Introduction
If you’re looking for a great steakhouse experience, you want to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money. But how do you know if a steakhouse is too expensive? There are a few telltale signs that can help you determine if a steakhouse is too pricey for your budget. In this article, we’ll discuss nine telltale signs that a steakhouse is too expensive. From the menu prices to the atmosphere, these signs can help you decide if a steakhouse is worth the cost.
9 Telltale Signs a Steakhouse Is Too Expensive
When it comes to steak, you want to make sure you’re getting the best quality for your money. But how do you know if a steakhouse is too expensive? Here are nine telltale signs that a steakhouse is too pricey for your budget.
1. High Prices on the Menu
The first sign that a steakhouse is too expensive is the prices on the menu. If the prices are significantly higher than other steakhouses in the area, it’s likely too expensive for your budget.
2. Small Portions
Another sign that a steakhouse is too expensive is if the portions are small. If you’re paying a lot of money for a steak, you should expect a generous portion. If the portions are small, it’s likely too expensive.
3. Low Quality Meat
High-quality steak should be tender and juicy. If the steak is tough and dry, it’s likely a sign that the steakhouse is using low-quality meat. This is a sure sign that the steakhouse is too expensive.
4. Poor Service
If the service at the steakhouse is poor, it’s a sign that the restaurant is too expensive. Good service is an important part of the dining experience, and if the service is lacking, it’s likely too expensive.
5. Unfriendly Staff
If the staff at the steakhouse is unfriendly or unhelpful, it’s a sign that the restaurant is too expensive. Good customer service is essential for a pleasant dining experience, and if the staff is not friendly, it’s likely too expensive.
6. Limited Menu Options
If the steakhouse has a limited menu, it’s a sign that the restaurant is too expensive. A good steakhouse should have a wide variety of options to choose from, so if the menu is limited, it’s likely too expensive.
7. Unattractive Ambiance
If the steakhouse has an unattractive ambiance, it’s a sign that the restaurant is too expensive. A good steakhouse should have a pleasant atmosphere, so if the ambiance is lacking, it’s likely too expensive.
8. Unappetizing Presentation
If the steak is presented in an unappetizing way, it’s a sign that the steakhouse is too expensive. Good presentation is essential for a great steak, so if the presentation is lacking, it’s likely too expensive.
9. Unreasonable Wait Times
If the wait times at the steakhouse are unreasonable, it’s a sign that the restaurant is too expensive. Good restaurants should have reasonable wait times, so if the wait times are too long, it’s likely too expensive.
By keeping an eye out for these nine telltale signs, you can make sure you’re not overspending at a steakhouse. If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to look for a more affordable option.
The average cost of a meal in America varies widely based on where you are in the country, what type of restaurant you’re visiting, and what you’re ordering. What’s consistent, though, is that when you dine at a steakhouse, you’re going to pay more for your meal than you would at just about any other type of establishment. Not all steakhouses are going to empty your wallet, but there are some subtle (and not so subtle) signs that a steakhouse is too expensive.
Steak is a higher-cost food in and of itself, and you also go into a mid-to-higher-end steakhouse knowing you are paying for the experience, one replete with crisp tablecloths, fine flatware, an expert staff, a comprehensive wine list, et al.
That said, many potential diners think that some steakhouses are wildly overpriced. Sure, that cut of Chateaubriand is pricey for the chophouse but just because a restaurant offers some fine food and beverage options doesn’t mean it should be gouging its discerning customers. We trawled the web and even put out an original survey, that got hundreds of comments, to help identify the telltale signs of an expensive steakhouse.
Watch out for these red flags and if you spot them, maybe instead consider dining at that other steakhouse down the street.
If a steakhouse doesn’t even offer the option of self-parking your car, consider driving right on by. Numerous respondents to an ETNT survey conducted on Facebook identified valet parking as a warning sign that the restaurant was going to be unreasonably expensive. (Granted, you could park down the street and walk up, at least saving on that valet tip.)
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It might be a case of “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.” When a steakhouse menu does not list prices, chances are its going to be very pricey. Another notorious telltale sign of excessive rates, per a Facebook post, is when a restaurant puts ‘market price’ or MP on the menu instead of actual prices.
Steakhouses offer guests cutlery—especially that huge Ramob-sized steak knife—that are heavier than usual utensils because it makes the meal seem fancier and it makes people willing to pay more. And that’s not conjecture, it’s science. Per a study published in Bio Med Central’s Journal Flavour: “The weight and type of the cutlery [offered] exerted a significant impact on how artistically plated the main course was rated as being, how much the diners liked the food, and how much they would have been willing to pay for it.”
The darker the dining room, the pricier the steakhouse, it seems. One Facebook commenter warned about places where “it’s so dark [that] you can’t see the menu,” while a Redditor shared the results of a radio poll that found men conducting affairs often took their dates to steakhouses precisely because of how hard it was to see other people around the restaurant.
Watch out for steakhouses with multi-level cakes on the dessert menu, warns the Reddit community. One poster shared a snap of a chocolate cake with an astonishing 12 layers of cake and icing each and while many commenters admitted it looked amazing (one wrote “I’d commit crimes for that cake”), it was agreed that lavish desserts promise a hefty check.
According to many Reddit posters, if you see a name like “Gordon Ramsay” attached to a steakhouse, you’re going to pay more than you would at most other places. Sure, Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck, and José Andrés may be great chefs, but are their names worth the extra dollar signs?
When entrees don’t come with sides, watch out for sky-high prices, warn folks on Facebook. Even more concerning is when you even have to pay extra for sauces, especially when toppings are referred to by a word like “accessories.”
If a steakhouse is only open for dinner, it’s probably going to be one expensive dinner, caution many Facebook commenters. Watch out especially for a steakhouse with a parking lot that only starts to fill on the later side, and with expensive vehicles at that.
Watch out for steakhouses that use the very word “steakhouse” in their name, warned many respondents to the ETNT Facebook poll. One person joked to be wary “when steakhouse is in the name–not Arby’s” while many people said something along the lines of: “It says steakhouse.”
Steven John