Tag: Food & Drink

The average American spends over $2,500 a year eating out

Two in three Americans (67%) feel guilty when dining out, according to a new poll.

A recent survey of 2,000 American adults revealed that tighter budgets have made eating out less enjoyable than before, with almost a quarter (23%) reporting the simple act of spending money on a meal out is stressful and 44% saying the guilt is a result of both the act of spending and the amount spent.

Two in three Americans feel guilty eating out. Getty Images

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of The Habit Burger, the research found that Americans are getting creative to make the most of their money when choosing outside food options, from kids’ menu hacks to customizations and ordering off of secret menus.

In fact, three-fourths of Americans believe adults should be allowed to order from the kids’ menu (77%).

41% enjoy using coupons while eating out. SWNS

And although most think age shouldn’t stop you from enjoying a kids’ meal, only one in five have had the bravery to order off the kids’ menu (21%).

But it hasn’t always gone smoothly: A third of Americans who have tried to order off of the kids’ menu have felt embarrassed in the moment and a similar percentage have even been denied (34%).

And, a quarter of those surveyed have used a hack they’ve seen on social media to make their money go a little further when dining out (24%).

Those who have used hacks shared some of their favorite ones, like using coupons (41%), taking advantage of special offers (34%) or ordering a meal that will give them enough food for leftovers (28%).

24% use hacks they see on social media to maximize their dining out experience. SWNS

“We’ve spotted a trend: Savvy adults covertly ordering off the kids’ menu to manage expenses,” said Jack Hinchliffe, chief marketing officer at The Habit Burger Grill. “But why the hush-hush? We say, own it! That’s why we’re flipping the script by allowing grown-ups to experience kid’s meals, giving them the savings you’d get from ordering a kid’s meal but without the child-size portion. It’s guilt-free savings and grown-up-sized food. Why should kids have all the fun?”

The research revealed a snapshot of Americans’ dining out tendencies and found that the average person spends more than $2,500 a year on eating out.

But nearly seven in ten Americans (67%) are currently stressed about money and 39% have decreased their dining out budget over the past year in response.

3 out of 4 adults are in favor of ordering from the kids’ menu. SWNS

It doesn’t help that, according to nearly eight in ten respondents (78%), restaurant prices have also increased over the past year.

And for nearly half of those surveyed, payday means treating yourself: 48% said they’re more likely to eat out shortly after receiving their paycheck compared to any other time.

Yet, one in six Americans said that they always find themselves refraining from ordering the menu item they really want in favor of a cheaper item.

1 in 6 Americans order a cheaper item instead of what they actually want. SWNS

A third of respondents eat at least three meals out a week, with the average respondent spending $51.70 per week.

On average, those surveyed have varying tastes when it comes to dining out, eating at both fine-dining and casual restaurants twice a month.

Fast-casual restaurants are more common, at three times a month — and fast food is even more popular, with the average respondent eating this four times a month.

1/3 of Americans who have tried to order off the kids’ menu have felt embarrassed. SWNS

Ideally, those surveyed would be willing to spend $20.30 on their ideal meal, although 53% would prefer an even cheaper meal option.

“It’s tough out there right now and finding a meal that satisfies when it comes to quality and cost can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack,” said Hinchliffe. “We’ve stayed true to a simple philosophy: Consistently delivering fresh, chargrilled food at affordable, everyday value. It’s not just about the meal; it’s about an experience shared with friends or family that you can feel good about.”

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by The Habit Burger between Feb. 20 and Feb. 25, 2024. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).

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TikTok onion peeling hack put to the test

Never in my wildest dreams have I ever thought of slicing up an onion with a potato peeler. But here we are. And we can thank random TikTok videos for getting us here. 

In the same way that I found the ‘clever’ way to cut an onion with no tears, I stumbled upon a wild way of slicing an onion into thin strips. Perfect for salads and not too thick to ruin the salad. 

It sounds like another useless hack, but I’m all in!

How to peel an onion with a potato peeler

The hack is as simple as it seems. Use a potato peeler the same way you would to peel a potato but apply it to a peeled onion. 

Cut the onion in half first, to ensure you have a flat surface to work with rather than a rounded edge. Then simply slice down on one half of the onion and in a matter of seconds, you’ll have a bowl full of thinly sliced onions. 

Fry them up, toss them in a salad.. do whatever you like – they’re your onions. 

The verdict is in and so are the critics

Understandably, the hack was met with a little bit of skepticism. 

Liz Macri, Kidspot’s Kitchen Editor, was the first to voice the fact that she wasn’t convinced. 

A woman has gone viral on TikTok for revealing her onion cutting hack.
TikTok/@yaaaasyiayia
The woman uses a peeler to cut onions.
TikTok/@yaaaasyiayia


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When others tried to replicate the hack, results were mixed.
TikTok/@yaaaasyiayia


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“I am doubtful that this would work well. I don’t think the onion would stay together or be evenly chopped. It would also bruise easily on the edges. I’ll pass…”

Mom Nama also wasn’t buying it: “This looks good in theory but I think it would take more effort than what it’s worth. I’d prefer to just whip out the knife,” she said. 

Does it actually work? 

