Biggest Resturant Pet Peeve - Hidden Extra "Free" Stuff

[cityimrov]

I have a big pet peeve about restaurants - extra hidden charges.  

Here's how it goes:
Me: How much is this dinner?  
Them: $10
Me: Ok, I'll take that then.  
Them: Would you like ketchup, cheese, bacon, or lettuce with that?
Me: Ok
......Later when the bill comes....
Me: What??  Why are you charging me $13 for a food you said was $10?
Them: Oh, the cheese and bacon and ketchup (and whatever extra thing they neglect to mention) were extra.
Me: -Not in a happy mood-

Why do so many restaurants always talk about extra stuff acting like it's a free and included in the price when it's an extra cost?  Very few restaurants say this:  "Would you like to add this extra thing for only a $1 like at my local McDonalds?"  

I remember another restaurant where they completely messed up an order.  They basically said, "Oh, we're sorry we completely messed up your order, would you like an ice cream?" - waitress acting like she's giving the ice cream for free because of the mess up.  Bill comes later.....$5 Ice Cream.

Why aren't more restaurants more upfront about things that are included in the price or things that are extra?  When the bill comes up they even look surprised I mentioned it.  It's like they think I can't add or something.  

[ricker]

oh did you want the roach legs picked out of the ground beef? that's extra.

[ChriswUfGator]

I have a big pet peeve about restaurants - extra hidden charges.  

Here's how it goes:
Me: How much is this dinner?  
Them: $10
Me: Ok, I'll take that then.  
Them: Would you like ketchup, cheese, bacon, or lettuce with that?
Me: Ok
......Later when the bill comes....
Me: What??  Why are you charging me $13 for a food you said was $10?
Them: Oh, the cheese and bacon and ketchup (and whatever extra thing they neglect to mention) were extra.
Me: -Not in a happy mood-

Why do so many restaurants always talk about extra stuff acting like it's a free and included in the price when it's an extra cost?  Very few restaurants say this:  "Would you like to add this extra thing for only a $1 like at my local McDonalds?"  

I remember another restaurant where they completely messed up an order.  They basically said, "Oh, we're sorry we completely messed up your order, would you like an ice cream?" - waitress acting like she's giving the ice cream for free because of the mess up.  Bill comes later.....$5 Ice Cream.

Why aren't more restaurants more upfront about things that are included in the price or things that are extra?  When the bill comes up they even look surprised I mentioned it.  It's like they think I can't add or something.  

I have to admit I find that practice HIGHLY annoying as well. This is one area where the chain restaurants actually have the local places beat, they usually don't charge extra for every little thing, and when they do it's made very clear. When I ask for more guacamole at Chilis they make a point of telling you up front it's an extra $1.

The local places play these B.S. games, hoping people don't pay attention to the bill. And they must talk to each other since the practice seems to have increased drastically in the past 8-12 months. Whenever I get scammed by a server I just deduct it off their tip, so it's really no skin off my teeth. One of my friends just at a local place here in Jax (can't recall the name) and got a $1 charge on the bill for ice water. Sheesh.

[videojon]

I know one of the oriental places in the food court of the Jacksonville landing has a big sign for Teryaki Chicken for $4.89. If you say you want that special, they ask you "white rice or fried rice?" If you say fried rice, they charge you extra but you don't know until they give you the total.

[Lucasjj]

One of my friends just at a local place here in Jax (can't recall the name) and got a $1 charge on the bill for ice water. Sheesh.

Not sure of this is the local place you can't recall, but I have been charged a dollar for ice water at Cool Moose before.

[RockStar]

Really, you thought the bacon was free? Being charged extra for ketchup is wrong, I agree, because it's a condiment. But, if you really thought the bacon was free, you were kidding yourself. You should assume that anything extra comes at a price; it'll save you alot of heartburn. It's not hidden if you're the one covering your eyes.

Ice cream issue was wrong. You don't charge the guest when you're making up for your own mistakes.

$1 for ice water is just criminal though.

[cityimrov]

Really, you thought the bacon was free? Being charged extra for ketchup is wrong, I agree, because it's a condiment. But, if you really thought the bacon was free, you were kidding yourself. You should assume that anything extra comes at a price; it'll save you alot of heartburn. It's not hidden if you're the one covering your eyes.

Ice cream issue was wrong. You don't charge the guest when you're making up for your own mistakes.

$1 for ice water is just criminal though.

