Not sure where you're getting those numbers in your first paragraph (other than the minimum wage increases).
I live and work in the downtown part of San Jose, and on some days of the week work in downtown SF (SoMa near Caltrain).
I rarely spend $12-15 (more so in SJ but also in SF). Usually the significant cost is adding a soft drink of some sort (soda, juice, tea, etc.) because I'm finding restaurants are increasing the price of those for whatever reason ($2.50 at some).
Definitely wouldn't say $10 for a full meal is "unrealistically low". Perhaps it's really a matter of choice. Some people prefer to get lunch often from New American restaurants and similar where you need to tip, etc. Some don't mind going to simpler places like a taco truck around the corner, or Panera Bread/Chipotle/etc. (although I will easily admit Panera's cost has increasingly gotten more expensive, as you describe).
> because I'm finding restaurants are increasing the price of those for whatever reason ($2.50 at some).
Soft drinks are easy money. Receive, unpack, refrigerate,sell.
A soft drink that costs $0.10 to buy in a store and sells for $2.5. That's a 2500% profit margin.
If the delivery system is not a bottled/canned productbut comes in a keg, and can deliver 50 litres instead of 330ml then the margin is higher.
Of course the expenses of electricity, storage, labor, remain, but it makes a sweeter deal for the restoranteur to employ their staff for 10% of the time with 2500% margin.
I remember watching Gordon Ramsay in many of his episodes stating that restos are/should be operating with a 25% margin.
I live and work in the downtown part of San Jose, and on some days of the week work in downtown SF (SoMa near Caltrain).
I rarely spend $12-15 (more so in SJ but also in SF). Usually the significant cost is adding a soft drink of some sort (soda, juice, tea, etc.) because I'm finding restaurants are increasing the price of those for whatever reason ($2.50 at some).
Definitely wouldn't say $10 for a full meal is "unrealistically low". Perhaps it's really a matter of choice. Some people prefer to get lunch often from New American restaurants and similar where you need to tip, etc. Some don't mind going to simpler places like a taco truck around the corner, or Panera Bread/Chipotle/etc. (although I will easily admit Panera's cost has increasingly gotten more expensive, as you describe).