I didn't put the 15$/hr min wage in my comment to deride it, I think it should be even higher in metro areas. But it is no secret that 30-40% of operating costs

I didn't put the 15$/hr min wage in my comment to deride it, I think it should be even higher in metro areas. But it is no secret that 30-40% of operating costs of a restaurant are employee wages. It is definitely a factor on the price charged to customers. Restaurants (unless you are some michelin star joint) also don't really have the freedom to charge "whatever the customer is willing". Between rent, wages, and local competition, you can pretty much guarantee that there will be an average 10% profit margin in whatever area you are at. IMO, the biggest culprit here is the astronomical rent prices charged to these places sucking out all of the extra capital gained by these 17$ salads