Journalist Gets Trolled Online After Complaints About Pricey Airport Meal

Anyone who likes to sit down and grab a meal before a flight has probably noticed that, post-pandemic, airport restaurants have gouged their already steep prices. But for those who don't want to pay for convenience, thankfully there are comparatively less exorbitant grab-and-go options scattered through most major airports. Or, if you really want to be frugal, there's nothing stopping you from bringing your own snacks from home.

In other words, the price of an airport restaurant meal, unreasonable as it may be in our inflationary times, should probably be the least of anyone's problems. Unfortunately, author and New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks apparently did not get that memo, and as a result, has found himself the main character of the internet for the day.

"This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport," Brooks posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday evening, along with a photo of a burger, fries, side salad, and what appears to be a whiskey on the rocks. "This is why Americans think the economy is terrible."

Brooks's post almost immediately went viral, as people jumped into his mentions to ridicule him. "Thank you for this brave statement, sir," wrote Emmy-nominated TV writer and comedian Mike Drucker. "This is why I encourage people to never do their grocery shopping at Newark Liberty International Airport."

"It’s true, you guys. My family has had to cut back to only eating at airport restaurants 4 nights a week," quipped comedian and screenwriter Jay Black, adding a succinct all-caps "THANKS JOE BIDEN!"

But if the ridicule of the internet wasn't bad enough, soon it got worse. Amateur sleuths managed to track down the restaurant Brooks was dining at—the Smokehouse Restaurant in Newark Airport, Terminal A—and found that shockingly, the burger and fries in the photo cost just $17, and that the rest of the tab was likely whiskey.

It wasn't long before users flooded the post's community notes to point out the evidence.

As the jokes continued to snowball, it didn't take long before Brooks's post to turn into a full blown meme, as others piled onto the platform with examples of other meals that cost $78 or more.

To add literal insult to injury, the restaurant responded on social media, ridiculing Brooks over his bar tab that was allegedly nearly "80 percent" of his tab.

"Looks like someone was knocking back some serious drinks—bar tab was almost 80 percent and he's complaining about the cost of his meal," the 1911 Smoke House Barbeque wrote on Facebook. "Keep drinking buddy—we get paid off everything."

Perhaps next time, he'll stick to Au Bon Pain and maybe hit an edible before arriving at the airport if he needs something to take the edge off.