The Cost of Dining Out: a Look Back

I found the equivalent of a food time machine last night at El Patio in the form of a menu from the mid 1960’s that owner David Joseph recently came across.

Joseph, who was not yet born when his parents opened the restaurant in 1954, will join us shortly on Dining Out with Rob for a Podcast on this iconic Tex Mex joint.

How’s this for pricing? An order of three bean and cheese tacos was $.65. The famous El Patio No. 1 dinner was $1.45 (now $10.65). A glass of wine was $.20. A coke was $.10 (now $1.95). Three cheese enchiladas with beans and rice was $.85 (now $7.50).

I suggested to Joseph that he should have a “roll back” day to those prices, just for grins. He was not amused.

El Patio is still listed as “inexpensive” on many dining guides. And it certainly is. There are some high-end Sushi joints around town that charge for an appetizer what would be the cost of an entire dinner at El Patio.

But still interesting to see what folks were paying 50-years-ago.