Bringing down the cost of restaurant bills

[bettymae1121]

Wow I thought when I clicked on this thread it would be on how you could not order ALCOHOLIC drinks, or getting a few aps to share rather than entrees, etc. Not ordering water and flavor it yourself. What an odd thing to do!

I like getting soda when eating out, i don't drink it at home so I consider it part of the "treat" of eating out.

 

[quagmire0]

Apparently, restaurants are fighting back a tad. My In-laws went to a newer restaurant around our area in the Chicago suburbs and they actually charged them $1 for water! Not bottled water, not mineral water, tap water.

 

[kinntj]

Apparently, restaurants are fighting back a tad. My In-laws went to a newer restaurant around our area in the Chicago suburbs and they actually charged them $1 for water! Not bottled water, not mineral water, tap water.

Soups with broth would make a great food and drink in one! That'll show them for charging!

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I have been known to bring a drink mix stick into a restaurant for my 5 year old. If everyone else gets a treat to drink soda, I feel bad telling him he can't have something other than milk or water. He's diabetic, and sugared drinks or soda are a mess for his blood sugar. Not every restaurant has a sugar free option other than Diet Coke. I've always asked the server if it was OK to get water and mix his, and everyone has always been understanding of it.

 

[StuckInKS]

As a general rule and not specifically water, as a owner of a restaurant, yes we take exception to people knowingly coming into a restaurant and then "going cheap".

After reading this thread, I am much more appreciative of the places we frequent. I guess you could say we go cheap by having our kids split meals (although they still have a ton of left overs even when they split and if they'd each eat over 50% of a meal then they'd each get one) but they all order their own drinks. We are never charged for the extras, even when its something like chocolate milk. Not only that, but the kids meals come with dessert (ice cream at one place, cookies at the other) and they usually bring out free extras so that all the kids get a dessert. We do not ask for these things free and my kids would still get their own drinks even if we were charged for them. Each of these are individual establishments or small, local chains but very popular so I guess they make enough profit that they are willing to offer these small gestures. We love these places and go to each once or twice a week. We do pay for the extras ($2 per plate for espinaca or chili/cheese topping) most of the time (occassionally those are free as well) and don't mind doing so. As another PP said, we don't do soda at home and it is a treat to have when we go out, so we always get it, even though I still don't drink alot of it, maybe 1/2 at most.

 

[disykat]

I am now concerned. Is it wrong to just order water at a restaurant? ( I don't put anything in it) I just drink water with meals, even if I'm home. To any restaurant owner out there- do you get upset if we order water? I don't do it to be cheap. But I'm wondering if you guys are complaining about me and wishing my family and I won't come back. Is the beverage the only place you make money? Or do you make money on the entrees? I'm not saying this to be snarky. I am feeling a little embarrassed, like I'm doing something wrong.

Oh, and by the way, I don't agree with the OP, but that's just my opinion. I personally couldn't do that. But everyone has their own comfort level.[/QUO

No, some of us prefer water. I don't drink anything but water at home or out. I don't like flavored stuff. I would order water even if I had to pay the same. (Sometimes I do pay the same if it's part of a special or a buffet price.)

The difference is that the OP is suggesting just ordering water and bringing stuff from the grocery store to make your own drink at the table to can save money.

Usually at restaurants we do "go cheap," as someone said, and avoid appetizers, desserts, and sometimes no soda for anyone. However, we don't bring those things with us from home and partake of them at the restaurant.

Would I bring something from home for my diabetic child? You bet I would. But for an adult? No, I'd drink what was available at the restaurant or wait until I left.

 

[disneychrista]

Usually at restaurants we do "go cheap," as someone said, and avoid appetizers, desserts, and sometimes no soda for anyone. However, we don't bring those things with us from home and partake of them at the restaurant.

Is it really considered to be "going cheap" if you don't order appetizers & dessert? We very rarely order appetizers and usually, if we do, we get the app and a small salad as our meal, not in addition to our meal. And I can't remember the last time we ordered dessert. Appetizers & dessert are extras in my mind, not standard.

 

[t_daniels]

Is it really considered to be "going cheap" if you don't order appetizers & dessert? We very rarely order appetizers and usually, if we do, we get the app and a small salad as our meal, not in addition to our meal. And I can't remember the last time we ordered dessert. Appetizers & dessert are extras in my mind, not standard.

