Illinois Steakhouse Rolls Out $100 Minimum and People Are Upset
Talk about bad moves because this might be one of the worst.
Take my "take" with a grain of salt though, I've never owned a restaurant and I'm sure if I did it probably wouldn't make it very long.
RESTAURANTS IN THE COVID AGE
Obviously, restaurants everywhere were impacted by COVID, and while we're still coming out of it, instituting a $100 per person food and beverage minimum policy isn't going to help you get back to "normal."
Steak 48, located in the River North District at 615 North Wabash in Chicago, puts it bluntly and in BIG BOLD letters on the main page of their website:
*THERE IS A $100 PER PERSON FOOD AND BEVERAGE MINIMUM*
There is a $100 per person food & beverage minimum for each person at your table in order to ensure that each guest enjoys the total experience of food, service, and atmosphere. This does not include tax or tip. To support our Front Line Service Staff impacted by the current conditions there is an 18% minimum gratuity added to all checks.
At first, I thought it was $100 minimum "per check," but I reread it and saw it was "per person" and I was stunned.
I figured dinner for two at a fancy, albeit chain restaurant would cost at least $100, but when you take that, double it, then put an extra 18% on top for a tip, that amounts to one costly dinner.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND REVIEWERS TAKE AIM AT STEAK 48
Lisa B. on Yelp says "I have visited this restaurant on a few occasions and I enjoyed myself, the fact that they have put a mandatory $100 spending limit requirement is really tacky."
Pinklon T. piles on mentioning "The stuck up a** attitudes for mediocre service. Then the $100 minimum per person and dress code are meant to drive away certain people."
On the other hand, Yelp reviewer John G. chimes in with "I fail to understand people who think a restaurant with 400 dollar tabs would be okay with t-shirts, hoodies or baseball hats."
Have you been to Steak 48? Is it worth the giant tab?
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