The Shake Fee That Shook Dallas: a Margarita Whodunit
Posted by Limin8tor@reddit | Dallas | View on Reddit | 45 comments
Posted by Limin8tor@reddit | Dallas | View on Reddit | 45 comments
BearWithHat@reddit
When you ring in an alcoholic drink you need to account for the cost and the inventory. So you select first the type of liquor that it will be and then you modify it to what it needs to be. If it's just a shot of tequila it will just say that. If you want a margarita or some other cocktail, then you will modify it as such. Liquor has a base cost and then the cost for the drink is added on to that. This is the way restaurants have been doing it for years, I don't know why it suddenly a problem
Conjigulationz@reddit
Back in 2018, at the now-defunct Local Traveler, I ordered a whiskey on the rocks. When the bill came, I noticed the charge was $9 for whiskey and $2 for "ROCKS". Obviously I questioned the charge. The server explained that the drink is actually $11 but the segmentation is how the ordering system identifies how to prep the drink to the bartender, i.e. neat, water, coke, etc. Seems like a way to invite disdain from customers who see a $2 charge for ice in a drink.
BearWithHat@reddit
That's because a rock's pour is more than a shot, so you're paying $2 not for the ice but for the extra liquor that is included in a rock pour
Huckyunicorn@reddit
First off, I am not from Dallas and don't know the restaurant, so I am guessing... But I have bartended in a lot of different places, here is what the charge most likely is:
It is an upcharge for more alcohol, it could be either for the fact that it is a margarita (which adds an orange liqueur of some type compared to just ordering the tequila itself) or it is an upcharge for making the drink "up" or a martini, which makes more sense due to her calling it a "shaken" charge.
The reason bars charge for "up" and sometimes "rocks" fees is because they give you more alcohol so that the drink looks larger in the glass. If someone orders a typical shot (served in a tiny shot glass) or a simple cocktail (vodka soda/jack & coke), you most likely will get about 1.5oz of liquor depending on the bar. Add ice and soda and that is now a drink that fills a typical rocks glass. If you order the same shot, but on the rocks and I pour you a 1.5oz drink on the rocks, you will ask where your alcohol is, so most bars will pour an extra half or so of an ounce. Same if you want it "up", most martini type glasses are similarly sized to a typical cocktail glass, it does add some water due to dilution, but not nearly as much volume as adding ice cubes does.
This also explains why the charge would be higher for a higher end alcohol, it is based on the price of the base alcohol you ordered. Plus, if you order a double, unless the bar has a special price for doubles (some do), you should be prepared to pay for twice the alcohol, since that is what you are getting. And if you want your double up or on the rocks, that fee for the extra alcohol will be charged twice.
These fees aren't to screw over people, and they aren't for the extra labor involved, they are literally the price of more alcohol in the drink. They aren't new either, I worked at places 25 years ago that did the same.
Firststopanywhere@reddit
Insufferable food bloggers with an extremely tenuous grasp on actually good food post vague article to generate clicks. Rinse. Repeat.
Csharp27@reddit
In the video she said the fee was for “prep” and the waiter said it was for shaking it but I think it’s probably that the original price was for the liquor and the prep is to make it a margarita. Still absolutely insane prices, especially since it doesn’t cost any more to make one tequila into a marg than another, but could explain the rationale.
Pabi_tx@reddit
It's like the oil change places that charge more for labor when you use full synthetic than conventional oil.
Csharp27@reddit
Agreed, it’s a dick move for them to vary the price based on that but it would explain it.
w6750@reddit
The extra charge to make a shot of tequila into a margarita is for the orange liqueur. So yes, it absolutely does cost extra to make tequila into a margarita. You are flat out wrong there.
Csharp27@reddit
Right but that price is the same to turn any tequila into a margarita, they were charging much more for the prep depending on the tequila used.
TotesMcGotes13@reddit
It could cost more/require more effort. In my experience, most places have house margs - those are typically made in bulk before service and you just pour them in a glass for a marg. If you special order a specific tequila or more customized marg, those are typically made to order and require more work. This makes them more expensive. Now, a smart restaurant would just build that into the menu pricing for the special margs. Or would have pre-set premiums for tequila customization on a marg. So I think an extra line item fee is just dumb. But not all margs are created equally.
AdDiscombobulated623@reddit
I’m sure none of that fee goes to the bartender either, insane
stutteringwhales@reddit
I am actually super annoyed she won’t post the name. She is a big Dallas food blogger and that video has over 3 million views. If you are going to post that the company is charging to shake a margarita AND not out those fees on the menu then they need to be called out!!!
She’s posted more videos now and I think she is deleting comments bc last time I checked not a single person has “asked” follow up questions which is weird.
The article says it’s mar y sol. I wonder if the waiter told her wrong and it’s just the up charge for premium alcohol. Idk, it’s annoying
Historical_Dentonian@reddit
When my kid waited tables, she told me one coworker rang all cocktails as doubles and no one ever complained. The waitress was just increasing the check average and that made her look good to the manager as well.
w6750@reddit
Completely unethical, could even be illegal. Now someone who thinks they had 2 drinks over a 2 hour dinner actually had 4, and may not be okay to drive, unbeknownst to them. She thinks she’s smart but she’s nothing more than a criminal
Historical_Dentonian@reddit
There weren’t being served doubles, just charged for them. It’s still wrong. Most restaurants measure waitstaff by their per person average check (PPA). Doing this crap makes the waitstaff look like they’re upselling, when they’re actually bilking the customer. Helps the restaurant and the waitstaff’s bottom line.
