Comments: Don't Let Restaurants Rip You Off

I was surprised at how many comments I received about the post titled "Don't Let Restaurants Rip You Off". Let's start with this tip/gross out comment:

One thing I have heard from people who should know (regarding "specials"). They have told me to never order the "specials" from Chinese food restaurants, especially if it has to do with fish. Most of the times it's the slightly older fish that needs to be used up, and they just cover/smother it in sauce.

Yuk! Yuk! Yuk! Here's someone that had the same reaction I had plus offers another tip we all need to consider:

Eewww! Jason, that's gross. But, I guess it does make sense, even for most restaurants that are smaller in size (getting rid of the old stuff that's about to rot!)

FMF - Good info, another thing I would add is anything that the server asks for you to add. Think, "Would you like fries with that?" or "how about an appetizer to start with". These people, especially at the corporate restaurants like TGI Fridays are practically salespeople.

Practically? I bet they get paid bonuses for selling certain dishes!

Next is a post that identified with the mistake I made -- assuming what the price was:

One time we were eating at a place in Grand Cayman, where the entrees averaged about $10-15 apiece. The "special" was all-you-can-eat Lobster Tails, and naturally no price was quoted nor did we ask. This is a seafood place in the middle of the Caribbean. We simply thought the price must be comparable. "Hmm must be lots of lobster out there." But no.

$45 each.

*shock and awe*

We of course paid the bill. But even now, 12 years later, I ask how much the special is every freakin' time. :-)

Ahhhhh, yes, I feel your pain. I'll be asking the price for 12 years or more myself!

Ever notice how a drink (like a Coke) costs a lot more at a restaurant ($1.29 per glass when you can buy a 2-liter bottle for $0.99 at the grocery store)? Consider the following comment:

Drinks are where the dining business makes its money; it is not the food so much. They will sell a glass of soda for 2.00, while it cost them maybe a .25. Same thing goes for alcohol. Most mix drinks in places like Applebee’s, or any other chain restaurant will cost upwards of 7 or 8 dollars per drink.

Yep. And you can drink a lot more than you can eat (in dollar terms) over the course of an evening!

Finally, here's a comment from a related post I wrote on "Skipping Dessert When You Eat Out":

I have a pet peeve with appetizers and restaurants.

Skip appetizers always. Order dinner. If you are still really hungry, order a desert to share (deserts are usually sold in huge portions ).

Restaurants serve way too much food. Avoid ordering courses that will just make you fat and concentrate on a good course that will make you happy.

There is only one time when I love appetizers: When I am not hungry. I am not afraid of ordering an appetizer and a soup or an appetizer and a salad and calling it a dinner.

One other suggestion from me: take your uneaten food home. It's almost a rule at our house that whatever my wife orders out will be her meal for that evening plus for a lunch or dinner the next day -- she has that much left over and she always brings it home.

Comments

[pkthunder]

I don't know about bonuses, but I'm sure they give away prizes. In college I worked at Sweet Tomatoes for a couple summers as a cashier and they offered free movie tickets to the cashier who sold the most bottled drinks for the month.

[Anthony]

I have an even better solution for eating out. Skip dinner and only order appetizers. Dinner is almost always too much food, but the appetizers fill you up quick.

[Rebecca]

I was a waitress while going to college, and let me tell you that even though it may seem like waitresses are making a lot of money - we're not. Most of us get only $2.15/hr plus tips (think Denny's or Perkins) ! So just keep that in mind when you tip. Granted some of us may not deserve a good tip but 15 - 20% does mean a lot and most of us are greatful.