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My friend and I had lunch at a major chain restaurant and before going I'd checked their website to look at their lunch menu. When we were seated, the server gave us the dinner menu (and it was only 11:30 a.m.). I noticed the difference because the item I wanted was $4 more on the menu we were given. I asked about the lunch menu and was told that they thought customers on the weekend would want to relax with the dinner menu ???? I never did understand that one. He left and came back with the lunch menu and we ordered what we wanted at the "lunch time" price.
So, have any of you run into this situation? I thought if a restaurant has a separate menu for lunch and dinner, that they'd usually start using the dinner menu around 4 p.m., not at 11:30 in the morning!
Had we not said anything, we would have been charged the higher price, which is obviously what is happening to all the customers who don't ask for the lower priced lunch fare. I was also told that the dinner portions are larger, and that's fine, but that's not what we wanted in the first place.
That is a common practice with the larger chain restaurants. You're fortunate they even gave you a lunch menu when you requested it. Most of them won't!! But it is only on week-ends so we just avoid going out to lunch on week-ends.
That is a common practice with the larger chain restaurants. You're fortunate they even gave you a lunch menu when you requested it. Most of them won't!! But it is only on week-ends so we just avoid going out to lunch on week-ends.
This is very interesting. I went back to the restaurant's webpage and it does not state anywhere that the lunch menu is valid only M-F. There are many people who work Sat/Sun....if they want to have a lunch break I guess they're expected to pay the higher fares?
Doesn't make sense to me. Just another way for restaurants to try and make more money I guess. Too bad they don't take the extra and pay their employees better and not expect the customers to fork out additional money above and beyond the cost of the meal quoted on the menu to subsidize the low wages. (Oh, my, but that's another topic isn't it?)
I agree. And it was a suprise to us as well. We went to Black Angus to get a quick lunch one Sat. and had the same experience. The waiter said that's just the way it is! When we dorve across country we found out he was right. I guess it is because they CAN. And yes, they should pay their employees more on the week-ends if they are going to charge the customers more---at least that would make sense.
I agree. And it was a suprise to us as well. We went to Black Angus to get a quick lunch one Sat. and had the same experience. The waiter said that's just the way it is! When we dorve across country we found out he was right. I guess it is because they CAN. And yes, they should pay their employees more on the week-ends if they are going to charge the customers more---at least that would make sense.
Amazing what they think they can get away with! Our experience was at Olive Garden (where you're family, as they say on TV...lol, dysfunctional family? )
I see no reason why a customer cannot ask for "and/or demand" the lunch menu at lunch time, no matter what day it is. We are paying them, they are not paying us!
I've run into this too, even at smaller local places. This weekend it was a local Mexican restaurant. They have reasonably priced lunches and good food but on Saturday, we were given the dinner menu. I asked why and was told they had decided to serve dinner only on weekends. I said I was leaving because I was there for lunch. Suddenly lunch was available and they brought out the correct menu.
I think a lot of places are trying this to see if it's accepted.
I heard back from Olive Garden and their excuse for giving the dinner menu to weekend lunchers is that 'according to their research' they find that weekend lunchers want larger portions. ???
You tell me. Have you ever dined at Olive Garden for lunch on Saturday or Sunday and been asked what size portion you prefer?
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He left and came back with the lunch menu and we ordered what we wanted at the "lunch time" price. 
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