Restaurants - Are You Kidding Me?!?!

CAJUN CHICKEN
SPINACH SALAD
Charbroiled chicken breast seasoned
with our own Cajun spices, on a bed of spinach
and mozzarella cheese, garnished with
chopped egg, bacon, tomatoes, olives
and mushrooms. $8.49 grumble

BACON CHEESEBURGER (Burgers include fries, or a comparable side dish, and all the trimmings on the burger)
American cheese topped with strips of
Applewood bacon. $7.99 explode

Wait, wait, wait - It gets better.

You know how typically seafood is more expensive -

GRILLED SALMON DINNER
Wild caught Alaskan grilled salmon. Consider basting
with one of our signature sauces as an alternative.
$8.99 mad


The ingredients simply cost more. Fries especially are relatively cheap for restaurants. Anything that doesn't keep as long (as in stuff that can't just be stored in the freezer for a few weeks) is going to cost more. These price differences seem small to me actually....

Well I can't tell how real the burgers are at McDonalds, but I am pretty sure they are just fake crap, so they are going to be cheaper. They can last a hell of a lot longer than a salad does.

You wouldn't buy a shopping trolley full of veggies, make a ton of salads, and sell them for the same price as a hamburger. You are most likely not going to be able to sell all of the salads before the expiry date arrives which then you would have to throw away and buy a whole lot more.

Well you can tell that the Burgers aren't real or just packed full of cheap crap if you saw Super Size Me lol.

they are made of crap.
my bf used to work back there and they take like a few seconds to make on the pressure grill..
and i used to be a crew trainer there.. . it was awful.. so many people would order huge amounts of food but think it's okay if they diet a diet coke

If you plan on spending $8-10 for your dinner. . .what does it really matter? If it's healthy and tastes good, why worry about it costing as much or even a smidge more than a burger? Aren't you worth the expense?? I don't like to pay a lot for stuff like that, so I usually make my own at home, but if I'm out and want salad, I'll order it. You know you won't feel all gross like you do after a greasy burger and fries!

At Zaxby's for a side salad (lettuce, tomato, and cucumber) it's $2.99 but a side order of french fries is $1.29. Hmmm. You tell me which side item most people will choose?

Yes, but you can order fries in larger quantities. You can store the fries (if frozen) for a very long time compared to fresh lettuce and such. Also, tomatoes are one of the more pricey items at a restaurant.

Right, but you should have to factor the cost of oil in the equation when considering fried foods. Also, if the side salad was the only salad type item they offered I could see the price difference. Knowing that they keep these items on hand for other dishes on the menu and the fact that it is probably less than a cup of veggies total in the side salad, makes it seem like price gouging.

Wait a second, where are these restaurants where you can get a salmon dinner for under ten dollars?!? That would be at least $18 here, and the salad would be 9 or 10 before adding chicken (that would cost you 3 or 4 dollars more.) I need to move to the middle of nowhere. :grumble:

I was literally thinking the same thing. I don't live near any large cities like that and it's a blue collar community and it's nothing for a salmon dinner to be $15-$20. Salads, just plain with two or three slices of tomatos, two cucumber slices, and a couple of croutons is easily $7 or $8. Add chicken, shrimp, steak, or ahi tuna and charge $.50 - $3.00 more.

This is why I make dinner at home! haha...A LOT cheaper to buy farm raised fish from a farmer's market with spinach!!

I always get the Steak Wrap at Winking Lizard, its 350 calories and has 18g of protein,

You aren't paying for food. It's simple. You are paying for service, which includes all the overhead of running a business (utilities, taxes, wages, equipment, stolen utensils and coffee cups, etc.). They vary the price a little so it doesn't t look like that's what they are doing. But, if I ever saw a restaurant that just flat rated everyone despite what they order, I would give the, a medal for honesty and I would eat there every day.

There is a minimum they have where under some amount, it's not worth it to have you there. There are also really high margin dishes, probably salads, and really low ones depending on what is in season and what isn't. But, if a place is smart, they know their minimum per seat else they lose money on that one. If someone walks in and orders a $2 salad, has water for free, it's not even worth their time to serve you. That's the real deal.

i can't count the number of times i've seen someone choose the salad at the restaurant, and it's so massive and covered with toppings and dressing that they could have eaten a couple big macs instead and been better off. same thing at subway. "yeah, i'll have the footlong bacon with extra bacon and salami, extra southwest sauce."

