Top 15 ways restaurants are sneaking in cost savings
So I ran across an article on AOL about how restaurants are cutting food costs this week. Great minds think alike, because Karen noticed her grocery store doing the same thing. So I did a little research and here is what I found. There are lots of sneaky ways restaurants are cutting costs without passing on the savings to you. I understand that food costs are going sky high and the bottom line is going with it. But I want restaurants to just say, “we had to raise our prices because our costs went up.” Just be honest. So here is what I found:
- Cutting back on portions - I think we eat too much anyway but if less food is going on the plate, the price should be less as well.
- Redesigning the menu to make it harder to match price with food item.
- Using a cheaper meat such as a cheaper cut of meat or swapping chicken for beef.
- Using frozen for fresh vegetables or getting larger quantities which means the veggies you eat aren’t as fresh as they used to be.
- Use the left overs for a soup or make croutons from old bread. IMHO this should be done anyway as long as you aren’t eating the leftovers from someone else’s plate. YUCK! We throw too much food away anyway.
- Not geting the same buzz? Drinks are getting weaker to save on alcohol expenses.
- Using cheaper brands instead of those high quality top shelf brands.
- You might find your take out boxes aren’t as cute as they used to be. That doesn’t bother me at all.
- Recipes get fewer of the called for ingredients. You might find only 3 oz of chicken in a soup instead of 5 oz for the same sized bowl. Also, your fruits might have more of the parts you normally don’t see like the tops of the strawberry.
- Prices are getting raised more often. They are tricky about it though. They raise prices from $6.95 to $6.99. This might not be a lot but it adds up.
- They are using smaller plates to make it look like you are getting more food.
- Happy hour is getting shorter and less is offered to eat during those times.
- There is no more water being automatically to your table anymore to cut down on water consumption and dishwashing needs.
- Offering a “Happy hour” with just one of two reduced priced items but promoting several at regular price to make you think you are getting a good deal.
- Last but not least, Watch your check for added gratuity for smaller parties. Usually the gratuity is added for parties of 8 or more but more and more they are adding gratuity for every person regardless of the number at the table.
Just be careful and be wise with the money you work so hard for.
LRN
This really does NOT bother me. I would rather have smaller portions of food (which is better anyway) than have them hike their prices sky high. I really feel bad for the struggling businesses around my area. I want to see restaurants and small business survive this economic down turn. It is peoples livelihoods. Honestly, restaurants do not do it to scam you, they are doing it out of necessity. Just like you encourage savings to your readers, why can’t businesses practice the same philosophie??
One more thing… if you went to a resturant and all food went up a buck, you would be mad. Well, to avoid angry customers, resturants have to be sneeky about things.
I had noticed some of these things myself recently.
For example, the water example has been going on quite a bit (and at more places) lately. The one that really got me, was when she asked for water at one restaurant, they asked if she wanted Deer Park or Pellegrino (in other words the only options were to buy the water).
Honestly, the smaller portions don’t bother me as much in a restaurant as they do in packaged goods, because other than some of the examples you gave (like leaving the tops on Strawberries), the change is more transparent, and not covered up like it is with say Potato Chips where the bag size stays the same and they puff it with air in a clear attempt at deception. The only place it would bother me, is if they continued at a place like say Outback Steakhouse where they list the size of the steak, and then not actually give you that.
Emily, I didn’t say that they were “scamming” us. I just want them to say, “our prices went up” instead of moving menus around and raising the price up in a fashion that you wouldn’t notice it like the increase from .95 to .99 . See what I mean? Just be honest and say that you are going to raise your prices.
If you read the post, you will see that I agree with shrinking the portions as well. Just don’t ask me to pay for a 5 oz serving of chicken and then keep the price the same when you only give me 3 oz. Does that make sense?
Also, I just said to DH that I would much rather support the local hardware than Home Depot.
Hope this helps you understand that I wasn’t saying that they were “scam”ing us. I too want local restaurants to make it.
We had a local bakery that closed because the cost of flour and other staples went up so much that they couldn’t cover their costs and they didn’t think people would pay the extra money. Their customers told them that they would pay the extra and they’ve reopened. My grocery store - a big chain - has posted signs that say “due to the rise in prices, our rice is now more costly”. I appreciate their openness.
Mom on the Go, that is what I am toalking about. I would be happy to pay the higher price if they are just honest about it!
I have noticed the same thing with water not automatically being served. I remember about 10 years ago taking a trip to California and not being served water in a restaurant unless you specifically asked for it (water consumption / drought, I was told). Great article!
Homemaker Barbi
I know what you mean about all of this, although, I see it more in grocery prices, because we don’t eat out as often.
I have noticed that the “half gallon” container of ice cream from Breyer’s is smaller, but is still selling for the same price!
Where are you writing from?
Where I am, food prices are definitely going up, but a lot of these examples here shocked me. Restaurants not serving water?? You’ve got to be kidding me. When I go out for dinner I have to tackle the servers to keep them from filling my glass.