You're not supposed to use a NEW paper bag with your T-Bird or Mad Dog! Purveyors of those particular brands of nectar of the gods have been swilling them out of recycled, paper bags for generations.

If not disclosed on the menu nor by the server when making the request, then I would subtract $1 from my tip calculation. I see it as the server's job to warn me of any otherwise hidden charges my order would incur.

So you're saying that if a business charges for one optional service, they have to charge for every single optional service?

Interesting logic, I've never heard of that one before.

Well the logic makes sense if you think of lettuce as a basic part of a burger...which is true for many if not most people.

That in itself is an interesting question: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...-you-live.html

Interesting question for sure that arises when you travel with children. I got into trouble with a young granddaughter at a McDonalds inside SNA last week when the "plain" kid's burger that I ordered arrived with onions on it. Fortunately Mrs. Fredd was able to scrape them off to the satisfaction of our young 'un. :)

At least they didn't charge extra. ;)

That's ridiculous. In Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, I've seen plenty of places that have switched to in-house "bottled" watter, but none of them charge it.

I've never seen that - but I have seen the "deluxe" thing before.

Right. Same here, but only in fast food.

1) I don't see a place above fast food treating vegetables as condiments.

2) Its a very different thing. Airlines had a lot of things that could be monetized and operate on very low margins. Restaurants operate on higher margins and depend far more on volume.

That's ridiculous. The only thing I can think is that they do a lot of onion soup business and have significant prep work.

This wins for best exchange of the week on FT.

I tend to agree. However, it should be reasonable - sort of like toppings on pizza.

I think the OP, being from Tejas, is thinking of iced tea ;)

Agreed.

Where is this common? I lived in DC until about two years ago and have never come across this at anywhere I've eaten. That sounds just patently ridiculous to me.

I've seen it happen more than once. But the restaurants all had obvious signs saying tomatoes would no longer automatically be included on sandwiches and would be available on request only for a fee. But it really was a tomato shortage as you had a hard time getting them at the grocery store at the same time - and the charges disappeared once tomatoes were more readily available (although some places did leave them as on request items instead of automatic - just without the charge).

Never heard of being charged for lettuce on a burger - for cheese or bacon or onion rings yes but not for any form of veg

There's a local place here in KC called Winstead's that charges for lettuce, but all the prices are listed on the menu. I think lettuce is a whopping $0.10.

Chris

I would ask for a half-portion. I don't like too much lettuce on my burger.