Not for casual, though I guess it depends on where you live.

Assuming you don't order alcohol, and avoid specialty foods (lobster in the Midwest, proper steak pretty much anywhere) it shouldn't be hard to get a meal for two under $50 in most casual places. If I'm willing to spend more than that, we're going straight to fine dining

You'd guess wrong. That is probably for a family of 4 including desert and drinks. Not cheap, but not horrible either.

$37.50/person sounds pretty ridiculously expensive to me for casual dining.

right but it's still not crazy like $150 for 1 person. I spend around $200 a month for one person, so it's not like I'm not cheap :) . I almost never eat out except special occasions like a birthday or the holidays.

It is ridiculous. Excluding drinks, you can eat for $25 per person at a casual restaurant even on the US west coast. But pre Covid, I would say that may have been $15 to $20.

If you are getting an appetizer, dinner, and dessert, then add another $20 to $30, but very, very few people should be eating that many calories and sugar/sat fats.