The Conservative Cave
The Bar => The Lounge => Topic started by: Ralph Wiggum on November 08, 2013, 03:33:23 PM
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This may be a rant and could belong elsewhere, but anyway...here goes.
Has anyone noticed how exponentially more restaurants are charging for fountain "drinks/soda/pop/coke"? I do realize that profit margins are thin for a lot of foods served at dine-in restaurants, especially being an accountant and all. I'm also well aware that charging these prices are an easy way for restaurants to pad their pockets. Most businesses do that in one way or another. But $2.99 or $2.50 for a Diet Coke? It wasn't that long ago that those fountain drinks were a buck or $1.50. Yeah, I know you get refills, but some places won't even give you more than one refill.
Stopped for brunch at a popular local BBQ place last Sunday and it was $2.99. Went to lunch on Monday at an Old Chicago and it was $2.50. I'm all for contributing to the economy when possible, but it seems to be getting ridiculous. Hell, if I were so inclined, it would have been cheaper to drink a freaking bottle of beer.
Jeez, I must be getting old. And get off my lawn!!! :banghead: :-) :-) :-)
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Beverages are historically where restaurants make most of their money. Food not as much. I usually get a refill when I order a soda -- sometimes more than one.
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Damn where do you live??? Most places around here it has gone up but only to about $1.99.
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A couple of places it's cheaper to buy a bottle of beer than a soft drink. That's messed up.
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Ghetto rats(and DUmmies) run the prices up around here on anything that is "All you eat/want".
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Damn where do you live??? Most places around here it has gone up but only to about $1.99.
Central Iowa.
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It's to the point I stick to water.
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Can't remember the last time I drank a soda. If I want something cold it's either unsweetened iced tea or water.
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The food cost for the soda syrup, ice and cup is about two cents an ounce. The equipment is a little pricey and it does require some upkeep and filter changes. It is the bread and butter to help make up for the bottom line in the restaurant business.
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It's not only sit down restaurants. I was on a little road trip yesterday, and stopped by Burger King for a pee break. I got myself a Whopper Jr. and a small soda. It was $3.79, which kind of shocked me. I look at the receipt. $1.79 for the burger, and $1.89 for the dinkiest size cup. I didn't make a stink or anything, but it's the last time they're taking me.
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It's not only sit down restaurants. I was on a little road trip yesterday, and stopped by Burger King for a pee break. I got myself a Whopper Jr. and a small soda. It was $3.79, which kind of shocked me. I look at the receipt. $1.79 for the burger, and $1.89 for the dinkiest size cup. I didn't make a stink or anything, but it's the last time they're taking me.
Water is always a go solution. I stopped drinking diet coke a while ago. We were at a Square One Burger place a few days ago. (A local Florida chain). All they had as Pepsi. That made the decision for water easier. I really can tell the difference, greatly prefer Coke.
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All they had as Pepsi. That made the decision for water easier. I really can tell the difference, greatly prefer Coke.
Years ago when I drank soda, I preferred Pepsi. Coke seemed too sweet and not fizzy enough.
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Years ago when I drank soda, I preferred Pepsi. Coke seemed too sweet and not fizzy enough.
That's so funny, shows beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I always thought pepsi seemed too sweet and too flat. :-)
I did take one of those blind taste tests at a grocery store and picked the Coke over Pepsi in 3 tries. It's all an acquired taste.
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That's so funny, shows beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I always thought pepsi seemed too sweet and too flat. :-)
I did take one of those blind taste tests at a grocery store and picked the Coke over Pepsi in 3 tries. It's all an acquired taste.
Maybe they've mucked around with the formula since I drank it.
Have your ever drank dr. Pepper? That tastes like prune juice to me. My favorite soda was Fresca, before they outlawed the sweetener. Never liked it after they used a substitute.
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What I do notice are these idiots that are taking a bit from each flavored dispenser. I see them getting Sprite and some Koolaid and a dash of dr pepper. :thatsright:
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What I do notice are these idiots that are taking a bit from each flavored dispenser. I see them getting Sprite and some Koolaid and a dash of dr pepper. :thatsright:
And they take forever to do it.
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And they take forever to do it.
In my youth, those sere called "suicides".
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No preference on Coke v. Pepsi but I do notice that Coke Zero goes flat a lot faster than Pepsi One. Must be that one calorie that holds all the carbonation :-)
And what's the deal with all the 10 calorie sodas? Is that to market to men who don't want to drink a "diet" soda? I don't really taste the difference.
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No preference on Coke v. Pepsi but I do notice that Coke Zero goes flat a lot faster than Pepsi One. Must be that one calorie that holds all the carbonation :-)
And what's the deal with all the 10 calorie sodas? Is that to market to men who don't want to drink a "diet" soda? I don't really taste the difference.
I've been drinking diet coke for over 20 years, and don't give a damn if someone thinks it is not "masculine". I simply don't like all the sugar.
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I've been drinking diet coke for over 20 years, and don't give a damn if someone thinks it is not "masculine". I simply don't like all the sugar.
