Going to eat out? pay-what-you-like policy restaurant - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cynthetiq · 03-14-2005, 10:10 AM

What would you do? Would you feel comfortable with this? Do you read the menu from right to left, scanning prices first then picking from the "right amounts"?

Based on our normal spending habits, I normally like to only spend $30-$40 for the Skogafoss and I to go out to dinner, that's an 2 entree, 2 desert, and 1 coffee. I don't have any issue with just putting the funds down that I think is fair. I try to not look at the prices of things as I try to let my desires get tempered by pricing, not decided by it. So if I find that I want it, I decide if the vendor's price is fair and if not, I'll not order it.

Obviously if I ordered something that I know had a higher value then I'd be more inclined to leave more.

Quote:

CHECK, PLEASE!
Issue of 2005-03-21
Posted 2005-03-14
LINK
Diners browsing their options on Macdougal Street who happened upon a restaurant called Babu in its first few weeks of opening, earlier this year, were met with several surprises. The first was the incongruity of finding a place like Babu—which is candlelit and hushed—in a strip of the Village better known for falafels and Formica tables. The second was the unfamiliarity of the cuisine, which comes from Calcutta and draws upon the traditions of the many different ethnic groups that have made that city their home, from the Chinese (shrimp toasts with sesame) to the Muslim (mutton cooked with yogurt) to the Bengali (fish steamed with mustard and green chili, wrapped in a banana leaf) to the British (fish-and-chips).

The third surprise was that the menu came without prices. Instead, guests were invited to eat, enjoy, and then, at the end of the meal, pay what they thought it was worth. “I’d rather work out the kinks in the kitchen first,” Payal Saha, the restaurant’s owner, explained the other day, sitting at a corner table of Babu, which was about a quarter full of couples quietly eating and mentally calculating the value of their experience.

Saha, who is thirty and a native of Calcutta, moved to New York from Bombay in 2000 with her husband, who works in advertising and also serves as Babu’s informal maître d’. “I don’t have the money to hire topline staff, so everyone has to learn,” Saha said. “And it leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths if they have to pay and things don’t go right.” (The wine and liquor list does come with prices, and a check is delivered for them.) “I have assumed that everyone will pay me zero,” she said.

The pay-what-you-like policy has caused a certain amount of anxiety among diners, much as the pay-what-you-wish policy at, say, the Metropolitan Museum can cause crises of conscience in the face of a ticket-taking docent’s all-knowing gaze. Only the gauche or exploitative would interpret such an invitation as an opportunity to feed for free; the problem, for the civilized remainder, is the lack of an established code of behavior to follow. The standard meaning, in movies and cartoons, at least, of a missing price tag—if you have to ask, you can’t afford it—is clearly not the governing principle at Babu; but figuring out what the governing principle is is rather like trying to determine the correct size of a doorman’s Christmas tip. Should diners permit themselves a discount in exchange for being experimented upon, even if the experiment was pleasurable? (Did Pavlov’s dogs feel bad about enjoying the food they got in exchange for salivating on demand?) Or should diners show their appreciation for Saha’s humility with a reciprocal gesture of effusiveness? Totalling up imagined prices can certainly take up a good portion of the meal, and if you happen to appreciate Babu’s culinary adventurousness it is quite possible to conclude an evening at table with a consensus, over the do-it-yourself check, that the place is excellent but a little expensive.

“The no-prices menu puts people on the spot, and a lot of people got free meals,” said Ursila Jung, a friend of Saha who has been helping out. A rowdy group of ten young Indians walked in one Friday evening and occupied the restaurant’s large central table. Their response to no prices was to leave no money; they didn’t even tip the wait staff.

Other diners have been irrepressibly generous. “We had one couple who paid two hundred bucks for an eighty-dollar meal,” Saha said. (When customers overpay, Saha tries to persuade them to take some money back; none, so far, have accepted.) She admits that there is a “moment of awkwardness” when the no-prices policy is explained. “After that, some people order more food than you think they might have and some order less,” she said. “We talked to some people before sending them their check, asking if they would pay fifty dollars for this meal,” Jung said. “The people mostly said yes, except for one couple from Minneapolis. They were shocked at that price.”

Saha says that the experiment had its stresses for her as well. While she has enjoyed circulating among the tables as her guests ate, she said, “I run into the kitchen as soon as the check comes. It’s really hard for me, and it’s really hard for them.” A few weeks ago, prices were finally written into the menu: a three-course meal with wine comes to about fifty dollars a head. The value of having someone else do the math is, as MasterCard might put it, priceless.

