An outrageous rip-off or quality dining? Why these $14 potatoes are causing a stir among Aussie diners
- Replies 8
Are you shocked by the ever-increasing price of restaurant meals?
If so, you're not alone! With prices soaring higher every day, eating out seems more and more a luxury.
A recent customer complaint about an expensive plate of potatoes has only added to the outrage—but the ensuing debate has divided opinion right down the middle.
The customer expressed his shock and dismay when he was asked to pay $14 for a potato dish from a wine bar in Melbourne.
'Here's what $14 Twice Cooked Potato, Gruyere, Rosemary looks like,' he said.
On his post, he included an image of the meal, which featured a small plate with 13 potato wedges scattered about.
The post sparked a fierce debate about the situation and whether the diner was wrong for expecting an extra-generous portion for his hard-earned money, or the restaurant was ripping people off.
Some users took aim at the customer claiming that he should’ve known better than to expect more for his $14; after all, there's more to the cost of a restaurant meal than just the cost of ingredients.
Furthermore, the Melbourne eatery was described as a local wine bar that offered only seasonal small plates.
'It's a wine bar, what did you expect?' One commented.
'Seriously people—either cook it yourself or stop whinging,' another added.
'We know. Food is expensive when you pay someone else to make it for you,' a third said.
Other users pointed out that customers were also paying for the cost of staff, electricity, rent, insurance, and other expenses restaurants incur.
But many people sided with the diner, stressing that it was indeed a rip-off.
'It's not the size, but the cost. $14 for 13 small potato wedges is a joke no matter how you look at it,' one user commented.
While another added: '14 bucks for that is a robbery!'
In recent months, restaurant prices have been rising across the country annoying many customers across Australia.
ANZ Senior Economist Adelaide Timbrell also confirmed that the 'price of restaurant meals rose 6.5 per cent year-on-year to the June quarter while the price of takeaway food rose 9.1 per cent over that time'.
This left businesses with no other option but to increase their prices as well. This is due to a mix of factors in the hospitality sector such as 'the higher price of inputs like food, electricity and transport, as well as labour shortages which have likely impacted productivity in the sector'.
Rising wages in the industry were also one of the factors for the rising cost when dining out.
How price tags affect one’s dining experience
So, you've flipped the menu open and your eyes bulge as they latch onto that hefty price just for a measly plate of potatoes—but have you ever stopped to consider the way psychological factors influence how we perceive this?
In the world of haute cuisine and fine dining, the price tag can often be more indicative of an experience or an emotion, rather than just the actual value of ingredients on the plate.
High-end restaurants are selling more than just spectacular food. They are selling an atmospheric ambience, exceptional service, and often, a sense of status and exclusivity. It's all part of the package.
As such, the price of a meal is not just set by the sum of its parts, but also influenced by these more intangible factors.
Curiously enough, research shows that pricey tags can often lead us to believe that we're enjoying our meals more.
A study from Cornell University found a strange correlation; diners who pay more at buffet restaurants tend to rate their food higher than those who pay less for the same meal. In essence, a higher price tag can create a placebo effect of better taste and satisfaction.
But on the other hand, the potato debacle also reveals another facet of restaurant pricing psychology. If the portion size doesn't align with our expectations of value for what we paid, the satisfaction plummets.
So, what do you think, members? Is the rising cost of overhead factors a fair enough reason for restaurants to charge sky-high prices for meals? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
If so, you're not alone! With prices soaring higher every day, eating out seems more and more a luxury.
A recent customer complaint about an expensive plate of potatoes has only added to the outrage—but the ensuing debate has divided opinion right down the middle.
The customer expressed his shock and dismay when he was asked to pay $14 for a potato dish from a wine bar in Melbourne.
'Here's what $14 Twice Cooked Potato, Gruyere, Rosemary looks like,' he said.
On his post, he included an image of the meal, which featured a small plate with 13 potato wedges scattered about.
The post sparked a fierce debate about the situation and whether the diner was wrong for expecting an extra-generous portion for his hard-earned money, or the restaurant was ripping people off.
A customer ordered potato wedges worth $14 at a wine bar in Melbourne. Image source: Reddit/@itsallaboutthefun.
Some users took aim at the customer claiming that he should’ve known better than to expect more for his $14; after all, there's more to the cost of a restaurant meal than just the cost of ingredients.
Furthermore, the Melbourne eatery was described as a local wine bar that offered only seasonal small plates.
'It's a wine bar, what did you expect?' One commented.
'Seriously people—either cook it yourself or stop whinging,' another added.
'We know. Food is expensive when you pay someone else to make it for you,' a third said.
Other users pointed out that customers were also paying for the cost of staff, electricity, rent, insurance, and other expenses restaurants incur.
But many people sided with the diner, stressing that it was indeed a rip-off.
'It's not the size, but the cost. $14 for 13 small potato wedges is a joke no matter how you look at it,' one user commented.
While another added: '14 bucks for that is a robbery!'
In recent months, restaurant prices have been rising across the country annoying many customers across Australia.
ANZ Senior Economist Adelaide Timbrell also confirmed that the 'price of restaurant meals rose 6.5 per cent year-on-year to the June quarter while the price of takeaway food rose 9.1 per cent over that time'.
This left businesses with no other option but to increase their prices as well. This is due to a mix of factors in the hospitality sector such as 'the higher price of inputs like food, electricity and transport, as well as labour shortages which have likely impacted productivity in the sector'.
Rising wages in the industry were also one of the factors for the rising cost when dining out.
How price tags affect one’s dining experience
So, you've flipped the menu open and your eyes bulge as they latch onto that hefty price just for a measly plate of potatoes—but have you ever stopped to consider the way psychological factors influence how we perceive this?
In the world of haute cuisine and fine dining, the price tag can often be more indicative of an experience or an emotion, rather than just the actual value of ingredients on the plate.
High-end restaurants are selling more than just spectacular food. They are selling an atmospheric ambience, exceptional service, and often, a sense of status and exclusivity. It's all part of the package.
As such, the price of a meal is not just set by the sum of its parts, but also influenced by these more intangible factors.
Curiously enough, research shows that pricey tags can often lead us to believe that we're enjoying our meals more.
A study from Cornell University found a strange correlation; diners who pay more at buffet restaurants tend to rate their food higher than those who pay less for the same meal. In essence, a higher price tag can create a placebo effect of better taste and satisfaction.
But on the other hand, the potato debacle also reveals another facet of restaurant pricing psychology. If the portion size doesn't align with our expectations of value for what we paid, the satisfaction plummets.
.png){kind=icon}