I had switched to Diet Coke for the same reason. Before I quit drinking Diet Coke and switched to water, I was drinking 6-8 cans a day during a 12 hour shift in the summer.
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This may be a rant and could belong elsewhere, but anyway...here goes.
... blah, blah, blah ...
Jeez, I must be getting old. And get off my lawn!!! :banghead: :-) :-) :-)
Old? Did you ever sit at a real soda fountain where they had multiple syrup dispensers? We use to get a "nickel coke" which was a squirt of syrup and then carbonated water. If you asked they would do a squirt of coke and a squirt of vanilla, or cherry. Couple old Greek guys ran the fountain, candy store, cigar store, SS Pierce specialty foods, and, non prescription drugs (cough syrup). They also did frappes and ice cream but that was way more money than I had to spend except on special occasions. Two bits was a hefty sum when I was a kid, had to last you all week. :-)
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No preference on Coke v. Pepsi but I do notice that Coke Zero goes flat a lot faster than Pepsi One. Must be that one calorie that holds all the carbonation :-)
And what's the deal with all the 10 calorie sodas? Is that to market to men who don't want to drink a "diet" soda? I don't really taste the difference.
I like the first sip of Diet Pepsi but after 5 minutes it's flat.
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It's to the point I stick to water.
Maybe it's time for a bath? :bolt:
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My first real job was at Jack in the Box back in 1974. (Texas child labor laws) The management instilled in us that the soda was 5¢ & the cup was 5¢. If we brought our own glass, we could have all the soda we could drink. As Eupher & Rob Johnson said, beverages are where the restaurants make their money. They really don't make much $$ from the food.
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My first real job was at Jack in the Box back in 1974. (Texas child labor laws) The management instilled in us that the soda was 5¢ & the cup was 5¢. If we brought our own glass, we could have all the soda we could drink. As Eupher & Rob Johnson said, beverages are where the restaurants make their money. They really don't make much $$ from the food.
My first job was a clam shack on the Maine Coast ('64) the owner use to say "the first cup pays for the pot, it's all profit after that." On a good day I would make more money in tips than the ole man did for eight on the deckplates.
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My first job was a clam shack on the Maine Coast ('64) the owner use to say "the first cup pays for the pot, it's all profit after that." On a good day I would make more money in tips than the ole man did for eight on the deckplates.
On a good day I would make more money in tips than the ole man did for eight on the deckplates.
[/quote]
Translations needed here, totally at sea on your comment.
What fun working as a kid in a Clam Shack. Get to know human nature, the flow of public want and the problems of supplying them with what they demand.
You Have learned more then the line cooks in the Steak Houses.
You had to know when the boats would come in on the tide, and what your emplorer could serve that night.
Great job as long as you were interested in the job and curious about how things worked.
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On a good day I would make more money in tips than the ole man did for eight on the deckplates.
Translations needed here, totally at sea on your comment.
What fun working as a kid in a Clam Shack. Get to know human nature, the flow of public want and the problems of supplying them with what they demand.
You Have learned more then the line cooks in the Steak Houses.
You had to know when the boats would come in on the tide, and what your emplorer could serve that night.
Great job as long as you were interested in the job and curious about how things worked.
Well now Vesta, I worked in Ogunquit and I knew how to work a room. I could make more on a good night than a yard worker could made in an entire week. :naughty:
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A couple of places it's cheaper to buy a bottle of beer than a soft drink. That's messed up.
HEHE yep thats why I don't drink soda when I go out, the only problem is the beers I drink dont go run $1.50
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Can't remember the last time I drank a soda. If I want something cold it's either unsweetened iced tea or water.
Me too but substitute "beer" for iced tea."
Or "water."
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On a good day I would make more money in tips than the ole man did for eight on the deckplates.
Translations needed here, totally at sea on your comment.
What fun working as a kid in a Clam Shack. Get to know human nature, the flow of public want and the problems of supplying them with what they demand.
You Have learned more then the line cooks in the Steak Houses.
You had to know when the boats would come in on the tide, and what your emplorer could serve that night.
Great job as long as you were interested in the job and curious about how things worked.
You have a great deal of respect for an incredibly thin resume.
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when I dine out I only drink water. too cheap to pay way too high of prices for coffee and I quit drinking soft drinks years ago.
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What I do notice are these idiots that are taking a bit from each flavored dispenser. I see them getting Sprite and some Koolaid and a dash of dr pepper. :thatsright:
In my day we called that a "suicide" and it was in our young taste buds ambrosia!
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My favorite drink as a kid on a hot day was lemonade. No sugar.
Out at a soda shop it was the Coke Float, / best of all was the A&W vanilla ice cream float.
Fall and winter warm apple cider. Years later a shot of apple jack made it even better.
Frappes were fine until the 70's when they made them so thick just to drink it with a straw needed the suckion of a Kerby .
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Uh oh...a vesta quote.
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My favorite drink as a kid on a hot day was lemonade. No sugar.
Out at a soda shop it was the Coke Float, / best of all was the A&W vanilla ice cream float.
Fall and winter warm apple cider. Years later a shot of apple jack made it even better.
