Processed vs. non-processed.

It is standard practice at fine restaurants to not tell you the price of specials unless you ask. You can always ask. The idea is that these aren’t usually special prices (discounts) but special meals not usually available. I don’t know much about the price of fish. Are groupers generally expensive? I do know enough to not order a “fish special” on Sunday night, as they are just trying to get rid of fish they will have to throw away the next day because it is several days old. If you want fresh fish, don’t buy it on Sunday.

Ohiobuckeye
 

This was for 2 Grouper meals, right? I really like TV restaurants but I always did think most restaurants in the downtown areas were a little expensive. Actually some of the Country Clubs aren’t bad. Just my opinion but some people are more well off than others!

I always ask. Was it good?

No
 

An entree' was $43. I have never heard of a grouper dinner with shellfish and 2 sides for $21.50

This is an example of the larger economic and social forces coming together to affect local restaurants and their customers. To me a top-rated steak house or a Taco Bell are all the same - they are to be avoided like the Plague - which is more than an expression today. We are literally in a Plague and all personal actions like going out to eat need to be individually evaluated with the risks involved considered. The restaurants have less customers so they are forced to jack up their prices. And a waitress is not going to brag about a "special" when it is not really "specially" a good deal. Their manager probably tells them to NOT mention the cost unless ASKED.

I personally am prepared to wait 1 or 2 YEARS to go out to a restaurant. I will wait for medical science to lower the risks of ANY indoor activity with groups of people. We are far from that. Some individuals will be willing to take those risks, which are increasing and not yet quantifiable. I also would NOT be buying any stock in restaurant chains. Good luck to you. And when you go to your restaurant, may you go with God.

As I infrequently dine out, what do you think the reasonable price should have been? Thank you and Happy Anniversary!

Reads like a complaint to me. And, as many of the others have said, it is not a valid complaint. They could have asked. This is just another "I hope I can do a little damage to them" post.

In the grand scheme of life, that $43.00 is practically meaningless. You are lucky to have each other to celebrate an anniversary together.

A wise man once told me, "If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it anyway."

I love Chop House food, presentation and service superb! You are paying for quality just enjoy your “occasional” celebrations 🎉

Can't believe anyone would order a "special" without asking the price, especially on a high dollar entree like grouper.

I once knew a restaurant in Sarasota where the server announced the "Specials of the Day". If you asked the price and said "I'll have that $39 Grouper Special", you got charged $39. If you didn't ask the price, the charge on the bill was $43. (Just an example of DUAL pricing). After customers complained, the state shut them down for that AND for adding an additional item to your bill AFTER the bill was presented to you. The original bill said $71.35 but the charge slip was now $79.90. When you asked the server for the original itemized bill back to check, they would say they throw it away. "Get me the manager!" The manager intervened and took the $8 off and blamed the server for "hitting the wrong key". !NOT! It was the manager that was doing all the billing and HE was the one changing the prices on patron's checks. And you thought the server was guilty. NO! The restaurant was forced to close by the state, I hope the manager got black-listed and fined. It went on for years before enough people complained.

Sad! Always ask the price (and write it down) - even on the cocktail menu. You don't want $11 Manhattans on the Rocks plus $1 for the Ice!!! One of our Country Clubs was doing that for a while, charging extra for ice!!!

Another trick is $10 off coupons, They total the meal with tax, then subtract the $10 from the grand total. That's wrong and the State Revenue Department should be notified. You only pay tax on the money that changes hands. The coupon comes off first. Tax is charged on the net amount.

Skip

Communicating prices for Specials follows the Wine model. If you ask for a recommendation on a good wine you will receive many options but rarely pricing. Right or wrong, this is a common strategy by most fine restaurants. The burden is on the consumer to ask for this information before making a decision. I understand your frustration but I think it is harsh to forever penalize a restaurant for a mistake you made. Easier to ask the price up front than to argue the bill at the end.

This is about the only quality restaurant in the villages besides blue finn and Lopez. All others are run of the mill. It’s nice to finally have fine dining here. If you want good food you have to pay for it

Well, for those of you that are jonesing for fine dining, and the prices that go with it, then look no further, the Chop House is for you.

BTW, growing up in Arkansas as poor as a church mouse (but, no more), I’ve always asked what the price was. $43? That’s 11 McDonald’s breakfasts for me......

I find it laughable that anyone would complain about a price without asking what the price is. But Villagers hate to spend a nickel. :blahblahblah:

What should the price of the meal in question be? This place isn't the snack bar in a Bowling Alley. Anything I've ever ordered that say's Market Price is usually $50 and upward. I really don't know what your meal is worth. I've never had Grouper.

I'm sorry for the OP getting hammered by so many about an observation they made about their meal. Probably should have asked first about the price but not a mortal sin committed by not doing so. Maybe getting seated and socially distancing was more important than asking for the price.

Happy Anniversary! Know that you are not alone. I had a problem with my first meal at The Chop House. It was a piece of Chateaubriand that was like Alpo. To be fair it was a blip because I never had any other problem there again that I can recall. My replies from others ranged approximately as yours did. Someone even told me that Chateaubriand wasn't even on the menu. People have Beer Muscles, I've never had anyone give me a rough time in person around The Villages. Just when they are typing. Sorry for your troubles.

