Menus without prices
 

I've only been back to the US twice in the past two years, so menus without prices is a new thing to me, though the practice appears to have been going on for a while.

I noticed it in two chain restaurants (Hooter's and Chili's) and an airport bar (maybe opacity is more common in that market). Both the Hooter's and Chili's menus listed calories, but not prices (on drinks only for the latter). In the former case, the waitress said I could scan a QR code to view prices or ask her so she could check the POS computer. She said prices change frequently and they don't want to print new menus every week. I suppose this is marginally preferable to forcing customers to use cheap tablet computers (that often get stuck on a Windows home screen). Meanwhile, Chili's menus do feature food prices (along with calory counts), but not drink prices. Unlike Hooter's, there is no QR code option, and their tablet (that you can order from) doesn't list prices until after you add items to your cart. The waitress told me that margaritas cost between $6 and $21, and she didn't know specifics off hand. I also asked her about happy hour and she said that none of the menu items were happy hour items. I didn't press her further and simply settled on an iced tea.

I don't want this post to come across as a rant because my dining experiences were fine otherwise, and I felt the prices were reasonable, but I'm simply curious about how far and wide this trend is spreading. I mean, how volatile can the cost of Corona beer possibly be?

Maybe dynamic pricing is coming Figure out how hungry and/or thirsty you are are adjust prices to extract maximum revenue.

It could be a new trend. Enough small restaurants give a daily printed menu with the specific printed date with prices.

I’ve yet to dine at chilis hooters this year so I’ve not seen such menus.

More environmentally friendly (and easier for short-staffed kitchens),

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Often when I look up a restaurant menu online it doesn't list prices and I hate that. I don't remember seeing that in person but if I did I would ask for a menu with prices. I have no interest in scanning a bar code to read a menu. Terrible practice.

I'm afraid it's going to be widespread sooner than we would like.

I also love using my phone to order at the table so that a server just brings the food and whatever we want. I don’t need a server to take my order on paper and then input it in a POS. Why aren’t servers using a tablet to wirelessly order my food instantly like Wagamama’s (uk) did in the 90s? So I’ll gladly order on my phone so that the food just arrives.

I absolutely hate it. Interaction with the server, counter person, or bartender is a very important part of the dining out experience. 4 trips through IAH lately cemented that view.

Nevertheless, I'm sure it will become more widespread. Verbal communication is not as important to humans as it was in the past.

this is more for casual meals with table service. I want more service for more expensive places. Something like Chinese or pizza or burgers or Mexican or Indian all costs less. In general and I’m happy to just order by phone. I loved our Sherman’s deli meal and phone order at table would have been much faster compared to the busy server experience where she had to also take table orders.

I’m surprised that’s legal. Hopefully it’s another invention which consumer protection will stop from crossing the Atlantic.

The name of the thread did make me wonder if it was a reference to the good old days where only the person paying (traditionally the gentleman obviously, no longer an assumption) would see prices on their menu. The practice went out of fashion in normal restaurants other than France before my time, though some london private clubs still have the practice.

One of the great thing about cruises I have taken is the ability to order anything on the menu and never see prices.

I refuse to order or see a menu through a QR code. It's a big security risk. If that is what is required just to see a menu, I'll just walk out. You want to implement a tablet system, I have no problem with that. But the potential to go to a malicious website or software installed on your phone... Sorry, but no thanks.

The reason most places don't use tablets is the high initial startup cost. You're looking at several to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the size of the restaurant. The tablets... The server and initial setup and menu scans. Then depending on the company, some require you to use them to input new dishes and maintain the system. Not cheap.

I always ask for a paper menu. If they can't provide one...buh, bye. And not for the same reasons as you....it is just so much easier for me to read and I like not having to scroll through me phone. Can you imagine a big, multi page menu like the Cheesecake Factory on your phone?

Haven't visited Cheesecake Factory yet, but I can imagine. I don't mind the tablet systems I have encountered, but yeah, paper works as well. Many of the restaurants here (at least the asian ones) usually just cross out the price and scribble in the new price beside (or put stickers on top). I like the tablet system as well as you can (usually) track down how much you have consumed... most of the time I see it, it's usually in a buffet (where they bring it to your table) or AYCE sushi setting and it's handy to see what we've ordered, what we haven't and what we have received. You could track it via paper as well, but that's usually additional paperwork floating around.

Hooter's was literally next door to the hotel I stayed at in Orlando after the long flight from Shanghai. The buffalo shrimp were a godsend. Chili's has a solid three course (well, the first course is a soft drink) menu.