Market price in restaurants?? what does it mean? ALSO ORDERING AT FANCY RESTAURANTS...how to?

Question

SO im looking through French restaurant menus and I see the prices, sometimes it says "$13.50" etc. but sometimes it says "market price" what does that mean. Also it's my first time taking my bf out to a fancy place like this since it's his bday, and im unsure as to how you would order? like do u have to order an appetizer and a salad?

Answer 1

market price is the change in price based on the change in price of the product. this way resturants can charge more during the good months. you can start with appetizers but you will always get salad and bread or soup. main entree. if u are cheap, get the chicken, it will be the cheapest. then, you will get desert.

tip: if u order beef, dont ask for well done because they will try to substitute cheaper meat

Answer 2

this generally only refers to high end seafood items,ie;lobster-lobster tails-sea scallops-crabmeat and such.the prices at the fish markets vary from day to day based on supply and demand.these items are always fresh and must be served fresh-NOT frozen,so ordering in quantity is not always an option.the menu price for this can not be a fixed price.as they price it based on what they paid THIS week,and mark it up accordingly.its not a trick.it is standard.

Answer 3

Restaurants will often label the price as "market price" on seafood and better cuts of beef as their cost (what they pay for it) is subject to change on a frequent basis based on both  availability and demand.  By doing this, restaurants don't have to print out new menus with the new prices.

Most nicer restaurants (French included) feature an "ala carte" menu.  "Ala Carte" means that everything is individual.  ie-you don't get an included salad with your entree.

Ordering a cut of beef "well done" will not change the cut you are supposed to get.  If you order a filet mignon "well" you will still get a filet mignon.  It will just be dry as h**l.  

Order according to how hungry you are.  If you are really hungry, ask the server what are really good appetizers.  Just be weary of the server trying to sell you the most expensive apps.  A good server in a nice restaurant should ask you what kind of foods you enjoy and recommend accordingly.  

  If you are moderately hungry, split an app and each order entree.  Or just order entrees.  You can do whatever you want.  You can even order a salad and then an appetizer as your entree.  Just try and order the same amount of courses so that one of you isn't staring at the other one while they're eating.  

The biggest thing is don't be afraid to ask your server questions.  There is no shame in not knowing what buerre blanc, bernaise, or demi glace are.  The majority of fine dining involves French cooking techniques and sauces.  Ask questions!  Nothing is more disappointing than paying for something that you weren't expecting .

One last thing, if your boyfriend's b-day is on a friday or saturday, try to get either an early reservation or a late reservation (after 8:00.)  The majority of people want to eat in restaurants from 6:30-7:30, therefore it's busy and you wait longer for your food and drinks, etc.