[dandt]

When first here, five years ago, we loved El Santiago. It subsequently went through some tough times and we gave it up, but recently we found it was looking good again.

Yesterday we went there with a group and it seemed pricier -- not too surprising these days, but we were shocked to discover that if two want to share an entree, $5.00 is charged. A couple with us said they didn't care about an second plate or cutlery or any of that, but were told they would still have to pay the $5. None of us ordered an entree at that point, nor will be in the future. And perhaps we won't go there at all.

[redwitch]

I know that in California, this kind of surcharge is pretty common. Quite honestly, I was surprised it wasn't in TV given that so many do share one entree. The profit margin on food really isn't that high (most of the money comes from drinks), so two people sharing one meal can pretty much cost the profit of a table of six to nothing. I think that as prices continue to rise you're going to be seeing more of this practice around here, especially in the country clubs.

This list of restaurant tricks is interesting. It is from AOL. http://money.aol.com/special/i-spy-restaurant-tricks

Saw this a while back on AOL.

[cashman]

How do you like the new prices and noise at the el santiago?

[pili]

My husband and I enjoy El Santiago a lot. We usually go there on Monday nights for German food. The food is very good and the prices are reasonable. Brian, the new chef, is very nice and his food is excellent. I have no problem with charging $5 to share a meal. Let's face it, restaurants have costs and have to make money. Most of the dinners are around $10-15 if everyone shares a meal, they will go out of business. The food is good and the prices are good.

[dillywho]

Not knowing all the in's and out's of the restaurant business, this question may not be appreciated, but here goes. Why could the restaurants not serve smaller portions and charge a little less for each entree? That would eliminate the need for people to share. Many of us who no longer work, simply cannot eat that much and it is a shame to waste. Surely they could make more than $5.00 per person by doing this due to sheer volume. Surely the profit is not $5.00 per entree, is it? Too many things, for instance, are not good warmed over so why take it home? What about those who choose to eat and then do something else instead of going straight home? My mother could never enjoy eating out in her later years because the portions were so large and after living through the depression years, she just could not fathom all that waste.

[krash]

I have been a server for a good many years, and continue to work here in the villages. Most people who come to dine and want to share a plate are generally not doing so because the portions are so big... it's because they are cheap. They order the "village cocktail" ... a/k/a water with lemon. And they want extra lemons so that they can make lemonade. And, not only do they consume massive quantities of dinner rolls and bread, but they ask for extra - and then not eat them - and ask for a bag to take them home, because it would "be a sin to waste them".
Does the restaurant make any money on this type of shenanigans? Haha, I doubt it.
That's why they charge for an extra plate.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by pili

My husband and I enjoy El Santiago a lot. We usually go there on Monday nights for German food. The food is very good and the prices are reasonable. Brian, the new chef, is very nice and his food is excellent. I have no problem with charging $5 to share a meal. Let's face it, restaurants have costs and have to make money. Most of the dinners are around $10-15 if everyone shares a meal, they will go out of business. The food is good and the prices are good.

Brian has been the chef at El Santiago almost from the beginning.

[dillywho]

Originally Posted by krash

I have been a server for a good many years, and continue to work here in the villages. Most people who come to dine and want to share a plate are generally not doing so because the portions are so big... it's because they are cheap. They order the "village cocktail" ... a/k/a water with lemon. And they want extra lemons so that they can make lemonade. And, not only do they consume massive quantities of dinner rolls and bread, but they ask for extra - and then not eat them - and ask for a bag to take them home, because it would "be a sin to waste them".
Does the restaurant make any money on this type of shenanigans? Haha, I doubt it.
That's why they charge for an extra plate.

If these people are so "cheap", then why do they eat out in the first place? As for the "village cocktail", water is what I normally drink at home unless it is breakfast (coffee) or sometimes wine at dinner. I usually don't order wine out because I don't want to pay bottle price for a small glasss....oops,forgot that's cheap, huh? We don't eat much bread, period, so extra is not in the cards for us. How many almost full plates have you returned to be trashed because the customer could not eat it all or how many "to go boxes" does the restaurant have to keep in inventory because of the large portions? Those boxes just add to the cost of the restaurant, hence less profit. We also split meals at home....for instance, baked potatoes. That is not because we are cheap....we just don't waste. I couldn't understand why my mother would cook one steak and one potato for herself and my dad after they retired. Now I do.

