Wow, high end restaurants have changed what they serve over time!

My investigation on changes in the price of going to the prom in the Wall Street Jorurnal (see here) got a number of comments and emails.  The most interesting email came from Marie Concannon.  She is one of the head librarians at the University of Missouri.  Ms. Concannon created a web site called “Prices and Wages by Decade” (click here).  It contains links to the retail prices for all sorts of things that people buy like food, clothing, transportation, housing and education.

For example, I didn’t know there is an online collection of restaurant menus (click here) that show what was served and the price of items.  Delmonico’s is a very famous steak restaurant that started in New York City.  While it has been through various incantations and owners, there has been a high end restaurant by that name on Beaver Street for a long time.  You can compare their online menu (click here) of today, with the menu from 1899 (click here).

Two things jumped out at me comparing the menus.  First, today Delmonico’s focuses on steak.  The current dinner menu has at least nine steak items ranging from the Prime New York Strip for $49 to the olive fed Japanese Wagyu Rib Eye for $150.  For those outraged by the $150 price, check out my post about eating and paying for Wagyu beef (click here).  In 1899 the menu has just two steak items; the sirloin of beef with mashed carrots, for the bargain price of just 75 cents, and the tournedos of beef for $2.50.  While I was not alive in 1899 to try the tournedos, my best guess is this was like today’s filet Mignon.

While today’s menu is steak focused the Delmonico’s from over a century ago was the place to eat duck.   The menu has five duck entrees and some were more expensive than the steak.  You could go cheap and eat either the Ruddy duck or the Mallard duck for $1.50.  This was double the cost of the sirloin!  You could spend a bit more and have the Duckling for $2.50.  If you were a high end duck eater they offered Red-headed duck for $3.50 or Canvas-backed duck for $4.  The current menu doesn’t have even a single duck entry.  I enjoy eating duck and have been to many restaurants but I have never seen a choice of duck on a modern menu, never mind seeing five types.

The second thing that jumped out was that the cost of eating in a fancy New York City restaurant has not changed dramatically since 1899.  While official government consumer price indexes only go back to 1913, numerous economic historians have constructed series which cover a longer time frame.  Using data in the Historical Statistics of the U.S. shows overall consumer prices have increased about 28 times since 1899.  This means something that cost $1 in 1899 should cost around $28 today.

Adjusting the 1899 menu by multiplying all the prices by 28 shows some things are cheaper than their modern day counterparts.  In general the cost of eating poultry in a nice restaurant appears to have come down.  For example in 1899 Delmonico sold a half-chicken for $1.25, or $35 in today’s prices.  The current menu has chicken for $30.  The $1.50 Ruddy or Mallard ducks would cost about $41 today, while the high end Canvas-backed duck would cost about $112.

Today the filet mignon costs $49.  Multiplying the tournedos price of $2.50 by 28 means dinners 100+ years ago paid $70 for their beef in today’s terms.  The low end sirloin used to cost 75 cents.  After adjusting for price changes today it would go for about $21.  Without eating either steak it is impossible to say if steak’s price went up or down, because the quality and quantity of beef likely changed over time.

In general it doesn’t matter if you a beef eater, duck lover or even vegetarian. If you are looking some information on prices over time, Marie Concannon’s “Prices and Wages by Decade” website is a great resource.

119 thoughts on “Wow, high end restaurants have changed what they serve over time!”

  7. If you are having questions about Online ling sites Which web is the best? And looking for a website for risking good luck playing a website, เว็บพนันคาสิโนออนไลน์ is the answer, we are a website that offers a complete online risk-taking service Whether it is a risk of luck, online football, the best price

  8. The Championships are Wm casino911 promoted, play-off and relegated by Derby with Wayne Rooney as manager. Narrowly escaped just 1 point after losing 6 of the last 7 games this season

  9. The Championships are Wm casino1668 promoted, play-off and relegated by Derby with Wayne Rooney as manager. Narrowly escaped just 1 point after losing 6 of the last 7 games this season

  12. Former Everton footballer Andy gclubอันดับ1 Gray, now turned into that guru. Said it is not wrong if Liverpool are angry at Manchester United to send an unstable outfit to play against Leicester and believe that Ole Gunnar Solcha, the “Red Devils” coach, will not send the same team down. Playing against Liverpool for sure

  13. Former Everton footballer Andy Gclub เอเย่นต์ Gray, now turned into that guru. Said it is not wrong if Liverpool are angry at Manchester United to send an unstable outfit to play against Leicester and believe that Ole Gunnar Solcha, the “Red Devils” coach, will not send the same team down. Playing against Liverpool for sure

  14. Former Everton footballer Andy sa-gaming Gray, now turned into that guru. Said it is not wrong if Liverpool are angry at Manchester United to send an unstable outfit to play against Leicester and believe that Ole Gunnar Solcha, the “Red Devils” coach, will not send the same team down. Playing against Liverpool for sure

  15. Former Everton footballer Andy sa gaming 168 Gray, now turned into that guru. Said it is not wrong if Liverpool are angry at Manchester United to send an unstable outfit to play against Leicester and believe that Ole Gunnar Solcha, the “Red Devils” coach, will not send the same team down. Playing against Liverpool for sure

  16. ลูกค้าสามารถเลือกทดลองเล่น เกมส์ได้ตามความต้องการ โดยทางทีมงานของเราได้จัดเตรียมเครดิตท่านท่านได้ ทดลองเล่นสล็อตฟรี ก่อนสมัครสมาชิกเล่นกับเว็บของเรา พุซซี่ 888 ………

  17. เกม Arctic Treasureเกมส์สล็อต มีฟีเจอร์พิเศษ รวมไปถึงรางวัลโบนัสที่ขนมาแจกให้ผู้เล่นอย่างมากมาย ที่ได้รับความนิยมแล้วก็มาแรง 2020

    ………

  21. Recently สล็อตออนไลน์ แจกเครดิต Aum Patcharapa has posted a picture of herself wearing jeans showing off her perfect figure via Instagram. @aum_patchrapa But that causes many eyes to focus on another point. Besides her beauty, it is Shoe racks lined with hundreds of different styles of shoes are neatly arranged in a lavish room that thinks that a top brand shoe shop is supposed to be.