I'm curious, how am I suppose to know bacon was an extra charge when they casually and so friendly said it next to ketchup to which "Being charged extra.......is wrong"?  

To me, this practice opens up a giant can of worms.  What is included in the price and what isn't?  I just don't know anymore when the server is keeping his mouth shut about the cost extra stuff.  I mean, if McDonald's can do it, why can't a sit down restaurant which I'm paying 2x to 50x the price do it?

[ChriswUfGator]

One of my friends just at a local place here in Jax (can't recall the name) and got a $1 charge on the bill for ice water. Sheesh.

Not sure of this is the local place you can't recall, but I have been charged a dollar for ice water at Cool Moose before.

Ha I do think that was it. And boy have I got a story that beats that one...

So I go to cool moose and order a bagel & lox for breakfast. Out comes a semi-stale bagel with two tiny little slivers of salmon on each half, that were so small they only covered up maybe 1/4 of the bagel when laying fully flat. And this was for $6 or whatever they charge for it.

I asked the waitress if she bring me my bagel & lox with some salmon on it this time. So she goes in the back, and I hear some rude-sounding muffled yelling and then she comes back visibly irritated (but not with me) and says the owner is in the kitchen and refused to put anymore on, and that he claimed each portion was weighed. I responded "did he have to borrow someone's cocaine scale to weigh this?" and she said I could buy more salmon for $2 extra.

I paid the bill, wrote a note explaining that I'd been going to the Moose for 8 years and wouldn't be back and I hoped the $2 was worth it. And true to my word, I haven't been back since, and never will. The whole thing was so ridiculous I actually took a pic on my iphone and asked my friend who owned a restaurant if I was out of line and he couldn't believe it.

[Brian Siebenschuh]

The universal laws of hamburger pricing in non-fast food restaurants, as I've experienced them:

Ketchup, mustard, mayo, sriracha, A1, Tabasco, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, jalapenos, banana peppers = always free

Cheese, bacon, guacamole, chili, prosciutto, fried mozzarella sticks = never free

YMMV, but I can't recall ever being charged for ketchup, or getting free bacon.

[cityimrov]

The universal laws of hamburger pricing in non-fast food restaurants, as I've experienced them:

Ketchup, mustard, mayo, sriracha, A1, Tabasco, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, jalapenos, banana peppers = always free

Cheese, bacon, guacamole, chili, prosciutto, fried mozzarella sticks = never free

YMMV, but I can't recall ever being charged for ketchup, or getting free bacon.

I don't have a problem with getting charged extra as long as they make an effort trying to mention it and being transparent about it.  The problem I have is when they do this:

Would you like "Ketchup, mustard, bacon, mayo, sriracha, A1, Tabasco, Cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, jalapenos, guacamole, banana peppers" on top of your burger?  

Basically, mixing up the free stuff and the "extra charge" items acting like they all are free and included with your meal.  

[ChriswUfGator]

The universal laws of hamburger pricing in non-fast food restaurants, as I've experienced them:

Ketchup, mustard, mayo, sriracha, A1, Tabasco, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, jalapenos, banana peppers = always free

Cheese, bacon, guacamole, chili, prosciutto, fried mozzarella sticks = never free

YMMV, but I can't recall ever being charged for ketchup, or getting free bacon.

Cheese mushrooms and bacon are a mixed bag, some places don't charge anything for them, others do. Most places seem to make different burgers with these items to take the confusion out of the menu. Most restaurants will have a burger, a cheeseburger, and a bacon cheeseburger, listed separately. Other places (5 Guys as an example) just have one burger with a million sides, all free, including all of the above. It just depends, I guess.

But still I agree with the original point, I'm sick of sneaky B.S. where the servers act like something's included but it's not, or structuring the orders in the most expensive way possible (that's another pet peeve of mine). I find the routine cityimrov described to be pretty commonplace, it goes well beyond the common "upsell" and is dishonest. I also find it irritating when they game the menu so that your check is as expensive as possible. Like when you ask for a side salad and then later order an entree that comes with the salad, but still get charged for the salad anyway.

The Brick is especially annoying about this latter problem, it's nuts when you order a drink their bartender doesn't know how to make, they just ring up all the ingredients separately. So I wound up being charged $12 for a grand marnier and $12 for a courvoisier, even though it's certainly not my fault their bartender didn't know what a french connection was, and I only got half of a pour of each. $24 for a single drink, sheesh.