I wish we could stir up tomwed or Chatbrat for their opinions on this issue.

After looking at The Chop House menu online, I have to agree that the OP has a very valid complaint. At $43, the "special" grouper entree would be more expensive than any other priced entree on the menu. And, it would be more than $10 above every entree, except the rack of lamb. So, in this case, the term "special" means that they purchased the highest priced entree on the menu. I think that the restaurant clearly deceived them by not telling them the price of the grouper entree, and by referring to it as a "special".

Price
 

The prime meats that are Market Price are in the mid to upper $40s. The 9 0z filet mignon is $33. I eat there frequently and they have had lobster specials with good size lobster for $60. The food, service and ambiance are excellent.

Yes, but no entree has a listed price close to $43. Market price is different from special price. Who would think that a special price means a higher price?

Grouper
 

Grouper is not on their menu. It was a specially prepared entree' for last evening. ChopHouse does not do reduce prices on their menu as specials. Grouper is an expensive fish. In the fish markets it runs around 26-27 per pound.

The good news is you had a wonderful meal.
The bill is always bad news.

I'm not arguing about the price of grouper. But, The Chop House made a customer unhappy by not disclosing that they were ordering the most expensive entree on the menu. Obviously, the customer was disappointed, and the restaurant may have lost a customer, just to make a few quick bucks. Not a good business decision, in my opinion.

$$$$$$$
 

My wife and I and two other couples went to NYC for the weekend back in 1974 after seeing a play we were walking the streets and saw a sign that said free topless ice skating show so we went in. In small letters it said 2 drink minimum we said how bad could it be.The show was great but after we paid our $120.00 for out drinks not so much.I was telling my father in law about it and he said son NEVER BE TO PROUD to ask HOW MUCH.
Bob

Yup
 

Always ask and you will get an answer. Smart FIL!

Very true but have seen pretty much all restaurants do this on the specials.

As a result for years will always ask the cost as I hate to be surprised when I get the bill.

Dinner $30, Ambiance $12. Don't ruin your anniversary for $12.
But I prefer they tell you the price. Embarrassing to ask, one might sound cheap especially if on a date.

That is reasonable considering grouper is $25 a lb raw

Define good food.

I'm sorry this happened.
People who have abundant money probably don't ask the price.
People who only go-to higher end restaurants for only special occasions feel the price for such offers will be in line with other items on the menu. Most midrange restaurants have special dishes that are a special deal.
I have over the years been with others at restaurants that have had this same shock, be it over the meal or a drink.
Do not let the naysayers here put you down, they really know not what they say as they have not walked in your shoes.
If the food is good and you like this restaurant, continue to go. Only we who have learned to ask prices, in such places, will able to enjoy such special days even after we pay the bill.
I wish you the best of what this year of marriage brings to both of you.
Hugs....

Sorry. If you go out to eat and don't ask how much, it is on YOU. Did you not look at the rest of the menu prices and see how much the other meals were? Many places don't say the price unless you ask.

Oh please! Leftover food on special? Its difficult tp pass off old fish as fresh, if you know anything about fish

They could have asked for the price, and probably should have. But, all of the other entrees on the menu were priced significantly lower than the special grouper. So, I think the restaurant should have alerted them to that fact. The big loser in this case is the restaurant. They made a small profit, but they did not satisfy their customer, and probably other customers as well.

I'm pretty sure it was $32 for the twin lobster tails and you could get 1 lobster tail and a filet mignon as a surf and turf.

Happy Anniversary! I hope you were able to enjoy the after dinner special time together! Maybe it would be a good idea to go out for another anniversary dinner TONIGHT! Have a great time, but ask the price.......

I would like to invite you to Martha’s Vineyard, or Nantucket for your next anniversary. You’ll come back to TV, order at the Chophouse and rave about how reasonable the prices are.

I’m sorry the Anniversary celebration with the love of your life was so disappointing. I know of people who have lost a spouse who would gladly pay a thousand dollars for one more meal together. But sadly, that won’t happen at any price.

It’s all a matter of perspective.

Happy Anniversary

Special occasion so it’s worth it!
 

I understand how you feel about the price, as it was an unpleasant surprise, and that’s happened to me, too!

A few thoughts on this: Some higher end restaurants Iike the Chop House typically don't bother to add the price after the server has recited a Special. Frankly, I think they should, but I always ask, even though it is a bit awkward.

I also think that it was a reasonable price for what you got — grouper, 3 shrimp plus 2 sides. Fresh fish and seafood doesn’t come cheap, and many restaurants do really mark it up.

And not to sound preachy, but it was a special occasion and not a typical dinner out, so that should be taken into account. QUOTE=Quiltedviews;1838381]My husband and I went to the Chop House in LSL tonight to celebrate our anniversary. All was well until the bill came. Their grouper special: a piece of grouper, plus either 3 shrimp or 3 scallops, and 2 sides: $43!! I asked the waitress why she didn’t tell us the price when she described the special (I would never have ordered it if I had known it was $43), she said they only tell you prices if you ask. So I am posting this to advise you that if you order a special at the Chop House, ask the price before ordering!! We will never go there again after this experience.[/QUOTE]

When I order lobster at many seafood restaurants along the East coast, Lobster is approx $60 lb. May sound high BUT this is the going rate. Bon apetit!