It really pays to look closely at the check before paying.
w6750@reddit
So the bartenders were in on it too? “Hey I’m always going to ring in a double but just give me a single” that is insane
FranksGun@reddit
It’s dumb bc it’s one thing to trash a place’s food or experience with your opinion vs just stating a simple matter of fact. “This restaurant has these upcharges.” That’s just a fact of their business and the experience of going there so I see no problem whatsoever with naming the restaurant.
home_on_whore_Island@reddit
This is my problem with food bloggers. They’re all nice reviews…they all want to keep getting invited to eat for free or openings so no one is really risking making an honest review.
dfwfoodcritic@reddit
Blondes Who Eat is a paid advertising platform. Obviously Mar y Sol didn't pay but she probably didn't say the name in case they decide to hire her in the future.
Historical_Dentonian@reddit
Saw them in a restaurant and the manager explained the whole system. Said they have instant sales increase after every blog post.
Substantial-Hippo637@reddit
Maybe she heard wrong
pacochalk@reddit
I hear that restaurant also sells bridges.
Remember kids, you can't lie online. It's the law.
Limin8tor@reddit (OP)
I mean, this is the Dallas Observer, who called the suspected establishment and used other methods to verify the story. It's all in the article.
pacochalk@reddit
Nothing is verified in the article.
You want to buy this bridge I'm selling.
Limin8tor@reddit (OP)
Depends, do you also want to pretend there's no war in Ba Sing Se?
pacochalk@reddit
Let me just get this straight. So the writer of the article went there and saw a $3 charge for one of her drinks. And you take this as confirmation of $380 of charges on $150 of food and drink. Is that right?
Xyllus@reddit
depends, do you charge a shake fee?
Iant-Iaur@reddit
So what would be the best way to find out any hidden fees before you pay the bill?
smokybbq90@reddit
If it doesn't say anything about it on the menu then either ask for the manager to remove it, or take pictures of the menu and just pay then call your CC company and try to do a chargeback.
Or just leave cash for the menu price + tax
No-Profession6086@reddit
How else does the establishment nickel and dime the customer? Is there a grill fee for fajitas, or a steam fee for tamales, paper fee for toilet paper???
Historical_Dentonian@reddit
In Maine this summer one restaurant had a 4% “administrative fee” to compensate management 🤦
At this point all the stupid gotcha fees come off the tip. If the waitstaff doesn’t like it, they should work somewhere less scummy.
SadBit8663@reddit
That's all well in good in theory, but in practice, most of these places are scummy as fuck.
The restaurant industry needs an overhaul.
lovelylotuseater@reddit
What line of thinking is it that has you going “I will continue to patronize the business and punish the low person on the totem pole who does not have control over the fees” and not “I will not patronize the business that is charging the fees”
Historical_Dentonian@reddit
I said nothing of the sort. I would never return to a business with hidden/surprise/gotcha fees. The waitstaff is in on it. As those fees increase the check average and correspondingly their tip.
I had a $1 credit card fee at a restaurant that was added to the bill between the time I gave my credit card and when the credit card and receipt were given back. The waiter didn’t mention the fee. But he had edited the bill to add it in before running the CC. The menu didn’t mention the fee. I asked and the waiter shrugged.
That’s not a me problem. That’s a restaurant/staff problem. If you don’t think padding these check totals shouldn’t be reflected in the tip, I honestly don’t care.
savannah31401@reddit
For many places now they add the credit card administrative fee onto the customer. The wait staff have nothing to do with it, it is automatic. The servers do not see that money. I have been to a variety of businesses that do it- most of them do have some sort of notice, but not all.
spiritussima@reddit
Peak reddit- if you don't spell everything out, surely what is not being said is that you're an asshole.
azwethinkweizm@reddit
If business owners won't listen to customers then maybe they'll listen to their employees. I'm with the guy you replied to: all fees come out of the tip. If that means a server gets no tip, so be it. It's not me punishing the server, it's the business punishing them.
FruityPebblesBinger@reddit
I assume they meant "I will not patronize this business in the future, but right now I'm stuck with this unreasonable fee on my check, and I'm not going to pay it." Reasonable to me.
Historical_Dentonian@reddit
Exactly
Doedwa@reddit
So your answer to price gouging is to reward the gouger while punishing the waitstaff??
Historical_Dentonian@reddit
Reward neither. The restaurant has lost my business so has the waitstaff. I’m not leaving no tip. I’m also not rewarding either party with an extra 3-9% fee for cocktail shaking/credit card payment/employee benefit fund/administration/technology or any other bullshit fee that’s undisclosed until the bill comes.
Doedwa@reddit
Ok thats fair enough! The way you worded your original comment though had me scratching my head.
noncongruent@reddit
So, no confirmation of the restaurant, and the ones that started this viral conversation still refuse to identify the restaurant. Seems to me that this whole shebang was more about getting people outraged and talking about it than it was anything else. It's certainly driven a bunch of clicks toward the people that began this whole drama.
Historical_Dentonian@reddit
Speaking of fees, Nothing Bunt Cakes had a four dollar “technology” fee to place a $120 online order. I backed out, called the stores no fee. So stupid.