I’m skeptical about the broad success of the Tesla Diner, beyond a very affluent clientele, especially considering the food prices. For example, a Tesla Burger is $13.50, and a hot dog is $13, with other items like a Diner Club at $15 or Fried Chicken & Waffles at $13.50. While some initial reviews have been positive, praising the “retro-futuristic” vibe and the convenience of combining dining with charging, other commenters have found the prices to be high for what’s offered, even for an LA location.
Mark Vaughn from Autoweek, who waited two hours for a Tesla Burger, offered a mixed but ultimately positive review, stating, “The burger is one of those smashburger-type things with lettuce and some kind of sauce. It is delicious. Maybe because I am famished. I think one of the Alpinestars Monty V2 moto-boots I’m wearing would have been delicious at this point. So take that with a grain of salt. Except there was no salt available. No napkins, either1.” His experience highlights the potential for the long wait to influence perception and the lack of basic amenities like salt and napkins.
However, I believe the diner’s true success will stem from its primary function as a charging hub. Tesla is clearly making money from its Supercharging business. While the “Services & Other” category (which includes Supercharging) traditionally ran near break-even, recent reports indicate a significant increase in revenue and profit for this segment, partly due to increased volume and non-Tesla vehicles utilizing the chargers. The integration of 80 V4 Superchargers at the LA diner offers a significant convenience that could drive consistent traffic, making the food and entertainment an added bonus rather than the sole draw.
Essentially, the diner might struggle as a standalone restaurant business due to pricing and initial operational kinks, but its integration with the highly profitable and in-demand Supercharger network is likely to ensure its overall success.
help from Gemini.
https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/a65482296/tesla-burger-review