You are settled in at a nice restaurant, the server recites the specials, and one of them sounds wonderful. Then you look at the menu and see two small words where the price should be: market price. Your stomach flutters, and not from hunger.
Those words can mean a delightful meal, or they can mean a check that makes you gasp. The trouble is that “market price” means the price is not fixed. It can change, and the menu will not tell you what it is today. The good news is that there is a simple way to protect yourself, and it costs nothing.
The One Simple Question
Here it is: “What is the price on that today?” That is the whole trick. Ask it before you order, politely and plainly, and ask it every time you see market price on a menu or hear a special without a number attached.
There is nothing rude or cheap about asking. A good server will answer without a flicker. If a restaurant is reluctant to tell you what something costs before you order it, that tells you something too.
Ask for the exact figure, not “a little pricey.” Ask whether that is for the whole dish or per person, per pound or per piece if that applies, and whether it comes with sides or costs extra. Then you can decide with all the facts in front of you.
5 Menu Items to Watch
Market price turns up in a few familiar places. Prices differ from place to place and day to day, and these are the types of items where a surprise is most likely to hide.
- Lobster. Whole lobster and lobster tails are classic market price dishes at many restaurants. Ask what the price is and whether it is for a whole lobster or a certain size.
- Crab legs. Crab is often priced by weight or by the serving. Find out which, and how much you will get for that price.
- Fresh whole fish. A whole fish of the day, served fresh, may be priced by the pound or by the fish. The cost depends on the size of the one you are given, so ask.
- Oysters and other shellfish. Raw bar items are often priced per piece or per dozen. A few extras can add up quickly across a table.
- Steak specials. A big cut of steak offered as a special may not have a price printed anywhere. Ask what it costs and how large it is.
None of these are bad choices. They can be a real treat, and many of us look forward to a special meal out. The point is only that you should know the cost before the plate arrives, not after.
Why Market Price Exists
There is an honest reason for the practice. Seafood and special cuts of meat can change in cost from one week to the next, and a restaurant may not want to reprint its menu every time. Leaving the price open lets the kitchen charge what the item cost to buy that day.
That is fair in principle. Where it becomes a problem is when the customer is left guessing. A price you do not know until the bill arrives is no help to anyone on a budget.
More Ways to Avoid a Check Surprise
- Ask about specials too. A special described out loud often has no price on it. Ask before you say yes.
- Decide your budget first. Before you go, think about what you want to spend. It is easier to say no to a pricey dish if you already have a number in mind.
- Do the math at the table. If an item is priced per pound or per piece, do a quick calculation, and ask your server to confirm the estimate.
- Check for sharing. Some dishes are made for two. If one is, splitting can bring the cost per person down.
- Look over the bill. When the check comes, compare each item to what you were told. If something does not match, ask politely.
- Speak up on the spot. If you learn the price and it is higher than you want, it is perfectly fine to say, “That is more than I planned, I will go with something else.”
Do Not Be Embarrassed
Many people hold back from asking because they worry it makes them seem unable to afford a meal. Please do not let that stop you. Wanting to know what you are paying is simply being a smart customer. A restaurant that values your business will be glad to tell you.
Think of it this way: the few seconds it takes to ask are nothing compared to the sinking feeling of opening a check you did not expect. A short question at the start of the evening protects both your wallet and your good mood.
So the next time market price shows up on the menu, smile, enjoy the thought of that delicious dish, and ask the question. It is the easiest way to keep a special night special, with no unpleasant surprise waiting at the end of the meal.
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