Menus Without Prices

I been going out 3-5 per week for over 25 years in Philly. I rarely have seen this situation. Notable exception: bars that have a set price for ALL drafts, everything the same price. Usually these a very small selection of mediocre products.

 

It doesn't bother me. I don't go out to stress out over a few dollars. If I feel like I got burnt after the fact I will choose another establishment next time.

 

I've paid $18 for a pint of beer at really nice establishments because of this before

 

My usual haunt has chalkboard planks with beers on tap and their price. My other favorite place doesn't have prices with their tap list, the waitress usually informs me if it's in a goblet which usually means a higher price too, but the bottle book has all the prices listed.

 

$18?? Where and what beer? That's insane even if it was in NYC

 

If there's no price then it's free.

Seriously, though, if a place doesn't have the right mind to put prices on the menu, I can't expect much from from the restaurant/bar in general.

 

Ohhhhhh, I hate this one!

Then again, it's hard for some stores to keep a current pricing system. I wonder if an app to read the scanner codes of the beers would be more reliable for customers? Scan it and a price comes up.

 

I also don't see it often in Philly. I don't want to call out the joints, but there has been one group that didn't post prices at any of their places for quite awhile. I feel like that has changed recently. Knowing one of the owners, I always thought he was a great guy who made a big effort to bring in a lot of quality beer, clean the lines, offer good food, and basically make everything a great experience for the customer. However, the lack of prices always got under my skin after a few $80 tabs for two people. After a few $7 10oz. pours of Enjoy By.. or similar beers, I didn't feel bad about asking the waiter/waitress for the price of everything I was interested in and whether I was getting a pint or a tulip.

I think the policy has changed since and the places now list prices, probably no doubt because of the number of questions or worse, post-drink pissed-off customers. Unfortunately, I know I definitely go to those places less because the prices are just too high. $6 baseline craft pints are just a bit much.

Also, a place here recently had CBS at $16 a 10oz. pour. Sorry, but these special releases and cult beers are getting a bit out of hand IMO.

 

I'd be happy if more places had at least a beer list even without prices on them. Some places I've been to have embraced craft beer, but still act like the only beer in the world is Bud, Milller and Coors so there is no need for a list. They will probably be disappointed with their push into this market because no one knows what they have. One waitress told me to request what I wanted and she would go ask the bartender if they carried it. Given the number of beers out there that could have taken all night until I said one they had.

 

http://zamaphilly.com/index.php
For the Hitachino Nest Anbai, when the first keg was brought over from Japan. Really limited release so it was marked up beyond the normal beers even.

 

Don't know what law school you went to but "Technically" if you throw them a deuce for a brew that they charge $8 for & then walk out without discussion there may be more to deal with than not welcoming you back. Try doing that & let us know what happens.

 

If it was a once in a lifetime chance to try a beer and you enjoyed it the money well spent.

 

There's a bottle shop in Miami that doesn't list price on the bottles. Its super annoying to have to take 6 bottles to the register so I can narrow it down to one or two. I'm looking at you, Mendez Fuel on Coral Way.

 

This drives me bonkers, but thankfully it's the exception rather than the rule. Like someone mentioned above, what's worse is bottle shops not labeling with prices. There's a particular one in my area that has the best selection and customer service but doesn't label with individual prices. I still always go there, but it is always annoying to walk up to the register always rolling the dice.

 

I am painfully aware (I believe) of the place you are speaking about in Columbia. I was there about 2 years ago and ordered a Duchesse De Bourgogne. I recommended it to a friend also, and before we knew it we were both 3 deep. Upon ordering my 4th of the evening, I just so happened to experience a brief stroke of common sense (happens occasionally) and thought to ask the price. $16 per bottle. Too rich for my blood.

 

I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford this kinda thing, but it's still pretty steep when it's something not on the menu and you have a couple of them

 

I hate hate hate going into a bar/restaurant and ask for a beer menu and they don't have one! And this is when I know for a fact that they carry craft brews! And it irks me even more when they DO have a menu, but find out that the menu isn't updated. Like, I see a guy over there having a Stone IPA, but it isn't on the menu.

 

It's clearly meant to be intimidating, and maybe even misleading. I've seen it in restaurants, but not a bar yet.

I'll just go ahead and assume everything is probably too overpriced for me and I'll go somewhere less pretentious.

 

I paid $14 for a CBS in Battle Creek as there wasn't a price listed, luckily they served full 16oz pints so the price wasn't that bad but is probably the most I've ever paid for a draft beer.

 

Where in Battle Creek had CBS?