[RockStar]

Really, you thought the bacon was free? Being charged extra for ketchup is wrong, I agree, because it's a condiment. But, if you really thought the bacon was free, you were kidding yourself. You should assume that anything extra comes at a price; it'll save you alot of heartburn. It's not hidden if you're the one covering your eyes.

Ice cream issue was wrong. You don't charge the guest when you're making up for your own mistakes.

$1 for ice water is just criminal though.

I'm curious, how am I suppose to know bacon was an extra charge when they casually and so friendly said it next to ketchup to which "Being charged extra.......is wrong"?  

To me, this practice opens up a giant can of worms.  What is included in the price and what isn't?  I just don't know anymore when the server is keeping his mouth shut about the cost extra stuff.  I mean, if McDonald's can do it, why can't a sit down restaurant which I'm paying 2x to 50x the price do it?

You're curious? Then ask. Don't assume, probe. Yes charging for ketchup wrong, as I said, it's a condiment. Bacon is not. If you're not sure, ask. Or conversely, you could just expect to pay extra for everything, then on the occasion you aren't, how happily surprised you'll be. <looking at bill> Oooh they give you free bacon here?! How nice! 

ChrisUF...French Connection...what a great drink...in Vegas it's called a Beautiful...I've won (and lost) so much money drinking those...

[Jerry Moran]

$1 for ice water is just criminal though.

Not if the water has first been filtered and passed by the management!

[cityimrov]

The can of worms this opens is gigantic.  What is wrong with transparency?  What is wrong with telling your customer how much things cost when you offer them?  What is so wrong with just doing that?

Should I assume anything that comes out of the mouth of the server has an extra cost?  If that's the case, then that means I can no longer trust any word he says - that this guy will be just be the same level as the local used car salesmen.

If the server brings bread to the table should I assume it's free or is he charging extra?  If the server takes up the empty plate is that included in my meal price or not?  When a server asks for lettuce for my burger, is that extra?  When he asks how to cook my burger should I assume that the longer cooking time cost more?  Is well-done $1 more then medium?  Is the base price rare then they charge extra to cook it longer?  When my salad comes and the server offers dressing, is that dressing free or not free?  When the server comes with the pepper shaker, can I assume he's selling me pepper or is it included in the price?  When the server offers me crackers with my soup is that free?  Is this soup he offered me with my fancy meal even included in the meal price?  Hey, am I being charged each time the sever even comes to my table?  Am I being charged for sitting down?  I just don't know anymore nor does anyone in the restaurant feel like they want to tell me until the bill comes.  Unfortunately, I failed my mind reading class so I don't know how to do that either.  

As much as I love to say I'm exaggerating this stuff, there are restaurants out there that charge for anything including a fee just to sit down and read the menu!  Yes, some places do charge for ketchup and they don't even mention they charge for it!!  I can't remember the name of this one but it was some restaurant in some fancy touristy area somewhere.  

Do I really have to place restaurants now in the same category I place AT&T, Comcast, American Airlines, Bank of America, Wachovia, Sirius Radio and Wally World Used Cars?  Places which magically add things like "government recovery fee" or "mandatory state dealership fee" or how about the "$1000 Required Tax for Batteries & Tire & Setup Fee"?

[Brian Siebenschuh]

If the server brings bread to the table should I assume it's free or is he charging extra?  If the server takes up the empty plate is that included in my meal price or not?  When a server asks for lettuce for my burger, is that extra?  When he asks how to cook my burger should I assume that the longer cooking time cost more?  Is well-done $1 more then medium?  Is the base price rare then they charge extra to cook it longer?  When my salad comes and the server offers dressing, is that dressing free or not free?  When the server comes with the pepper shaker, can I assume he's selling me pepper or is it included in the price?  When the server offers me crackers with my soup is that free?  Is this soup he offered me with my fancy meal even included in the meal price?  Hey, am I being charged each time the sever even comes to my table?  Am I being charged for sitting down?  I just don't know anymore nor does anyone in the restaurant feel like they want to tell me until the bill comes.  Unfortunately, I failed my mind reading class so I don't know how to do that either. 

As much as I love to say I'm exaggerating this stuff, there are restaurants out there that charge for anything including a fee just to sit down and read the menu!  Yes, some places do charge for ketchup and they don't even mention they charge for it!!  I can't remember the name of this one but it was some restaurant in some fancy touristy area somewhere. 

Throw out some names.  This thread is useless without them.