When 'Thirty Seven Fifty' is $3,750, not 37.50

[Jenise]

http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/11/diner-mishears-wine-price-pays-100x-more/

Hard to know exactly what happened. But if indeed the guy said "I don't know much about wine, can you suggest something decent" and waitress actually suggested SE, management is buffoonish.
And yes most people would assume Thirty Seven Fifty is $37.50. I'd like the see the video, though.

Hard to know exactly what happened. But if indeed the guy said "I don't know much about wine, can you suggest something decent" and waitress actually suggested SE, management is buffoonish.

Agree.

Although it also depends on the demeanor/style of the customers. If they look like high rollers (this is AC) out to spend/impress, it might not be far-fetched for someone to outsource such a high-end purchase decision.

[Jenise]

Yeah, hard to know what actually happened, but looks to me like the customers are the good guys here. That they pooled together to pay for the bottle even at the 'reduced' price of $2200 speaks to something, and not necessarily guilt of anything except for the fact that they drank the bottle.

Given the description of the circumstances (and realizing that the restaurant did not outright disagree with the relation of the events by the customer, but did not in any way refute them; they just huffed) I'd have to side entirely with the customer..

If the customer said what he said (and I see no one disputing that's what he said), and the waitperson pointed out that wine to a self-acknowledged wine parvenu and casually said "Thirty-seven fifty"....I'm sorry, that is a sign of a poorly trained and poorly supervised manager, or a person who didn't care.

Even in this day of inflated restaurant menus, you don't just give a flip $Thirty seven fifty" when you're recommending a wine that's Three Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars. And then get huffy about how you went to such great extent to make the customer aware of it.

(I once had a young employee who was marveling at at customer's well-restored and immaculate old bathtub Porsche. As he was ogling it, the guy mentioned he was thinking of selling it, so the kid asked the price. "Nine,"the guy replied. "Wow," the kid said. "Nine Hundred isn't bad for a great looking classic like that." I talked to him afterwards, explaining the realities of classic Porsches.).

[Jenise]

Given the description of the circumstances (and realizing that the restaurant did not outright disagree with the relation of the events by the customer, but did not in any way refute them; they just huffed) I'd have to side entirely with the restaurant.

If the customer said what he said (and I see no one disputing that's what he said), and the waitperson pointed out that wine to a self-acknowledged wine parvenu and casually said "Thirty-seven fifty"....I'm sorry, that is a sign of a poorly trained and poorly supervised manager, or a person who didn't care.

Even in this day of inflated restaurant menus, you don't just give a flip $Thirty seven fifty" when you're recommending a wine that's Three Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars. And then get huffy about how you went to such great extent to make the customer aware of it.

(I once had a young employee who was marveling at at customer's well-restored and immaculate old bathtub Porsche. As he was ogling it, the guy mentioned he was thinking of selling it, so the kid asked the price. "Nine,"the guy replied. "Wow," the kid said. "Nine Hundred isn't bad for a great looking classic like that." I talked to him afterwards, explaining the realities of classic Porsches.).

So you mean you side with the customer, not the restaurant (as stated)...correct?

As stated, yes.

And I think their willingness to compromise after being staggered by the unexpected bill was commendable. Also a pretty good indication that they weren't trying to pull anything.

That the guy did not know what Screaming Eagle was (and, oh, how blissful that ignorance would normally be) should have signalled a bloody red flag to the waitperson.

The waitperson's conduct (as stated) was indefensible. She should have been cognizant of both the text and the obvious sub-text of the encounter. She should not have been so casual and flippant about "Thirty seven fifty". And she should have double-checked and made sure that the customer wanted a $3,750.00 bottle of wine. Even if it was a high end restaurant (and, I'm sorry, but Bobby Flay???) and she thought the guys were highrollers, she should have confirmed. I'm quite certain that selling a $3750.00 bottle is not a common occurrence there.

Of course, if more information...plausible information...comes to light, I'd re-evaluate my opinion.

[Jenise]

Hoke, am entirely in agreement with what you just said. But in your previous post, you said " I'd have to side entirely with the restaurant." Perhaps you didn't realize this; doesn't sound like what you meant.

Hoke, am entirely in agreement with what you just said. But in your previous post, you said " I'd have to side entirely with the restaurant." Perhaps you didn't realize this; doesn't sound like what you meant.

Ah. Meant customer. Thanks.

Maybe I'm just in a cynical mood after the electiom yesterday but I'm of the opinion that the whole thing was staged for the publicity it brought the restaurant. This story is everywhere internet, tv, newspaper, etc. Just too pat.

...I'm of the opinion that the whole thing was staged for the publicity it brought the restaurant. This story is everywhere internet, tv, newspaper, etc. Just too pat.

I'm with Lou.

But the publicity doesn't make the restaurant look very good, does it? Unless they are trying for the "Look, they have SCREAMING EAGLE" crowd?

It was discussed on "Live with Kelly and Michael" today.

But the publicity doesn't make the restaurant look very good, does it? Unless they are trying for the "Look, they have SCREAMING EAGLE" crowd?

The restaurant comes across as moderate and it has received a million dollars worth of free publicity. As a person who has worked extensively in retail believe me the restaurant is thrilled with all the publicity.

Hmmm. I wonder if there are any restaurants around here that would love the publicity they'd get when they served a $1000 plus wine to someone who didn't realize what the cost was and then refused to pay for it? I think I could make an arrangement with them.....

You'll have to wait a period of time before the same scam is tried. Talked to a couple of people who are involved with restaurants here in the valley and they don't accept the story in it's entirety. They just shoolk their heads and said, hard to believe.

You'll have to wait a period of time before the same scam is tried. Talked to a couple of people who are involved with restaurants here in the valley and they don't accept the story in it's entirety. They just shoolk their heads and said, hard to believe.

Darn it, there goes my chance to have a Screaming Eagle at negotiated rates. I asked Filigenzi how many places in Sacramento we could get Screagle, and he laughed a lot.

You'll have to wait a period of time before the same scam is tried. Talked to a couple of people who are involved with restaurants here in the valley and they don't accept the story in it's entirety. They just shoolk their heads and said, hard to believe.

Darn it, there goes my chance to have a Screaming Eagle at negotiated rates. I asked Filigenzi how many places in Sacramento we could get Screagle, and he laughed a lot.

Sacramento, the last time I looked is more likely to be into The Limping Sparrow crowd.

You'll have to wait a period of time before the same scam is tried. Talked to a couple of people who are involved with restaurants here in the valley and they don't accept the story in it's entirety. They just shoolk their heads and said, hard to believe.

Darn it, there goes my chance to have a Screaming Eagle at negotiated rates. I asked Filigenzi how many places in Sacramento we could get Screagle, and he laughed a lot.

Yeah, but we make up for that lack of SE with plenty of Rombauer Chard and Cupcake Shiraz!

Yeah, but we make up for that lack of SE with plenty of Rombauer Chard and Cupcake Shiraz!

Half and half, with a little sugar sprinkle of confetti on top...yum!