ehickox

The world needs more folks like you who are skilled in cost-benefit analysis.

Fair enough. I'm sure it's happening in nearly all large metro areas in developed nations. I only said that because I hadn't noticed this trend (at least not to this extreme degree) in the course of visiting other large metro areas in the US.

More optimistically, I believe the solution is for people to start seeking out the "critically underrated" ~3 star restaurants and start realizing that these supposed "trendy" places were never that great beyond their gimmick.

Yeah I'm sure this phenomenon is happening in other large metro areas. I'm sure it's just as bad in NY.

Thank you for calling out the restaurant issue in SF. Everyone seems to think it's normal and perfectly fine to wait 30+ minutes (My average is closer to 1.5 hrs at 'trendy' or 'gimmicky' places) for a table. Also the postage-stamp sized restaurants with like 4 tables. This is a uniquely SF setup for restaurants and it drives me nuts.

I generally love the taste and diversity of food in SF, but I feel like restaurant owners don't value their customers, nor their customer's time when they open a restaurant like this.

My new rule is: if the wait is 30 minutes or more, I go somewhere else. No exceptions. Honestly, I've fallen out of touch with many friends because of this rule, but my time is worth more than that. I actively try to patronize the "critically underrated" places that are good, but have no line down the block.

I'm sorry what? To me, and probably most people, that sounds like workaholism. No vacation? How do you maintain your sanity? Don't you feel the need to disconnect every once in a while?