Well, putting after putting the clever hack to the test, I can confirm that both predictions above are not far off for how things ended up for me in the kitchen.

To give you a quick, answer the hack DOES work!

The peeler does slice the onion well but it was a bit of a messy experience. As the image above shows, the thickness of each slice varied and at times the onion got stuck in the peeler, which resulted in me having to unpick random bits of onion. 

So yes, it did work. But no, it wasn’t exactly easier than just slicing it up the good old-fashioned way – with a knife and a trusty chopping board. 

Perhaps it was the type of peeler I had, or perhaps it was just another dodgy hack that tricked us. You decide…

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I’m a Starbucks barista — We’ve been out of ‘espresso and dignity’ for 2 months

Where have you bean?

A Starbucks barista on TikTok is claiming her store has been out of espresso for two months — meaning that mochas, cappuccinos and lattes are a no-go.

TikTok user @toreeisnotdead took to the social media platform last week to share her “help” message in a clip that has served more than 325,000 views.

In the video, the barista shows herself standing at the register, with a sign above her head that reads “No espresso but…,” along with a big red stop sign.

Below the stop sign, the store lists the items available for purchase, such as cold brew, chai tea, iced tea, refreshers and more.


“Pistachio your way,” but apparently not espresso any way at this Starbucks store.
toreeisnotdead/Tiktok

“Happy 2 month anniversary of still no espresso 🤎,” the TikToker wrote of her store in white text over the clip. She appears to be based in New Jersey.

The Post reached out to Starbucks and the TikTok creator for comment.

In another shot, the barista shows a long tally of customers reportedly asking, “Omg it’s still broken?” On a white board, a list of items the store is allegedly out of include “espresso, dignity and cinnamon.”

In the comments section, several employees and customers offered their sorrowful stories of missing restaurant items or non-working equipment.

“One time our water was down and all we could serve was food😭,” one user laughed.

Another alleged, “My Starbucks before I moved had no espresso over Christmas holiday shopping (inside target) and in late Jan still broken. I still think about them🫡.”

“Wow the Starbucks I went to last weekend ONLY had espresso drinks and cold brew,” someone else disclosed.

Another viewer divulged, “Once both our coffee brewer and our espresso machine was down at the same time for about a week 😪.”

Others found the barista’s misfortune amusing, with one user even joking about “realistic barista TikTok.”

“Finally on realistic barista tok,” the person typed.

A different user confessed, “As a barista that isn’t religious, i’m praying for y’all-.”


The store has a tally going for the number of times people reportedly asked about espresso drinks.
toreeisnotdead/Tiktok

One Starbucks employee shows off the sign to alert customers.
toreeisnotdead/Tiktok

In another video posted to her TikTok account, @toreeisnotdead claimed that a few days earlier, the store had also run out of coffee.

This is not the first time Starbucks baristas have taken to TikTok to air their struggles. In January, one barista revealed she mistook a customer for a dog when taking an order at the drive-thru, while another shared she had been making decaf coffee for three months instead of serving up the regular brew.

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NYC can’t get enough of alcohol-free spirit The Pathfinder

About six months ago, Brooklynite Gabriel Dunn was gifted a bottle of The Pathfinder, an elixir concealed behind dark glass, wrapped in an old-timey sepia tone label. He was immediately hooked.

“I was basically going through a bottle every week, or every other week. The consistency is really good. It’s a great winter beverage,” Dunn, who works in academia and runs a small record label, told The Post.

But The Pathfinder, which the 42-year-old said he typically drinks neat, doesn’t get you tipsy. The zero proof drink is fermented and distilled from hemp, and has characteristics similar to an amaro. According to enthusiasts, it’s a viable stand in for the real stuff.

“For me it was a great whiskey substitute,” said Dunn, who gave up booze last year.


Douglas Watters at Spirited Away in Nolita has issued a one bottle per customer rule.
Tamara Beckwith/NY POST

Now Dunn and others are having trouble finding a $39 bottle of their favorite drink on shelves. Because even though there’s no hooch in it, it’s creating a major collective buzz.

Off the heels of strong holiday sales, Dry January, and an unfortunate supply chain issue with bottles, their waitlist is now 800 people deep, according to the brand’s global ambassador Kraig Rovensky.

Spirited Away in Nolita, a shop that sells nonalcoholic beverages, has instituted a one bottle per customer rule while other specialty stores like Boisson are out of stock in some locations.


This week, Spirited Away noted their one bottle policy for the Pathfinder.
spiritedaway.co/Instagram

The Pathfinder has become the Pappy Van Winkle of the nonalcoholic drink world.

“It’s beginning to get a cult following,” said Juan Beltran who helps run Minus Moonshine, another booze-free beverage shop in Williamsburg. “It has gained a lot of popularity in the last few months. Three weeks ago, we got six cases in, and they are sold out. It goes quickly. It went from being one of our top sellers to our number one selling spirit,” added Beltran, who drinks his over a large ice cube, or with some bitters and an orange twist. He also uses it in booze free Negronis and Boulevardiers in place of sweet vermouth.