— Rebecca Mead

maleficent · 03-14-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

A rowdy group of ten, walked in one Friday evening and occupied the restaurant’s large central table. Their response to no prices was to leave no money; they didn’t even tip the wait staff.

That's just beyond rude...

optik_nerve · 03-14-2005, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

That's just beyond rude...

You know there is going to be some asshole that does something like that...

lindseylatch · 03-14-2005, 10:34 AM

That's a pretty cool idea, to get an idea of what people will pay for your food.

maleficent · 03-14-2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by optik_nerve

You know there is going to be some asshole that does something like that...

There are assholes everywhere, but to not even leave a tip... Jaysus Christus... I can't even imagine the mindset of that... Even when I go, occassionally, to my local watering hole, and the bartender will give me free drinks, I wouldn't dream of NOT tipping on the value of those drinks. I may not pay for the booze,but I'm still paying for the service.

Recorded as Reason #4562 why I hate people.

iccky · 03-14-2005, 10:43 AM

Another reason I love New York

All kinds of craziness.

Though i will admit to having paid only $1 once at the Met, though in my defense I had to catch a train in an hour and just wanted to seee one exhibit.

hambone · 03-14-2005, 10:44 AM

I think this is an interesting idea. I personally would feel a little uncomfortable there just because I am not really the best judge of what food at restaurants should be worth.

I suppose I would generally pay more than it is worth just to be safe, since the guy is nice enough to trust me with that choice.

snowy · 03-14-2005, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

There are assholes everywhere, but to not even leave a tip... Jaysus Christus... I can't even imagine the mindset of that... Even when I go, occassionally, to my local watering hole, and the bartender will give me free drinks, I wouldn't dream of NOT tipping on the value of those drinks. I may not pay for the booze,but I'm still paying for the service.

Recorded as Reason #4562 why I hate people.

As some people around here know, I used to work at a brewpub, and we would often get free beers from other servers. The rule was to tip at least a dollar to the server who gave you the freebie--they got you the pint, so you damn well better pay for it somehow.

I can't imagine not tipping, or being ungenerous. It completely goes against my nature. The other day my friend and I went out to eat at this popular chowder spot on the coast here. The waitress was excellent--service was prompt, friendly, and she refilled our drinks without us having to ask. I tipped her three dollars for a $10 meal. She deserved it.

The hard thing about this whole concept, though, is value. That kind of meal/experience is probably worth a lot more in New York than it is in Portland. ..so coming from out of town I'd have no idea what to pay or what was reasonable. I would attempt to err on the side of generosity, but what if your guesstimate was wrong? I'd feel so guilty.

VitaminH · 03-14-2005, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

There are assholes everywhere, but to not even leave a tip... Jaysus Christus... I can't even imagine the mindset of that... Even when I go, occassionally, to my local watering hole, and the bartender will give me free drinks, I wouldn't dream of NOT tipping on the value of those drinks. I may not pay for the booze,but I'm still paying for the service.

Recorded as Reason #4562 why I hate people.

Amen, Mal. I once worked at a local pizza joint. A group of people still in high school (this was my fresh year in college) that I knew from school came in for lunch (there was 15-20), were rowdy and messy and left no tip. So when I got off work, I knew where they were so I showed up and demanded money. I collected from everyone and went back and gave it to the waitress. Boy was I ticked.

lindseylatch · 03-14-2005, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VitaminH

Amen, Mal. I once worked at a local pizza joint. A group of people still in high school (this was my fresh year in college) that I knew from school came in for lunch (there was 15-20), were rowdy and messy and left no tip. So when I got off work, I knew where they were so I showed up and demanded money. I collected from everyone and went back and gave it to the waitress. Boy was I ticked.

*snickers* Awesome!

Starlight4 · 03-14-2005, 11:17 AM

wow, this is a pretty crazy idea... I'd have a problem with not knowing the value, too. I think how much I paid would definitely depend on not only the food, but the service, too. If they are nicer, I'd be more apt to pay more.

I can't believe some people would go in there and eat for free... ugh...

Gilda · 03-14-2005, 11:27 AM

Sounds like an interesting concept. It would certainly make payment easier; figure out what you'd normally pay for a meal in such a place, and you don't have to worry about change and such.

Based on the description, it sounds like a $40-$50 meal for two place, so I'm thinking I'd probably be givng $40 for the meal and $10 for the tip, adjusted upwards if necessary.

animosity · 03-14-2005, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

There are assholes everywhere, but to not even leave a tip... Jaysus Christus... I can't even imagine the mindset of that... Even when I go, occassionally, to my local watering hole, and the bartender will give me free drinks, I wouldn't dream of NOT tipping on the value of those drinks. I may not pay for the booze,but I'm still paying for the service.

