I really dont know why some ppl think LI is great (Islip: schools, college)

[Peter B]

Originally Posted by newtoli

I travel quite frequently, and no one ever tells you the prices for the specials, it's considered tacky.

Tacky? It's tacky of the restaurant not to tell the prices. You sound like you've always lived on LI.
While I prefer to have the price announced, I don't mind so much if the specials hover in the mid-range of menu prices. What really annoys me is when the price isn't announced and I'm surprised when I get the bill, which almost always happens at good LI restaurants. In a flash, I've flipped from a satisfied to dissatisfied diner. The carefully cultivated feelings of hospitality are quickly replaced with thoughts of entrepreneurial greed. In the end, it sours and overshadows what might have overwise been a very pleasant experience. Unfortunately, it happens more often than not on LI.

[newtoli]

Nice to generalize, I've only lived here for less than 2 years (hence the username "new"toli). I've lived in NYC, Westchester and Jersey. I travel frequently for my job all across the East Coast, North and South. Part of my job is to scope out restaurants for events, so I think I can speak with some experience here... 90% of the halfway decent restaurants I've eaten at do not tell you the price of the specials. I was just in Las Vegas, and it was the same there. I was in Ohio last month, same thing. It is not a "Long Island" thing.

If you are concerned that the price may vary greatly as compared to the regular menu, you simply have to ask pleasantly and the server will tell you. I've really only seen prices vary a huge amount if you are getting a large seafood platter type special, or a high grade cut of meat.

Also, are you from Michigan or Long Island? Your posting history seems to suggest Michigan. There is so much bashing on here from people out of state, or people who left. We get it, people are angry it's expensive to live here, it's a fact of life, things are expensive so close to NYC. You can't expect it to be cheap living within an hour of one of biggest cities in the world.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by Peter B

Tacky? It's tacky of the restaurant not to tell the prices. You sound like you've always lived on LI.
While I prefer to have the price announced, I don't mind so much if the specials hover in the mid-range of menu prices. What really annoys me is when the price isn't announced and I'm surprised when I get the bill, which almost always happens at good LI restaurants. In a flash, I've flipped from a satisfied to dissatisfied diner. The carefully cultivated feelings of hospitality are quickly replaced with thoughts of entrepreneurial greed. In the end, it sours and overshadows what might have overwise been a very pleasant experience. Unfortunately, it happens more often than not on LI.

Do you get an estimate before you have work done at your house, on your car, at the vet? You don't hire, receive the service and then ask the price.

If you're selecting a shirt at the store, and notice the price tag is missing, do you have it rung up first and then say, No -- I don't want it? Or do you ask a clerk, "How much is this shirt?" and then decide whether or not to purchase.

What make ordering a meal any different? You selected the special and didn't ask the price. You enjoyed the meal and only became dissatisfied after you received the bill. That's nobody's fault but your own because you didn't ask first.

[alexei27]

For what it's worth...

Gas is $3.05 to 3.10 all over Suffolk. It Westchester its $3.20 to 3.30

I paid $2.88 for 100 gals. of fuel oil a few days ago. My mom in Ossining paid $3.10 for 200 gals.

Right now...today...it was cheaper to live in Suffolk than Westchester

[ClarkStreetKid]

FWIW Today in Richmond regular was 2.79.

[ClarkStreetKid]

Originally Posted by LIMA

How about we ask what plenty of things you found to do that doesn't include shopping, watching a movie and going out to eat, and playing golf

Then ask yourself all the things lost from long island in just the past 10 years..
Long island used to have it all, beautiful ranges, motorsports facilities, horse facilities, riding areas, water sports and boating...

Now you have preserved land you CAN NOT USE.
Less ranges, and people fighting the last trap and skeet range out of existance
1 motorsport facility out of 45, and it is a 1 venue facility that doesn't cater to the kids and the street problems. (forget that the history of long island is motorsports, and motorsports in the USA started here and is not a down south redneck sport)
1 worthwhile , ah im lying just 1 horse area
No riding areas anymore for anything non horse, and that is practically a outlaw thing
Wet bikes and jet bikes are all practically outlawed here.

Long island is becoming the true land of no and the land of do nothing but work and pay taxes...

Then do what my wife, parents and in-laws did when the Island stopped being our Island, move. I have plenty of shopping, movies and restaurants and then I have hunting, fishing, hiking, kyacking (downtown no less), shooting, golf, motor sports and thousands of acres of horse country.

[GCGuy]

Originally Posted by ClarkStreetKid

Then do what my wife, parents and in-laws did when the Island stopped being our Island, move. I have plenty of shopping, movies and restaurants and then I have hunting, fishing, hiking, kyacking (downtown no less), shooting, golf, motor sports and thousands of acres of horse country.

Indeed, but it's in North Carolina.

Perhaps people here can stop whining and start trying to enjoy/take advantage of what you have. Instead of looking to do something, people seem to prefer to complain about everything that's not the same as it was 40 years ago. Ok, well, how many places are exactly like it was 40 years ago? Sorry, but I bet you there are people all over the country with the exact same complaints.

And most places all over the country do no price the specials. Some do, the vast majority do not. Once again, that's not a "only on LI" bashing opportunity.

[ClarkStreetKid]

Actually it's all in Virginia.

BTW, They usually don't price the specials here either. I know one of our favorite places does, but that's it.

[newtoli]

The only time I've really seen specials priced out, is occasionally on the board at the front of the restaurant. Even then the server still does not mention the price.

[watamensch]

Originally Posted by newtoli

I travel quite frequently, and no one ever tells you the prices for the specials, it's considered tacky.

I used to think it was tacky to give prices for specials until I went to a restaurant in Northern NJ where entrees were in the $15-18 range. I liked the description of the special so I ordered it... as did another person in our party. Turns out it was $28! It is not the 10 bucks that matters so much, but we were stunned when we got the bill. The bill was 20% higher then we expected.

Now if I am interested in a special and the waiter does not give a price I ask. I do not mind spending a bit more, but I don't want surprises. Often there's a similar dish that is on the menu and I would rather save the money... but it is MY choice, not the choice of the restaurant.