QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

Would you ever go into a restaurant to sit down and have dinner. Have the waiter come over... pour two waters for you and your guests. He hands you two menus.

After reading over the menu you get up and walk out of the place without ordering anything!


Here is the story behind it.

Me and my FW went to Fridays in Manhattan on 42nd street last night to eat. If anyone has been to this particular Fridays... you know its probably the most EXPENSIVE Fridays in the entire country.

Just to give you a quick example ($18.95 for Blackened Chicken Alfredo dish, $11.95 for Seasame Jack Strips APPETIZER, $14.95 for the Three For All APPETIZER). Prices are INSANELY expensive. I had two coupons for two FREE meals for me and my FW so I didn't give a crap about the cash cause I wasn't paying anything.

Well... while we are sitting down this obvious looking 'tourist' couple (the girl had a IloveNY white t-shirt on) came in and sat down at a booth by us.

Low and behold after getting their drinks and menus and looking through it... they shortly after just WALK OUT of the joint!


Best thing about this story is... when they sat down before they left, my FW turned to me and said 'Man they are in for a huge shocker when they see that menu... and will probably just walk out. They probably saw how expensive restaurants were in the city and then saw Fridays. Oh I betcha we can get a cheap meal in there just like we can back in our hometown.' Ummmm... not.


We shared a good laugh on that one. But back to the obvious question... would you or have you done this? I find it extremely tacky and have never done this. My FW has done it in the past and would do it again if need be.


Oh... and I am more concerned if people here have left a place because of the PRICES on the menu. Leaving for reasons like cleanliness, overcrowding, or lack of menu options (maybe because you are a veg.) is understandable.

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

I have done it. The place was packed. All the tables where on top of each other. So I felt like we where going to eat dinner with strangers. I was not going to pay good money for a dinner I was not going to enjoy.

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

I've done it. Not based on the price of the meal, but on the cleanliness (or more accurately, the lack thereof) of the restaurant.

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

Ok... thats cool. I can understand walking out if the place is nasty or crowded. But would you do it if you felt the menu was 'too expensive'.

Maybe that couple in Fridays had their own reason for leaving... but I would bet a week's pay that the reason was due to the 'expensive' menu.

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

I have definitely done it! What has happened in the past is we are not sure what we want, look at the menu, decided it definitely won't do, then get up and walk out. It isn't like we ordered drinks then walked out. It is usually before the waiter even comes over to take a drink order. Oops!

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

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Posted by ChristineC68
There was actually a Shame on You type news story about the Fridays by Rock Center - they actually had two different menus. One for tourists and one for regulars.

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Hmmmmm... I remember a Shame On You... but I thought it was for not taking the Friday's Gift Certificates. And the reason none of the restaurants take the Friday's gift certificates that the rest of the country accepts... is because the locations in Manhattan are franchised and owned by Riece Restaurants.

A second menu for the 'tourists'... well thats insane! Maybe that was the menu I got last night.

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

DH and I have done it. We went to a place once and after looking at the menu, there was nothing on it that we liked. So we left a small tip and left. Most places put a menu outside to look at before hand, but this place didn't so we had no clue. It looked like a nice place so we thought we'd try it. After seeing what was on the menu, there was seriously not one thing on it we would have liked. I don't think its tacky, your going to spend good money to eat, if you know your not going to enjoy it, why stay. I would do it again if need be!!

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

We went to Friendly's for ice cream the other night, and it was sooo crowded...and no one was coming over to take our order....so we figured it would be quicker to go to the take-out window and order from there instead. And they were obviously in need of tables, so we told our waiter and went to the take-out window (which we then left also because it was taking too long )

I dont' see what the big deal is about leaving a restaurant because it's too expensive though....if you cant' afford it, do you have to pay for it anyway, simply because you sat down?

i see nothing wrong with leaving because you can't afford a particular restaurant

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

I always look at the menus (they're usually posted outside) before going in so I'm never surprised by the prices. If its overly crowded or the service is horrible then I'd consider leaving, but to date I never have.

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?

i wouldnt leave if the restaurant was too expensive i would just order frugally if i had to or just chaulk it up to bad planning on my part. but i have left if i was being ignored or if the service was taking too long or even worse if its dirty.

Re: QOTD: Would you ever do this in a restaurant?