$64 for grilled cheese and fries!

Chayalle

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 5:27 pm

I've stopped going to certain pizza shops in town because their fries portions are so stingy. I vote with my feet.....

amother

Darkblue

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 6:30 pm

Depends on the ambience of the restaurant.

Many nicer restaurants don’t have any cheap items on the menu because they don’t want people spending a small amount and taking up table space.

The cost of a grilled cheese sandwich seems extreme but I have seen it a lot where the price of a hamburger is almost as much as a more expensive type of entree because the cost of the ingredients is really a small percentage of the actual cost of feeding people.

I only eat out for social occasions in which case the cost of the meal is somewhat beside the point because I know I am spending a lot in order to have the atmosphere and convenience to have a nice experience OR the food is transcendent and not what I could easily duplicate at home.

amother

Lily

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 6:41 pm

Where was this?

I live in lakewood and I'm thinking of a specific dairy place with higher prices....even so, a grilled cheese is $16 and fries is $8 ×2 is $48
Lower end cafes would be $30
You must've went to a really nice place

amother

Quince

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 6:53 pm

amother Lily wrote:

Plus tax plus tip

Amarante

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 6:53 pm

amother Lily wrote:

Actually with a drink, tax and tip that would easily be $64 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

amother

Lily

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 6:59 pm

Amarante wrote:

Actually with a drink, tax and tip that would easily be $64 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

In that case OP went to a higher end Cafe and it makes sense. Go to a cheaper Cafe and her total would have been half

Amarante

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 7:21 pm

amother Lily wrote:

In that case OP went to a higher end Cafe and it makes sense. Go to a cheaper Cafe and her total would have been half

I don’t disagree. I was pointing out that the example of the actual restaurant in Lakewood wouid have been $64 in total although amother Lily was posting to indicate that this relatively upscale place in Lakewood would not have been that expensive.

Prices have gotten extremely high and/or portions are also getting smaller.

This is true even of non kosher fast food places like MacDonalds. Today I was reading a newspaper article about a blogger who had written about it costing him $18 for a burger, fries and drink at MacDonalds.

/

Sunny Days

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 9:04 pm

amother Acacia wrote:

Where did OP go?

To bingo
Betty Crocker $25-30
Cheese?
Bread?
Ketchup or jar of sauce? (My kids just like it bread +American cheese)
Not sure the current prices

But even if you add a pack of the round 12” parchment paper so your Betty stays clean- I think the total is still cheaper than the place she ordered and the good news is, this is literally no prep. I’d sooner pay for an omelette or tuna sandwich or a salad which takes more prep in my opinion…

Amelia Bedelia

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 9:11 pm

Sunny Days wrote:

$64 is a lot. That being said, I truly hope that it was not for some toasted bread with American cheese on top, perhaps some ketchup.

I assume it was for real grilled cheese, browned in butter in skillet with good quality cheese. Something like this.
https://www.recipetineats.com/.....wich/

Sunny Days

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 9:15 pm

Amelia Bedelia wrote:

I sure hope so!
Because you can feed a classroom or 2 of kids grilled cheese sandwiches for that price

amother

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 9:38 pm

watergirl wrote:

Did the menu not list the prices?

Well, yes. They definitely did. I wasn't paying attention.

I'm not saying the restaurant was sneaky or dishonest or in any way not upfront.

I'm simply saying that it's kind of astounding to go to a place that is very basic (unaesthetic, old, no frills kind of food) and pay that much for such a simple and meh meal.

amother

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 9:44 pm

amother Goldenrod wrote:

If grilled cheese was 17.99 x 2, fries 8.99 x 2, you hit $54 and that leaves $10 roughly for tax and 20% gratuity.
I sure hope it was thick sourdough slices and oozing yummy cheese!

Nope. Thin white bread and tasteless cheese.

amother

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 9:45 pm

amother Whitesmoke wrote:

$64 for 2 grill cheese and 2 French fries?

Yes. And tax and tip. No drinks. Had tap water.

amother

Mon, Nov 06 2023, 9:46 pm

amother Dustypink wrote:

They can charge whatever they want for things that are not necessities. It's a luxury. An extra. Luxuries cost money.

I guess. It didn't taste very luxurious though.