Checking out the Menu for Prices and Selection
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
United States
July 11, 2008 11:22am CST
There have been times when we enter a restaurant and take a look at the menu and have our eyes burned out of the sockets by the prices that appear on the menu. I realize that there are costs that need to be met, but prices that are astronimical are insulting.
We have actually gone into a restaurant, looked at the menu and decided not to order because of the prices. This can be embarrassing when you have been seated, glasses of water brought to the table and you are asked for your order by the waitstaff.
My husband often asks for a menu before we are seated. This way we can decide if we will be dining in that restaurant or looking for another one.
Have you ever left a restaurant without ordering because of the menu selection or prices?
6 people like this
21 responses
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
11 Jul 08
I will do that too, specially when traveling and you have to watch expenses. We went on a cross country road trip one year. I would go in and ask to see the menu, if the prices were reasonable I would then go out and get the rest of the family. I started doing that because one time we did sit down and prices were off the hook. My son was embarrased by us leaving the place, from then on he waited in the car. The way I figure I am not going to see them people anymore. I have to think about my pocket and how much money is in it. I will also leave a restaurant that takes way to long to wait on you.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
12 Jul 08
I was beginning to think I was the only one that had ever done such a thing! My husband was the one embarrassed by my actions. That is why he now requests a menu for me to view.
1 person likes this
@cherriholicxx (168)
• United States
11 Jul 08
No, I have never left a restaurant before without ordering since (as you said) it's a bit embarrassing and just awkward. Most of the time, I try to avoid the super high-class looking restaurants. Restaurants are starting to get their lessons from Disneyland or amusement parks nowadays. Prices of some things are just getting too ridiculous.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
12 Jul 08
Sometimes even the run down and shabby places can be just as high priced. We avoided a place because it said it was fine dining. But, when we viewed the menu the prices were exceptionally reasonable and the food was divine.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
11 Jul 08
Yeah a few times when I was younger and still living with my parents when they were still together. He would look at themenu and then decide this place is to high. Which I can't afford places that are really high myself. I only get so much a month and I have to be careful with the way that I spend it.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
12 Jul 08
I don't remember going out to eat when I was a kid. I do recall going out with the kids when they were small. We only ate in places where you could view the menu before ordering. No surprises before sat down.
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
11 Jul 08
No we haven't ever been to a restaurant with prices that high but I'm sure if we ever did we might do the same thing. BUT after reading how your husband does it now, that is the way to do it. I never would have thought to ask for the menu before being seated. I know some of the restaurants have the menu or daily specials posted in the waiting to be seated area and they show the prices also.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
12 Jul 08
One time I stayed in the car while he went in to ask for a menu. I knew that the prices were sky high before even going in. I was right.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
12 Jul 08
We once dined in a restaurant at my husband's request. The prices were very high. The cheapest thing on the menu was a pasta dish at $11.95. It came with no vegetables. That is just crazy. Hubby ordered something that cost nearly $20. I of course ordered the pasta.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
11 Jul 08
Yes, I have been in that postition too. It's really a terrible feeling, but sometimes it is necessary. I rather be embarrassed for a minute than have to pay for a meal that I can't afford or don't feel that the prices are realistic. Some of these restaurants are ridiculous! You and your husband did the right thing. I know that if I get to see a menu before I go in I feel a lot more comfortable. Some restaurants post them up front or in the window.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
12 Jul 08
We only check out the restaurants that post a menu up front. We no longer step foot in establishments that leave you guessing.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
12 Jul 08
oh yes... some of the restaurant prices can be really ridiculous and the portion is really small as well... i always make it a point to check the price of the menu before i enter a restaurant as i can't afford to spend lots of money on eating out... i live on a very tight budget and i have to use my money really wisely... i won't even bother to enter the restaurant if i know that i'm not going to be able to afford it... take care and have a nice day...
