[edwin2]

This last line explains what’s bothered me about the convenient pickup-order trend at restaurants.

The whole point of going to a restaurant is luxury. I find myself turned off by restaurants that I loved before but cheapened themselves after covid.

I don’t want to eat out of plastic bowls with plastic forks. If this is going to be about efficiency, it is no longer about luxury and I don’t want to do it anymore.

Once the focus becomes convenience, the restaurant begins to undermine itself and accidentally starts to complete with more convenient (and cheaper) alternatives like readymade meals at the grocery store or fast food.

Edit: I should also add that going to a restaurant with a group of friends, sharing a meal together, and paying attention to one another - this makes restaurants somewhat of an attention luxury good.