  26. The Daily Mail reported that the British Even the Abu Dhabi Capital Group Which sits on the board of directors of the Manchester City team, ready to approve the injection of funds for the team to shop for big-name players into the team. But it is expected that there will พนันบอล limited amount. As a result, the team needed to release the excess players first. In order to finance the grab Harry Kane Striker Tottenham Hotspur Hotspur and Jack Green, Lichfield offensive midfielder from Aston Villa to play in Rieti Etihad Stadium next season.

  27. Challenge Green Wisdom, Green Beam, Flute, Green Wisdom, Beam… Bie, Kham… Kham Kham… Bhee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee… Challenging the cutting board to the cutting board in it will deliver limited. Sent to the players การพนันออนไลน์on the chopping board Khmer, chopping board, chopping board, chopping board, Khmer… Dare to speak and dare Gaz Grealish Grealish dare to speak from Ataki to play in the Etihad Stadium ahead.

  28. Challenge Green Wisdom, Green Beam, Flute, Green Wisdom, Beam… Bie, Kham… Kham Kham… Bhee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee pee… Challenging the cutting board to the cutting board in it will deliver limited. Sent to the players สล็อต168 on the chopping board Khmer, chopping board, chopping board, chopping board, Khmer… Dare to speak and dare Gaz Grealish Grealish dare to speak from Ataki to play in the Etihad Stadium ahead.

  30. ใหม่! บริการหวยออนไลน์ทุกชนิด ไม่ว่าจะเป็นหวยรัฐบาลไทย หวยฮานอย หวยลาว หวยลาวพัฒนา หวยลาวสามัคคีและหวยหุ้น พร้อมอัตราจ่ายสูงสุด 900 บาท รับเงินทันทีหลังผลออก ซื้อง่ายผ่านไลน์ ไม่ต้องเติมเครดิต แอดเลย! Line: @lnwsiam (มี@นำหน้า) https://lnwsiam.com/

  31. You can get links to your web site or blog on just about any mobile device these days and luckily Apple has made it even easier to get things set up. The most important thing to know is that iPhones have web browsing capabilities just like the average PC. However, unlike a PC, you can’t just point and click at something and have it open in the internet.
    Dark Web Links

  32. LSM99 เว็บตรง ไม่ผ่านเอเย่น 100%
    สมัครสมาชิก LSM99 เว็บตรง สมัครง่าย ท่านสามารถสมัครแทงบอล หวย คาสิโน เกมส์ออนไลน์ ครบจบในเว็บเดียว โดยไม่ต้องสมัครหลาย Username ให้ยุ่งยาก เพราะเราคือเว็บตรงไม่ผ่านเอเย่น 100% สมัครฟรี ไม่มีค่าใช้จ่าย ให้บริการโดยทีมงานคุณภาพ พร้อมให้บริการลูกค้าทุกท่านตลอด 24 ชั่วโมง

  33. ISC888 คาสิโนออนไลน์ เกมสล็อตอันดับ 1 ของไทย สมัครสมาชิกรับเครดิตฟรี 300 บาท ไม่ต้องฝาก ทางเข้า อัพเดทล่าสุด 2021 แอดไลน์ : @newisc888

  34. ISC888 คาสิโนออนไลน์ เกมสล็อตอันดับ 1 ของไทย สมัครสมาชิกรับเครดิตฟรี 300 บาท ไม่ต้องฝาก ทางเข้า อัพเดทล่าสุด 2021 แอดไลน์ : @newisc888

  37. Kadınlar için iç giyim kadar önemli olan şeylerden birisi de çoraplardır. Kadın çorap satın alırken mutlaka kıyafete göre tercih belirlemesi gerekir. Örneğin mini bir eteğin altına giyilebilecek bir çorap seçerken hem seksiliğini hem de şıklığını ön plana çıkarması gerekir. Renk ve model seçimi konusunda da tercih kadına bağlıdır. Ancak burada da dikkat edilmesi gereken husus bacak boyu ve bacakların ince ya da kalın olup olmamasıyla alakalıdır. Kısacası kışın kıyafet seçimi biraz daha kolaylaşırken yazın birbirini tamamlayacak olan aksesuarlarla hem iç giyim hem de dış giyimin uyumlu bir şekilde planlanması gerekir. Aksi takdirde kıyafetler birbirini tamamlayamayacağı gibi kadının şıklığını da geri plana atacaktır. Bir kadın için ise bu çok sıkıntılı bir durumdur.

    Referans : https://vixlove.com/

  41. เกมส์มือถือออนไลน์ ยิ่งเล่นยิ่งรวย ขั้นต่ำเริ่ม 1 บาท
    อยากรวยคลิก >> https://bit.ly/3yGmPhp

  45. یکی از پرکاربردترین مصالحی که در ساختمان سازی از آن استفاده می شود , کاشی و سرامیک است که خود انواع متعددی دارد ایفاسرام و در قسمت های مختلف یک ساختمان از جمله : آشپزخانه , حمام و سرویس بهداشتی , حیاط , پارکینگ و حتی نمای ساختمان کاربرد دارند.

Comments are closed.