Author and NYT columnist David Brooks' tweet about $78 meal blows up

Author and New York Times opinion columnist David Brooks shared a photo of food and a drink, noting that the meal he purchased at an airport cost him a whopping $78.

"This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible," Brooks wrote.

While he shared a photo, Brooks did not mention what restaurant he had ordered the meal from. His post has amassed more than 29 million views on X so far.

"No, Americans think (and know) the economy is terrible based on the price of regular groceries at their local supermarket. Not because of lunch at an airport with a glass of alcohol on the side," Kimberly Ross tweeted in response to Brooks' post.

"I'm going to need to know the brand of whiskey before I can judge the appropriateness of this bill," Ben Dreyfuss tweeted.

"When you've had a few and blame the economy for your tab," George Takei wrote.

"That same meal at Newark Airport cost me just over $17 (Smokehouse Restaurant, right?) And yes, David, airport food is more expensive (not $78, just $17), because travelers are captive consumers so the market pushes up the price. But you know all this...you're just lying," Kurt Eichenwald wrote. In another post he added, "...and by the way, I just noticed the scotch. How many did you buy to hit $78? Maybe buy a water next time, like I do. Best not to be one of those drunkards on the plane."

1911 Smoke House Barbeque shared a post on Facebook that suggesting that alchol was to blame for the high price of the meal. "Looks like someone was knocking back some serious drinks - Bar tab was almost 80% and he's complaining about the cost of his meal," the post stated, adding, "keep drinking buddy - we get paid off everything."

"We will probably do a David Brooks special thanks to all the publicity he's given us," 1911 owner Maurice Hallett noted, according to the New York Post. "It'll be a cheeseburger and a double whiskey." The Post reported that Hallett guessed that for the bill to be $78 Brooks would have needed to order "two doubles." He noted that a double whiskey goes for between $28 and $29, according to the outlet.

The restaurant is already advertising a "D BROOKS SPECIAL" for $17.78.

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