[chuckster]

Have to agree with Krash...........Just to clear the air, I'm not an employee or owner of any local business. I was in my other life and have seen what he described on numerous ocassions. As an added insult these peeps tend to leave little if any tip for the server. Incidentally we have shared meals and don't object to plate charges along with a couple of glasses of house wine with dinner. Dining out is part of our entertainment budget.

[dillywho]

My whole point is that those items that some like to share does not make the people cheapos. I have no problem with a small charge for splitting, but for a $10 - $15 meal, $5.00 seems a little excessive. We normally do not split a meal when we go out, if for no other reason, we each get what we like and we don't like many of the same things sometimes. We don't share steaks; we don't share rhubens (I don't like them); we don't share burgers, but do share the fries of one combo and usually end up trashing some of them. For that reason, why would we order 2 combos instead of a burger and a combo? I understand about the bread, etc. so charge extra for that (seconds). Some places, particularly Mexican food restaurants, will charge for more chips & hot sauce for instance. Makes sense to me as some will pretty much make a whole meal on them. As for tipping, I have worked in the past as a server and have a very good understanding of what the tips mean to servers. I always leave a generous tip for that reason, even for a small check. Find someone who has never been a server and they will be the ones to leave little or no tip. On the other side of the coin, we had a server in Katie Belle's not long ago, that purposely shorted me $10 just because she thought I wouldn't notice since we had stayed for a while and ordered several drinks. When I pointed it out to her, she didn't hesitate and promptly handed me the $10. Her explanation was absolutely lame, but she still got a tip....just not as good as she would have. We have had her since then and there has been no problem. Like my daddy used to say, "I never did see a board that didn't have two sides" and that seems to fit here.

[golfnut]

Sometimes we split, sometimes we don't. I personally don't believe an additional charge of $5.00 is reasonable. We went to restaurant the other day and split an order of ribs, the waitress couldn't have been more accomodating she brought us 2 rolls instead of one and several extra plates so we had some for both the salad and the main dish all without being asked to, and there was no extra charge, we will be going back there again. If I go to a restaurant that charges for splitting we don't go back. I do like the idea of restaurants offering smaller portions for a lesser charge.....GN

[krash]

Originally Posted by dillywho

If these people are so "cheap", then why do they eat out in the first place? As for the "village cocktail", water is what I normally drink at home unless it is breakfast (coffee) or sometimes wine at dinner. I usually don't order wine out because I don't want to pay bottle price for a small glasss....oops,forgot that's cheap, huh? We don't eat much bread, period, so extra is not in the cards for us. How many almost full plates have you returned to be trashed because the customer could not eat it all or how many "to go boxes" does the restaurant have to keep in inventory because of the large portions? Those boxes just add to the cost of the restaurant, hence less profit. We also split meals at home....for instance, baked potatoes. That is not because we are cheap....we just don't waste. I couldn't understand why my mother would cook one steak and one potato for herself and my dad after they retired. Now I do.

Dillywho - I was not referring to YOUR eating habits as I don't have a clue who you are - don't get so defensive. Please understand, I am only speaking about those that take advantage of "free" things... like EXTRA lemons to make free lemonade, when there is lemonade offered on the menu, and EXTRA bread/rolls to take home.

And you asked why people go out if they're cheap? Well, sometimes it might actually be cheaper to eat out than cook it yourself, especially when you split a meal- no need for special ingredients, no need for gas/electric, no need for water/cleanup.

[krash]

And another suggestion - instead of splitting meals - why not just ask for the lunch menu! Less food... less waste!

[golfnut]

Although it's a great concept, I've never been to a restaurant that offered a lunch menu at dinner time, not saying they aren't out there, just never found one.....GN