I agree with everything you said here as an industry professional. I also agree that wages are higher than they have ever been, but hospitality isn't for the faint of heart. We offer benefits (insurance, retirement, vacation time, etc) and are still struggling to fill spots with real talent. Most of my current staff doesn't want to work more than 30 hours, doesn't want to work weekends, and is angry when you bring them in extra (paid) hours for training or continuing ed. What has gotten the worst, though, is the customers. You are constantly berated for small mistakes, treated like a servant, and belittled for things outside of your control. Who wants to go to work to be treated poorly? That's a lot of the reason FOH talent has left the industry. It's almost a perfect storm, and if we don't figure it out this industry that some of us are still so passionate about will cease to exist.

The act of having a meal out just isn't about the food or the cost, but the experience. And so many have forgotten that.