Good post and all valid points. I know I wouldn't want to be trying to be opening one of these locations at this time. I was in the store Saturday and ribeye was $9.50 a lb up here in Montana. Sure glad I have a freezer full of elk meat.
And there is no way that these eateries can pass the entire burden onto the customer or their meals will start costing $10+ a pop and no one is going to pay that for a sandwich.
Sure they will because it applies to everybody. People are not going to stop eating sandwiches.