re: Eating out vs in since Covid

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Many restaurants are booming

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Many are, but who knows how profitable they are.
There are many chains that are having public and private struggles.

Red Lobster is going to file for bankruptcy.
Cracker Barrel is struggling.
Boston Market is closing all or most stores
Outback is closing a bunch of stores.

I know a guy that buys distressed franchises and his business is booming, People can't make ends meet with high labor costs etc.
Another friend is in the food distribution biz and says several of his customers are shutting down.

Anyway... the reality is we still eat out WAY too much, but we certainly don't go out as a family that much anymore, compared to a few years ago. It's absurd to hit a drive-thru for a family of 5 and have it be over $60.

When we go on vacation, the kids are as happy as can be just eating mac & cheese in the condo/hotel and we can avoid the $60 it probably would have cost for 3 meals for them at a vacation-priced restaurant.

I think you will see a lot of consolidation where chains no longer are compelled to have locations every few miles, and just stick to the most accessible and productive locations. I think you'll see affordable and high end restaurants do okay, but the mid-tier ones will struggle.