Pathfinder can be enjoyed neat, or made into a cocktail.
Pathfinder

But the creators of The Pathfinder, a group of liquor industry veterans, weren’t aiming to be elusive or exclusive.

“For us, we wanted to make something that would tantalize the senses and if you were drinking it, you wouldn’t feel like you were at the kid’s table,” Rovensky told The Post.

Initially launched in June 2021 in Seattle, makers started selling it nationwide in January 2022 and saw explosive growth month over month. But this past December as holidays approached and word of mouth spread, their figures doubled from November — and their popularity has only grown.


Juan Beltran of Minus Moonshine says Pathfinder is their top selling non alcoholic spirit.
courtesy of Minus Moonshine

“It’s in high demand. It’s unique and unlike anything else I sell. It’s a distinct flavor,” said Douglas Watters, who owns Spirited Away, where there’s a one-bottle-per-customer rule for the popular beverage.

“We got a new shipment, and I want to make sure this lasts since I know they are facing some production issues.”

In addition to retail outlets, The Pathfinder can also be found behind the bar at hotspots like Death and Co, Mace, Sunken Harbor Club and Eleven Madison Park.

“We have won over a lot of skeptics,” said Rovensky.

He said the bottle situation is being resolved and they hope to have a production run done by early March.

“I’ve been bartending for years, and I don’t like to tell people no,” he quipped.

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Woman jumps McDonald’s counter, makes own burger in wild rampage

This McDonald’s meal came with additional charges.

A woman has been arrested after she was seen in a viral TikTok video screaming at McDonald’s staff before jumping the counter and making herself a burger.

The 19-year-old — who has not been publicly named and shamed — was subsequently charged with disorderly behavior, property damage and assault over the incident, which occurred in Adelaide, Australia, last week.

The cause of the crop-top-clad customer’s outburst was unclear, but the TikTok clip showed her hurling abuse at stunned employees.

“I will beat you up or I will leave!” the unruly patron can be seen shouting in the video, which has clocked more than 75,000 views.

The woman then wanders into the back kitchen, where she nonsensically screams at more staff before making herself a burger.

She later helps herself to a bottle of water from inside a refrigerator before eventually being detained by two cops.

WARNING: Video contains graphic language

The cause of the crop-top-clad customer’s outburst was unclear, but the TikTok clip showed her hurling abuse at stunned employees after jumping the counter.
TikTok/@_bae_angle_

Police allege the culprit hurled the water bottle at a patron — leading to the assault charge.

TikTok viewers were left stunned by her brazen antics, with one writing: “It’s really sad people have to go to work and deal with this stuff.”

“People need to pay for their actions,” another wrote, saying they hope the customer faces the full force of the law.

Brazen: The shameless woman helped herself to a bottle of water from the refrigerator as one of the employees called the cops.
TikTok/@_bae_angle_
Whoops! The 19-year-old was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, property damage and assault.
TikTok/@_bae_angle_

But while the woman’s antics may have stunned TikTok, it’s not the only fast food franchise incident to incite headlines in recent months.

Back in August, an employee at a Brooklyn McDonald’s was shot and killed by a customer who reportedly complained about cold fries.

Meanwhile, a video going viral on Twitter this week shows several women brawling with workers at a Waffle House in Austin, Texas, after they became angered by slow service.

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Disneyland charges $185 for a shot of booze in waffle cup

You may need more than your holiday spending money to be able to afford this luxurious Disneyland drink.

Visitors to the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa can purchase a $185 holiday drink that pairs nicely with the ever-soaring Mouse House admission prices.

Featured on the hotel’s 2022 holiday cart, the “waffle shot” is presented in a waffle cone-like base that is lined with milk or white chocolate.

You can order it non-alcoholic with milk or egg nog or choose from 11 different liquors, including Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, Bailey’s Irish Cream or amaretto — which come in at a more reasonable $17 a shot.

One secretive option on the menu, though, dares guests to “inquire” about its price. That intoxicatingly hyped option would be made with Remy Martin Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac — which retails for a sobering $4,000 a bottle.

Both SFGATE and the St. Louis Post Dispatch report that a standard 1.5-ounce pour of Louis XIII could total up to $500, so Disneyland’s $185 price tag actually coincides with market value.

The hotel’s cart also offers Mickey Mouse head-shaped cookies as well as spiked hot chocolate, and cider can be ordered with reasonably priced spirits so that parkgoers still have money to spend on souvenirs.

Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is decked out for the 2022 holiday season in Anaheim, California.
GC Images

Meanwhile, visitors should just be sure to double-check the Happiest Place on Earth’s dress code before planning a visit, or they could wind up like one woman who violated the rules — but not for the reason you may immediately think.

Another woman claimed she was given a free T-shirt when her Minnie Mouse backless blouse was deemed unacceptable and in violation of the park’s dress code.

Meanwhile, at Disney World, fans have one month to ride “Splash Mountain” in its current state before the attraction undergoes construction to become “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure,” which is based on the 2009 film “The Princess and the Frog.

The hotel also offers Mickey Mouse head-shaped cookies as well as spiked hot chocolate, and cider can be ordered with reasonably priced spirits so that parkgoers still have money to spend on souvenirs.
NurPhoto via Getty Images



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