Did you ever consider that that is just what they wanted to eat? I greatly prefer a yummy fatty calorific salad to a couple of big macs. wouldn't anyone? lol!
Anyway my friend's brother was telling me (long ago) how stupid it is to get a veggie and then get mayonnaise. Uh, how is that stupid? I like mayo, I don't like the meat?

of course that's the case for some people. however, there are also some who think that just because it's a salad or just because it's subway, it's automatically healthy.

additionally, i share your love of mayo. i get the light version, but it's something i haven't eliminated.

i can't count the number of times i've seen someone choose the salad at the restaurant, and it's so massive and covered with toppings and dressing that they could have eaten a couple big macs instead and been better off. same thing at subway. "yeah, i'll have the footlong bacon with extra bacon and salami, extra southwest sauce."

Did you ever consider that that is just what they wanted to eat? I greatly prefer a yummy fatty calorific salad to a couple of big macs. wouldn't anyone? lol!
Anyway my friend's brother was telling me (long ago) how stupid it is to get a veggie and then get mayonnaise. Uh, how is that stupid? I like mayo, I don't like the meat?

of course that's the case for some people. however, there are also some who think that just because it's a salad or just because it's subway, it's automatically healthy.

additionally, i share your love of mayo. i get the light version, but it's something i haven't eliminated.

Probably true that some people do think they are getting a healthier choice by going with the salad or the diet coke with their big mac.

I actually do get light mayo too. I haven't tried the avocado at subway because I'm always scared of restaurant guac.... lol! I do make my own all the time and I've been known to spread it on a mayo-free subway sandwich. yum.

Strangely just talking about this at work. A local bar charges 3.99 for celery and carrot sticks with ranch. That price alone is retarded but it's the same price as a cup of clam chowder or a chili dog.

You didn't have to throw the Winking Lizard under the bus, it's not like they're the only ones that do this. I love that place, I always get the buffalo chicken sandwich with steamed veggies- one of the lowest cal things on the menu.

Also, go to the store and buy all those ingredients and see how much it costs. It's not out of line.

I completely agree. A piece of meat with some bread is much cheaper then veggies and things to make a salad. Have you compared the price of ketchup (for a burger) to a healthier option dressing. Big difference. When I go out to eat I don't order a burger because it's cheaper, I order it because it's delicious. If you don't want to pay more for a salad, stay home and eat. Or eat HALF of the burger and pay the upcharge for veggies instead of fries.

I call this "six pack tax"

How is a salad with CHICKEN only $.50 cents cheaper than a full SALMON DINNER?!?!? I mean, I get the salmon with grilled veggies and keep it healthy (why not for only $.50 cents more), but what the heck is wrong with America?!?! No wonder half the country is fat/obese/overweight/Etc!!

Problem solved- Order the salmon! Fish is so healthy, full of great omegas and other micro-nutrients, and if you eat it in moderation (not 12oz at dinner) with some veggies and a whole grain, it's a perfectly healthy meal. Grilled salmon is a such a nice treat, too and not something you would have every day at home. Salad you can get anywhere.

You're welcome

**Edit - I just finally loaded the site. Better yet - stop eating at places with "Tavern" in the name. That should help greatly with your options... :noway: That being said, there are at least 6 items on this menu that you could easily select, eat and enjoy without any issue on a 1600 cal diet. Compared to most "taverns" in Canada, this place has a LOT of alternatives. Hardly the worst offender.

Salad is expensive, they have it on the menu, but no one orders it, so they throw away a lot, which make it expensive so no one orders it,,,,,,
unless you eat out a lot, you shouldn't have to worry about one meal heavy in caloriess. eat what you like, Work it off later.
If you do eat out a lot, then don't just don't.

I've noticed this trend too. I've always attributed it to the fact that produce is NOT cheap. Seafood & salad (which is what I'm primarily eating) are much more pricey than red meat & chicken.