #Restaurant Prices #Post Pandemic Costs #Dining Out Crisis #Food Affordability #Working Family Struggles #WBN News Vancouver #Elke Porter

Connect with Elke at Westcoast German Media or on LinkedIn: Elke Porter or contact her on WhatsApp: +1 604 828 8788. Public Relations. Communications. Education.