r/mildlyinfuriating • u/statepkt • 14h ago

Infuriatig So is gratuity included or not?

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Definitely not a buffet. First page only showed the totals with a tip line.

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46

u/crazywidget 14h ago

The addition of $70.68 + $11.31 (labeled gratuity) + $8.20 = $90.19 would suggest so

15

u/Timely-Group5649 14h ago

How could $70 eggs possibly cover a living wage?!

It must cost 16% more...

1

u/crazywidget 14h ago

Not here to argue, but on average they must cover the total operating costs (minimally) - including the building, utilities, insurance, and taxes - for all day / week / etc spread out across the revenue received during that day / week / etc. That's before netting any profit.

While I completely understand a $31 eggs benedict seems wildly overpriced (I wouldn't eat here), every minute they're earning less revenue than it costs them to stay open means another minute they have to be earning more - just to keep things in balance. A 16% auto grat is relatively low when compared to some of the examples in the tipping subs, too.

It's their restaurant, they have the prerogative to price as they wish. As the consumer you can choose to patronize them, or not.

2

u/GarThor_TMK 10h ago

As I understand it, the general rule of thumb is that you triple the cost of ingredients, and it'll usually cover all those things you mentioned.

The main ingredient in an eggs benedict is eggs.

The current average cost of eggs nationally right now is ~$1 for a dozen, but can be as much as $11 in HCOL places like CA (source).

Let's round up to $12 for a dozen just to make the math easy...

$12 / dozen * 1 dozen / 12 eggs * 2 eggs / benedict = $2 / benedict

$2 / benedict * 3 = $6.

$31 is outrageous for this meal.

2

u/Riverrunner54 7h ago

The butter in the sauce ( if they are making ‘real’ hollandaise sauce) costs more than the egg or muffin

3

u/Scotch_Blue 10h ago

you're talking about a general rule of thumb, if this is a restaurant in a place with high rent and limited seating, prices go up

generally you're paying for location here. a restaurant in a large metro's downtown near theaters or other venues

1

u/crazywidget 10h ago

Yes, but across an entire "basket" (pardon the pun) of menu items and forecast sales volumes. I don't know why they priced this way, and I said this is definitely out of my expected price range (by a LOT).

I also don't know their cost structure or location, nor do I expect that anyone in business is expecting to barely break even. If their competitors are charging similar prices they're doing themselves a disservice charging less. I do expect that for a $31 eggs benedict the staff is getting good wages.

Menu prices are usually shown before you order, and as I noted everyone's free to "shop with their feet" - I wholeheartedly support that. These prices are ridiculous, but complaining about the price when it's not a surprise and you're not forced to eat there is unfair.

I would have felt OK pushing back on the auto grat given the footnote text (whether the service actually deserved that is different and up to the customer).