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
11 Jul 08
I don't know if I've left a restaurant after I've been seated, but I have decided not to eat at certain restaurants after I've looked on a menu or asked about the costs. Some restaurants will post their menu on the window by the door, so I can look as I pass by. It's incredible how much some places charge for virtually nothing. They claim it has more to do with the atmosphere or their famous name. But, I think it's because the don't want "certain types of people" there.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
12 Jul 08
I steer clear of those restaurants. But, I do have to agree with you on that note.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
23 Jul 08
No, I haven't. I rarely eat out, these days it's only if someone else is paying. I've been out to dinner in a restaurant twice in the last 5 years and my family were shouting. When I was with my last partner, we would always look for a menu board posted outside the establishment we were interested in. You can look at what they serve and the prices before you even enter. This was in a different state to where I'm living now and it was quite common.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
11 Jul 08
we usually dont go out to eat but when we do, we go to our tried and true ones. but if we are in a different city or whatnot, we tend to go to restaurants that have their menus posted on the OUTSIDE of their restaurants. this is very helpful in determining where we want to eat.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
12 Jul 08
There are some that do this in the area where we are visiting this weekend. It is the quickest and easiest way to decide.
@meiyeec511 (405)
• Malaysia
12 Jul 08
Most of the restaurants did not list out the price. When you get into the restaurant and look at the menu, you will be surprised.
Is there any possiblity to ask the menu first before being seated?
We can't say the restaurants are trying to cheat, cause the price listed on the menu. Hope there will be a rule to stricted the restaurants list out the price besides menu.
@kezabelle (2974)
•
12 Jul 08
with two small children and only one babysitter who works full time we dont eat out a lot and normally its as a family so we only go to children friendly places which tend not to be too expensive anyway, but most places are obvious if they will be expensive or not and we just dont go to them
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
6 Aug 08
No, because we don't usually go to any restaurants we've never been to before. We go to our usual places so we know what the their prices are like. If we ever did go someplace different and saw their prices and they were high, we'd probably walk out too, well I would want to, but most likely my husband would stay since we're already there, he says you can't spend too much if the food is good, but it would be the last time we went there..lol.
@snowbitz (487)
• Philippines
12 Jul 08
Every time we go out I make sure we have a budget to dine outside particularly to an expensive restaurant.So that if we choose to dine in a less expensive one we still save some.But usually I check out the price first.If my family decide that were going to eat in that restaurant I always make sure that the food I order is cheaper compared to them.Just to make sue that we can pay the bill.
@kgwat70 (13387)
• United States
12 Jul 08
Hi my friend. No, I have never left a restaurant after seeing the prices of the food on the menu. I have seen some expensive menus but have not left after viewing it. I will either order something that is lower in cost or just go with whatever they have and probably not come back for a long time to eat there again. Eating there once would not be too harmful for the wallet but multiple times could drain a person. It is ridiculous how much some of these places charge you and then they do not give you your moneys worth of food.
@creativedreamweaver (7297)
• United States
12 Jul 08
Oh boy can I relate. We have had to do that before, especially when traveling. It is embarrassing, but then the management should be embarrassed for charging such outrageous prices. I've been to one place that had a $21 hamburger. In my book that is robbery and I am not about to be the one that gets taken. LOL We do try to look at a menu now prior to being seated and if we are denied that, then we just leave and find another restaurant. Seems like prices in all industries are at an all time high, and with the price of gas, it's difficult to go place to place. Here at home, we just stick to what we know. Great topic.
@GardenGerty (161165)
• United States
12 Jul 08
No I have just left because of poor service. I like the restaurants that have a little bulletin board or whatever outside to feature what they are serving inside...as well as prices.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
12 Jul 08
I must say that's never something I have done. We don't go to many places that are expensive. We know the prices of all our local restaurants and if we travel we generally don't eat at really expensive places. We just do not choose to enter the the place and go with some place that we know will be cheap enough for us to eat at.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
12 Jul 08
Same here. We just did this a couple of weeks ago. My daughter wanted to take us to eat in her car she just got. We went some place local because we used to like their food and we couod get there and get back quickly. We sat down and seen the menu of a very little selection and the high price. we ordered a drink and we left. It was outragious and there is no way I would pay it because they do not even give you much food anymore there either.
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
12 Jul 08
Hmmm, this has never ahppened to me. I tend to check out the menu beforehand- either online or if they have one in the entryway. I can usually find something to order. If it's way too pricey. maybe just soup and salad or split an entree.
