Sunday, February 27, 2011

special pricing...

I feel I have collected enough data points to "re"observe this among the set of putative RVA upper crust dining establishments -

Please, please, chefs and maƮtres d, why don't (you instruct) your wait staff (to) tell the dining patrons what the price(s) of the specials are?

I am delighted to hear that tonight you have decided to prepare the seared unicorn with magic truffle reduction and gold dust, but I think it would be nice to know that it costs $xxx... if there are just so many specials that the wait staff feel like they're reciting an epic, it can't be that hard to print a little daily menu insert describing and announcing price of said specials.
While this may or may not affect ones choices (I understand that not everyone reads a menu from right to left or perhaps cares), this is a piece of information, I wonder if anyone would actually object to knowing...

Is it perhaps that the well-heeled Richmond cognoscenti are offended by this "lowly display" of prices? If anything, it may be a bit difficult to ask what the price is. I am curious why this is the norm around (from our observations, none did)...

This is not a new question and has been extensively pondered about...

4 comments:

MM said...

I totally agree with this! Even when I'm eating out and price is no object, I like to know what my meal is going to cost. And, having to ask the price makes you feel awkward...

griddlebone said...

Indeed! and surprises on the check aren't fun.
Thanks for commenting !

The Husband said...

I had an experience with this recently at Juleps. Most Menus items are in the $20 to low $30 range. The special was a ribeye with an egg over it and crab. It was outstanding, but when the check came, it was also $55.

griddlebone said...

Thanks for bolstering the case with your experience ! I, for one, was surprised that not a single restaurant mentioned any prices.
Thanks for commenting !