Frappes were fine until the 70's when they made them so thick just to drink it with a straw needed the suckion of a Kerby .
Seems to me I knew a couple Kirby girls from Eliot, boy howdy, talk about the chrome off a trailer ball. :whistling:
But the real reason I stopped by this thread, I found a great use for the brandy I used to make brandied cherries. (You drain it off after the drained maraschino cherries have soaked in it for a few weeks thus ending up with Cherry Brandy) It makes an awesome cherry coke. Couple of those will knock your knee socks down 'round the ankles. :yahoo: And it tastes just like a real Cherry Coke.
(Brandied cherries were used in the liquid center chocolate covered cherries for the first time this year. It was a worthwhile project)
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I got sick on maraschino cherries when I was a kid, and can't even the smell of them now, let alone the taste.
But fresh cherries I love.
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I got sick on maraschino cherries when I was a kid, and can't even the smell of them now, let alone the taste.
But fresh cherries I love.
I used to love maraschino cherries in a Shirley Temple.
As I got older I shunned Shirley Temples for the Roy Rogers.
I needed one or 2 of those to get me through a Roy Rogers roundup !
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Old? Did you ever sit at a real soda fountain where they had multiple syrup dispensers? We use to get a "nickel coke" which was a squirt of syrup and then carbonated water. If you asked they would do a squirt of coke and a squirt of vanilla, or cherry. Couple old Greek guys ran the fountain, candy store, cigar store, SS Pierce specialty foods, and, non prescription drugs (cough syrup). They also did frappes and ice cream but that was way more money than I had to spend except on special occasions. Two bits was a hefty sum when I was a kid, had to last you all week. :-)
BTDT. Many an hour spent after school at the 5 and Dime lunch counter drinking vanilla or cherry Cokes and munching down freshly fried potatoes. I saved the money I was supposed to use on school lunch for this treat and an occasional pack of Belairs.
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BTDT. Many an hour spent after school at the 5 and Dime lunch counter drinking vanilla or cherry Cokes and munching down freshly fried potatoes. I saved the money I was supposed to use on school lunch for this treat and an occasional pack of Belairs.
^5 for reminding me of Belairs.
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This may be a rant and could belong elsewhere, but anyway...here goes.
Has anyone noticed how exponentially more restaurants are charging for fountain "drinks/soda/pop/coke"? I do realize that profit margins are thin for a lot of foods served at dine-in restaurants, especially being an accountant and all. I'm also well aware that charging these prices are an easy way for restaurants to pad their pockets. Most businesses do that in one way or another. But $2.99 or $2.50 for a Diet Coke? It wasn't that long ago that those fountain drinks were a buck or $1.50. Yeah, I know you get refills, but some places won't even give you more than one refill.
Stopped for brunch at a popular local BBQ place last Sunday and it was $2.99. Went to lunch on Monday at an Old Chicago and it was $2.50. I'm all for contributing to the economy when possible, but it seems to be getting ridiculous. Hell, if I were so inclined, it would have been cheaper to drink a freaking bottle of beer.
Jeez, I must be getting old. And get off my lawn!!! :banghead: :-) :-) :-)
What's wrong with you? The price of everything has gone up! In the 80s i learned that fountain drinks cost the restaurant 16 cents per cup, that's gotta be up to 32 cents per cup by now! :p :lmao:
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What's wrong with you? The price of everything has gone up! In the 80s i learned that fountain drinks cost the restaurant 16 cents per cup, that's gotta be up to 32 cents per cup by now! :p :lmao:
:-)
Hi Cactus...
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Don't know about other fast food places, but when going to McDonald's, if you want a small drink or small fries, make sure to order them from the dollar menu - and say you are ordering from the dollar menu!
If you don't, you will pay more for the same size! Fries are $.39 more and a drink is about the same.
You will only get the lower prices if you say you are ordering off of the dollar menu. BFF and I found out, when we stopped for a snack a couple of weeks ago. We ordered 2 small drinks and 2 small fries, came up on the screen as the regular price, not the dollar price. Clerk changed it, but only because we were at the order screen. If you wait until you get to the window to pay, they won't change it. We also found that out .... :thatsright:
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I indulged in a huge Greek salad covered with freshly sliced gyro meat and freshly made on the grill pita bread Thursday on Freemont Street in Las Vegas. I ordered a drink, after I did I realized the large was 3.75, about half what I paid for the meal! They had smaller sizes that were refillable at a small cost, I should of been paying attention, I had went almost 24 hours without food and was not thinking clearly.
The food was damn good and I am happy they were able to charge me what they did.
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Speaking of Fremont street...
It strikes me that there are streets in cities that hold the flavor of the whole city...
Lombard
Duval
Bourbon
Beale
Time Square
Just to name a few.
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Speaking of Fremont street...
It strikes me that there are streets in cities that hold the flavor of the whole city...
Lombard
Duval
Bourbon
Beale
Time Square
Just to name a few.
Both hard and soft drinks can be expensive on all of them also.
I really like Michigan Avenue in the Windy City.
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^Nice...and how true !