Recorded as Reason #4562 why I hate people.

I usually tip the price of the meal/drinks when I am not charged. I am still coming out ahead... about 20% ahead.

I wouldnt mind such a place, but I can see people abusing it.

BigBen · 03-14-2005, 11:56 AM

I was drinking on Friday (surprise) and went to my favorite spot, a small pub downtown. I was there with a buddy for about 2 hours and we were feeling no pain.

All of a sudden, a pub-crawl showed up and the place was standing room only. I mean, I couldn't even take a piss. They left about 15 minutes later, but before they did, they STOLE THE MONEY FROM THE WAITRESSES FLOAT.

Now you are probably thinking that she deserved it for leaving the money on the tray, or in a position for being stolen, but let me assure you that the place was so packed someone could have taken my wallet out of my front pocket and I would never had known.

What did my buddy and I do? We chipped in and covered the float. YES, it was more than I was planning to spend on beer that night. Thinking that poor girl would have to cover that out of her own pocket just killed me. YES, we were treated like heroes, and I think the next hundred times we go back there we will be getting excellent service.

To think that someone would steal from a waitress... that's just low. To eat a meal and not pay for it, that is low. It sounds like that group had NO INTENTION IN PAYING. That's what gets me the most.

I would definitely err on the side of caution (e.g. leave lots of money) if this situation presented itself.

rat · 03-14-2005, 06:47 PM

wow. really inspiring experiment with market demand in order to set one's pricing. just about as 'free' a market could be (i.e., no transaction costs, no middle-men and no vendor fees). can't imagine how stressful that was, but can't imagine how rewarding the ultimate outcome will be for the lady to know that her clients set the price (hence, they can hardly find reason to complain about them) of her service.

03-14-2005, 10:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
lindseylatch Addict Location: Seattle, WA	That's a pretty cool idea, to get an idea of what people will pay for your food. __________________ "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities" "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." "It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong." -Voltaire

03-14-2005, 10:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
hambone Zeroed In Location: CA	I think this is an interesting idea. I personally would feel a little uncomfortable there just because I am not really the best judge of what food at restaurants should be worth. I suppose I would generally pay more than it is worth just to be safe, since the guy is nice enough to trust me with that choice. __________________ "Like liquid white from fallen glass, Nothing to cry over"

03-14-2005, 11:56 AM	#14 (permalink)
BigBen Comedian Location: Use the search button	I was drinking on Friday (surprise) and went to my favorite spot, a small pub downtown. I was there with a buddy for about 2 hours and we were feeling no pain. All of a sudden, a pub-crawl showed up and the place was standing room only. I mean, I couldn't even take a piss. They left about 15 minutes later, but before they did, they STOLE THE MONEY FROM THE WAITRESSES FLOAT. Now you are probably thinking that she deserved it for leaving the money on the tray, or in a position for being stolen, but let me assure you that the place was so packed someone could have taken my wallet out of my front pocket and I would never had known. What did my buddy and I do? We chipped in and covered the float. YES, it was more than I was planning to spend on beer that night. Thinking that poor girl would have to cover that out of her own pocket just killed me. YES, we were treated like heroes, and I think the next hundred times we go back there we will be getting excellent service. To think that someone would steal from a waitress... that's just low. To eat a meal and not pay for it, that is low. It sounds like that group had NO INTENTION IN PAYING. That's what gets me the most. I would definitely err on the side of caution (e.g. leave lots of money) if this situation presented itself. __________________ 3.141592654 Hey, if you are impressed with my memorizing pi to 10 digits, you should see the size of my penis.

03-14-2005, 10:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
iccky Psycho Location: Princeton, NJ	Another reason I love New York All kinds of craziness. Though i will admit to having paid only $1 once at the Met, though in my defense I had to catch a train in an hour and just wanted to seee one exhibit.

03-14-2005, 11:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
Starlight4 Upright Location: NY, NY	wow, this is a pretty crazy idea... I'd have a problem with not knowing the value, too. I think how much I paid would definitely depend on not only the food, but the service, too. If they are nicer, I'd be more apt to pay more. I can't believe some people would go in there and eat for free... ugh...

03-14-2005, 11:27 AM	#12 (permalink)
Gilda 32 flavors and then some Location: Out on a wire.	Sounds like an interesting concept. It would certainly make payment easier; figure out what you'd normally pay for a meal in such a place, and you don't have to worry about change and such. Based on the description, it sounds like a $40-$50 meal for two place, so I'm thinking I'd probably be givng $40 for the meal and $10 for the tip, adjusted upwards if necessary.