True. If it worked on potions too, it would have been less useless. But since it works only on foods, why take that talent just to get a 2-point Strength boost out of Dinner, when you can easily get an 11-point boost from a medium potion, *without* needing any talent?
Because that isn't why you take it. 5-Star Dinner w/Dwarven or Elven Stew gives you back 40% health with 1 AP and zero cooldown, plus the small boost you come to think it is good for. That is the strongest/cheapest heal in the game I believe. The stews are super simple to make, cook meat/fish etc = dinner, combine dinner with a beer, which are unlimited from beer barrels and the mugs don't expire. I can easily put 100 of each in 4 players, which that should last most a whole game. I found it very powerful, very.
What is giving you back near 100% health with 2 bubbles, anytime you want and such a low low cost?