Usually is an extra for us....but its just DH and I. No hungry kids.

Though, at Asian places, we usually get edamame or spring rolls. And sushi...we always get miso soup.

 

[eliza61]

After reading this thread, I am much more appreciative of the places we frequent. I guess you could say we go cheap by having our kids split meals (although they still have a ton of left overs even when they split and if they'd each eat over 50% of a meal then they'd each get one) but they all order their own drinks. We are never charged for the extras, even when its something like chocolate milk. Not only that, but the kids meals come with dessert (ice cream at one place, cookies at the other) and they usually bring out free extras so that all the kids get a dessert. We do not ask for these things free and my kids would still get their own drinks even if we were charged for them. Each of these are individual establishments or small, local chains but very popular so I guess they make enough profit that they are willing to offer these small gestures. We love these places and go to each once or twice a week. We do pay for the extras ($2 per plate for espinaca or chili/cheese topping) most of the time (occassionally those are free as well) and don't mind doing so. As another PP said, we don't do soda at home and it is a treat to have when we go out, so we always get it, even though I still don't drink alot of it, maybe 1/2 at most.

You have to broaden your view and not go with specifics.

For example, yes you are correct most places especially if they do not have a childrens menu can count on children splitting.
But most places would get annoyed if you and 3 girl friends walked in and ordered 1 meal to split. Do you see the difference?
Chocolate milk is milk if they have it fine, if you bring a 1/2 gallon of milk with you to the establishment (which I have seen) not so fine.

kids meals at many places do come with dessert but I have had customers say "well Johnny didn't eat the dessert would you deduct that off the price" and then get mad when we say no or say if we do, we will charge you ala carte for the meal which takes away the advantage.

I guarantee you that anyone who has ever owned a place has had a couple come in, one person orders and the second person pulls out a brown paper bag to eat a lunch brought from home to save money, then get upset when you tell them "outside food not allowed".

Think about why most places start establishing rules? usually it's in response to some one trying to bilk the system.

Think about some of the threads we had here on the dis when the dining plan came out. The primary question was "where can I go to order the most expensive thing"? not what you wanted to eat but where can I get the most expensive dish. Those are the same folks who are now upset that disney has removed those items and dumbed down the menu.

 

[disykat]

Is it really considered to be "going cheap" if you don't order appetizers & dessert? We very rarely order appetizers and usually, if we do, we get the app and a small salad as our meal, not in addition to our meal. And I can't remember the last time we ordered dessert. Appetizers & dessert are extras in my mind, not standard.

I don't think it really is, however someone commented earlier about wait staff not liking it when people "go cheap." I totally get that, their tips are based on a percentage of the meal so they like it when people add extras. I think people do see our chicken/pasta/burger meal with water to drink and recognize we're budget conscious. Admittedly, it's what we prefer, but truthfully if we would rather have more expensive stuff we probably wouldn't because we're cheap!

 

[disneychrista]

" I totally get that, their tips are based on a percentage of the meal

Which is why I do not agree with the % of meal for the tip. My tipping has nothing to do with what I order. If I order a $7 salad because that is what does not mean the server did less work than if I ordered a $15 meal. My tip will be the same.

 

[ICF]

This is always one of those topics that I don't understand people getting worked up about.

If someone wants to bring in a flavor packet for their water....why do you care? It's their business, not mine and wont impact me at all.

Crying kids, breastfeeding moms or an arguing couple....those things may all impact my dining experience. If a person nearby does this, I'd never know nor would I care.

I'm guessing that why the resturant might not be crazy about it for one reason or another.....they can either get the business (and profit that goes with it) or lose the business all together. What's beter...a family that goes there and spend $50 and all order paid drinks or a family that goes and spend $42 since they all got water and added a flavor packet?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't think you asked the question you meant to ask. "a family that goes there and spend $50 and all order paid drinks" is always more profitable (that's what you meant by 'better'?) than "a family that goes and spend $42 since they all got water and added a flavor packet".

Again, serving a glass of tap water costs the restaurant. They generally don't charge for it. They do charge for all other drinks, including the flavored one's. When that family orders water and flavors it with anything brought from the outside instead of ordering drinks the restaurant sells, they're cutting into revenue.

