Price of take out

[tloonya]

Listen to this and be outraged as I was yesterday.
Went to a Cheesecake Factory.
Got avocado roll and potstickers. Take out.

Almost $10 each. $7.32 piece of cake!!!!!

Came home. Opened a huge plate. OMG!
6 chicken potstikers where crowded into a corner of a huge plate.
$10 worth!!!!!? Worth it??? NO!

Avocade roll...at least it had 3 cut in 2 pieces. Those had dry noodles as a bed. Looked fuller. But potstickers!!!!!!

I want to ask...what are they thinkikng when pricing food?
Portion of the shrimp scampy with salmon and 2 sides of your choice is $14.99
SIX (6) freaking potstickers - $10!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted]

If we are going to spend serious money on eating out, we rather go out to eat and seat at the restaurant. You get a better deal for your money (we found that out about a year ago)

The only food we order to go is fast food places (burger kind, wendy's, etc), chinese food and pizza.

Everything else, we always find later on we get to pay full price (less tips) but don't get:
- the same amount of food (less)
- same quality (as in taste, flavor, presentation).

[zibazinski]

Second that, the portions are usually huge, but I find that place to be overpriced.

[Deleted]

Mar 28, 2011 10:05:47 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Second that, the portions are usually huge, but I find that place to be overpriced.

We usually go there just for their cheesecake... my wife just LOVE their cheesecake.
I think it is usually like $10 a slice or something.

[Deleted]

That is surprising. Chess cake factory usually serves enough in one meal to feed a family of 18.

[chiver78]

the pricing for cheesecake is appropriate, IMHO. everything else I agree is overpriced. I will usually do an appetizer or half-portion salad when I go, in order to save room for cheesecake.

[cael]

Avocado rolls and pot stickers?!

::drool::

[whoisjohngalt]

I am finding more and more places that have expensive (IMO) appetizers, but fairly cheap entrees. I think many restaurants started to notice that some people just order appetizers and not a meal, so they jacked up the prices. It sucks, bc I would rather spend money on 2-3 appetizers than 1 entree, but oh well.

Lena

[tloonya]

NO! Shrimps and salmon for $14.99 in NOT overpriced as a lot of foods out there.
So I am surprised about how come that some are just oddly priced.

[yclept]

Never heard of Cheesecake Factory, nor does the word "factory" indicate to me a place that one would eat. But it must be pretty ritzy since they obviously have a lady's menu without prices -- next time tell them you want the gentleman's menu with prices. I didn't think there were any places left that still had lady's menus -- I just figured that women's lib would have got 'em all by now.

[chiver78]

Mar 28, 2011 10:38:40 GMT -5 @yclept said:

But it must be pretty ritzy since they obviously have a lady's menu without prices

eh?
where did you get this impression? CF is a chain restaurant, with locations all over the country.

[azphx1972]

I prefer to support local mom & pops than chains like Cheesecake Factory, because I usually get better value and more consistent service, and the food, especially if it's ethnic, is more authentic. I don't mind going to places like Cheesecake Factory once in a while for special occasions (birthdays, etc.), but it's definitely not a regular affair.

[yclept]

"where did you get this impression? CF is a chain restaurant, with locations all over the country."

I meant it as a joke.
Since the OP was surprised by the prices of items ordered, it was obvious they were not printed on the menu. Such a menu is commonly referred to as "the lady's menu", and only the most expensive (not that cost is a particularly good indicator of quality) restaurants engaged in the practice of separate gender menus. Ergo, I assume this is a "ritzy" restaurant (not that "ritzy" implies anything other than expensive -- they probably have a better class of rats running around back in the kitchen).

[chiver78]

Mar 28, 2011 11:04:12 GMT -5 @yclept said:

they probably have a better class of rats running around back in the kitchen

fair enough. it's hard to tell what's serious and what's a deadpan when there aren't any involved.

as far as ritzy or not, I'd say your analysis is probably spot-on.

[thyme4change]

Cheesecake factory is a rip off. And, their menu is ridiculous. I just don't believe one kitchen can make really good italian pasta, and a great taco and awesome chinese food and the best cheesecake. Although, I do like going there when there are a big group of us - especially if you don't know people that well. Like, if you have to take a whole bunch of people from work out for a meal. I'm pretty sure everyone can find something they can eat there.

We have sort of upped our eating out to go to better places. The prices are about the same, or maybe a couple bucks more - but the portions are smaller and the quality is better. You also get more inventive dishes. It isn't that I don't like the standards - but I can cook most of those at home for a drastically smaller amount of money. If I go out, I want you to serve me something I never thought to put together.

[azphx1972]

I don't know if this is true, but I remember hearing about some chain restaurants using prepared entrées that they just defrost, heat and serve to you on a plate. Fancy microwave meals? Here's a link I found, it's regarding French restaurants in UK but I believe some places in the US do it as well:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/7285770/Majority-of-French-restaurants-using-ready-made-factory-food.html

[thyme4change]

azphx - what area of town are you in? What is your favorite local spot? I'm in Central Phoenix, and we have some favs down here.

[chiver78]

Mar 28, 2011 11:19:48 GMT -5 azphx1972 said:

I don't know if this is true, but I remember hearing about some chain restaurants using prepared entrées that they just defrost, heat and serve to you on a plate. Fancy microwave meals? Here's a link I found, it's regarding French restaurants in UK but I believe some places in the US do it as well:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/7285770/Majority-of-French-restaurants-using-ready-made-factory-food.html

TGIFriday's does this. the only thing I'd add is that fried stuff is fried locally....and they fry a lot of things you wouldn't expect, too.

[azphx1972]

thyme, you have a PM.

[thyme4change]

thyme, you have a PM.

Thanks for the heads up - I've made so many enemies on EE that I get scared whenever I see a PM. I never know what kind of vial, hateful message will be waiting for me there.

[tloonya]

/Since the OP was surprised by the prices of items ordered, it was obvious they were not printed on the menu. /

NO! I was aware of the price but simce i had never ordered potsticks from them befo' - I was hoping for more than 6 small ones for $10!

[Apple]

OT, but DS is just coming back from the Big Sandy shoot with his uncle. He'll be tan and his hair sun-bleached, I heard you guys had some nice weather (jealous)...

I've never been to Cheesecake Factory (don't even know where one is) but I've also noticed that take-out portions seem to be smaller than in-house portions, just not on "by the piece" type servings. Sometimes I ask how many are served when it is something like that to see if it's worth it or not.

[olderburgher]

OP get a grip! Eat what you cook at home and avoid this situation.

[thyme4change]

olderburgher - are you beanburgher from 12 years ago?