Hate being treated like a tourist (Miami, South Beach: credit card, restaurant, price)

[jr8999]

My elderly mother was visiting for a week. I have been showing her the usual sights around the city. She was interested in walking a bit around South Pointe Park. It was almost 1PM and she asked about lunch. Since she has trouble walking long distances I suggested Smith & Wollensky's which is in the immediate vicinity. We walked in and were seated right away at around 1:05PM. We were handed our menus as we were getting settled and I immediately noticed our menus were dinner menus which was substantially more expensive than lunch items. I had been there in the past for both lunch and dinner and knew they had a lunch menu. I called our server over and asked about lunch menus. He responded with "oh, you would like lunch menus. Right away sir." WTF? It was 1PM...doesn't that mean lunch? Slimy tactics like that really leave a sour taste in my mouth. Most unsuspecting tourists wouldn't know enough to question this practice. I think it will be a while before I return if at all.

[Sarahann25]

Jeez, did you ever think it could have been an honest mistake. Don’t sweat the small stuff. If the food and service were good, I wouldn’t give the menu incident a second thought.

[Bobdreamz]

It's South Beach so why are you surprised at price gouging?
A Beer is $12 and a Gallon of Gas at the only Gas station before you get on the MacArthur Causeway is a dollar over a gallon for what you find on the mainland.

[MiamiLIFE]

Originally Posted by jr8999

My elderly mother was visiting for a week. I have been showing her the usual sights around the city. She was interested in walking a bit around South Pointe Park. It was almost 1PM and she asked about lunch. Since she has trouble walking long distances I suggested Smith & Wollensky's which is in the immediate vicinity. We walked in and were seated right away at around 1:05PM. We were handed our menus as we were getting settled and I immediately noticed our menus were dinner menus which was substantially more expensive than lunch items. I had been there in the past for both lunch and dinner and knew they had a lunch menu. I called our server over and asked about lunch menus. He responded with "oh, you would like lunch menus. Right away sir." WTF? It was 1PM...doesn't that mean lunch? Slimy tactics like that really leave a sour taste in my mouth. Most unsuspecting tourists wouldn't know enough to question this practice. I think it will be a while before I return if at all.

I agree this happens a lot in Miami where a lot of servers try to get you into the more expensive menu and also slide the tip past you. It's annoying, but I don't get as fired up as you about it. I learned to ask now - "is the gratuity included?" "is there a lunch option?" I rarely go to SB to eat as the parking situation is tragic and the extra fees in the food bill making it annoyingly expensive. With that said, I love Call Me Gaby and do take friends there for brunch when they're in town. South of Fifth is a special nabe.

[jr8999]

Originally Posted by MiamiLIFE

I love Call Me Gaby and do take friends there for brunch when they're in town. South of Fifth is a special nabe.

I've walked by that place many times and it looks so inviting to me. I will definitely give it a shot.

[norman_w]

The cashier will say $x and 20c. They'll grab 2 quarters right out of your hand "This will do."

[elchevere]

Call Me Gaby is great, a gem (love the Roman style Pinsa and pasta)….around the corner is Abba Telavivian, which is also great….Joe’s Takeaway is also good quality and value; too bad they no longer serve breakfast.

Watch out for the dumb, crooked or both wait staff—once had a putz at LPM in Brickell add $180 to her tip on my credit card after I left but caught it a few days later and got it reversed. Have not, and will never, step foot in that place again. Wouldn’t pi*s on the restaurant if it were on fire.