 

[angwill]

Apparently, restaurants are fighting back a tad. My In-laws went to a newer restaurant around our area in the Chicago suburbs and they actually charged them $1 for water! Not bottled water, not mineral water, tap water.

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and unless the law changed in that area restaurants can't charge for tap water. I remember the controversy about it on the news there years ago.

 

[anc876]

Crying kids, breastfeeding moms or an arguing couple....those things may all impact my dining experience.

I hope you don't mean that a breastfeeding mother would negatively impact your dining experience.

 

[ICF]

I hope you don't mean that a breastfeeding mother would negatively impact your dining experience.

you must have missed the Applebees thread on the Community board....

 

[LauraR]

Wow, what an interesting thread.

I am more of a water person than a soda, surgary drink person. If I'm at a family style restuarant (such as Chili's, Applebees, etc) I usually do order water. Not because I'm being cheap or frugal but because that is what I want to drink with my meal. Now, in the area that I live in tap water (sometimes even when its filtered) tastes horrible. When I order my water, I will usually taste it first. If it doesn't have a good taste, I will add flavoring to it. If the water tastes okay, I drink it as it is. I don't see anything wrong with it. Really, if the restuarant had a problem with it, they should say so.

I also do not drink a lot. I can usually have one glass of water with my meal and that's it. My husband on the other hand is a huge soda drinker. He will get his soda refilled numerous times (3 or 4 times at least and at most places free of charge) during the course of our meal. I would think that his numerous soda's would cost the restuarant more than my one glass of water.

I really don't think that you can compare using a little bit of flavoring in your water to bringing in outside food or beverages. A flavor pack or a few drops of Mio does not compare to brinking in your own bottled water or soda.

This totally makes sense. Contrary to many people's opinion customers who add flavoring to water aren't COSTING the restaurant anything. The restaurants offers the water for free, that is their choice. The customer is spending her own money adding flavoring. The family that adds flavoring costs the restaurant exactly as much as the family that drinks their water plain. I'm one of the people who drinks a lot of soda, because the refills are free. Free Water and free refills are the restaurant's choice to offer.

I have also worked as a server and it wouldn't bother me at all if someone added a little powder to their drink. NOT the same thing as bringing in a 2 ltr. of soda, which is a ridiculous comparison. I don't even consider it gauche. People who put their put their fingers in buffet food are gauche, and there are LOTS of those people...

 

[ICF]

Again, serving a glass of tap water costs the restaurant. They generally don't charge for it. They do charge for all other drinks, including the flavored one's. When that family orders water and flavors it with anything brought from the outside instead of ordering drinks the restaurant sells, they're cutting into revenue.

But it doesnt if the person wasnt getting anything but water to begin with, how does it impact the restaurant?

To change my question....which would the restaurant choose...

(1) The family gets 4 waters and spends $40 on dinner
(2) The family gets 4 waters, adds some favor packets, spends $40 on dinner
(3) The family eats at home...spends nothing at the restaurant

While you might think (2) is in poor taste, it's no different to the bottom line then (1) and adds profit that they wouldn't get if the family ate at home (3).

 

[dizkids]

Wow like some have said this really gets people going.

When my 3 kids were little and we would go to a restauraunt it was dont forget the cheerios, the sippy cup, pack the bib, the toys, wipes, etc. Now we love just going without having to think about what to bring, and that would include a flavor packet.

If OP wants to bring a flavor packet and sit down at the next table. I wouldnt notice, and i wouldnt care.

 

[Marionnette]

But it doesnt if the person wasnt getting anything but water to begin with, how does it impact the restaurant?

To change my question....which would the restaurant choose...

(1) The family gets 4 waters and spends $40 on dinner
(2) The family gets 4 waters, adds some favor packets, spends $40 on dinner
(3) The family eats at home...spends nothing at the restaurant

While you might think (2) is in poor taste, it's no different to the bottom line then (1) and adds profit that they wouldn't get if the family ate at home (3).

If that family of 4 is getting out of the door spending only $40, then the restaurant is losing money on them, regardless. CPs (children's plates) are generally a money-loser for restaurants. The profit is in the beverage sales that are in addition to the CPs (when drinks are not included in the children's menu). CPs are under-priced in order to attract the adults to the restaurant where there is a small profit to be made on their food order. And the restaurant owner would hope to increase his profit margin by selling beverages to the patrons.

So, the answer is 3. The family stays home and spends nothing at the restaurant.