Yesterday, after for shopping for sofas in the 'burbs all day long, we decided to try out a new-ish sushi restaurant a few block from our house. It was nice enough, and when I ordered I asked if they could make me kani maki, a roll with nothing but rice and crap, and the server said it would be no problem. It wasn't on the menu, but they did serve pieces of kani, and it didn't seem like the order seemed weird to our server. The rolls came and they were fine and then the check cam and my eyes popped out of my head when I realized my rolls cost $14 each! I was expecting to play a slight up-charge -- most rolls were about $6 so I though $8 or so would've been reasonable -- but that seemed a bit excessive. I mean, the monster rolls on their specials menu ran $14 or so, but these didn't have nearly enough crab meat in them to even remotely qualify as monsters.
I paid without saying anything. Should I have asked the price when ordering (which has always struck me as tacky) or should I have said something once we got the check? Or did I do the righ thing just wordlessly paying even though that I'll probably never eat at that particular restaurant again?
I hope at that price it was at least real crab and not that pollack stuff most places serve...
ReplyDeleteI probably wouldn't have said anything either but probably wouldn't go back.
It was actual crab meat and not that faux crab stick stuff, so at least it tasted good!
ReplyDeleteI tell my customers every time they order something that is an upcharge (guacamole, avocado, fruit, etc) and I usually tell them the price (which is only ever a buck or so) because I know people don't want to ask. Even if you didn't say anything, I'm sure that many customers HAVE and they should know better than to charge you so much without mentioning it. That being said, you should have said something because it might've been an accident and the server should've told you there was an upcharge. If a customer complained at my restaurant about an extra charge, and I hadn't told them beforehand, we would definitely comp it. Its their job to tell you.
ReplyDeleteExcellent points Becky, and had I not been SO shocked I probably would have said something. Even now i'm not so certain she made an honest mistake and now I never will. But to give you an idea of how shocked both Mich and I were I think it's telling that even Mich was caught speechless. (Usually she would be asking the server for clarification far before me.)
ReplyDeleteIn the future I will remember your sage advice, and I'm sure your customers appreciate the fact you offer up the up-charges without their having to ask.
14 bucks for "rice and crap", you were robbed!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know who this "Becky" is.
ReplyDeleteWhoops, my finger must've slipped and hit the wrong key...
ReplyDeletehmm, pollack stuff. Nice.
ReplyDeleteReally, TC? Did you "probably" mean "polack"? Though I'm glad you know the difference between real crabs and the other kind.