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[Armaly]

Looking at the online menu for this local place I want to try out and the food for dining in costs $1-$3 more than if you just order it for take out. Is this the norm?

 

[213372bu]

Usually it's exactly the same, but with mainstream chains they tend to either add cost to the total and/or exclude certain discounts or specials that are dine-in only.

At the same time, there are usually take-out only discounts you can apply to 99% of those chains.

But if it's a local place, I'd say never. From getting some picadillo to ordering a nice steak, the prices are normally the same.

 

[Pila]

Sometimes restaurants here charge one/two euro for every seated guest. If you take out you get to save that money. Fancy places charge more.

 

[Persona7]

Some local places here do offer a discount if you pick up food to go.

 

[Gravy Boat]

In the UK coffee shops and whatnot sometimes charge more to sit in with certain things due to VAT. Some things have VAT when eaten in, but don't when taken out so can be cheaper.

 

[May16]

In the UK coffee shops and whatnot sometimes charge more to sit in with certain things due to VAT. Some things have VAT when eaten in, but don't when taken out so can be cheaper.

Yeah I was just gonna say that it's pretty common in the UK. I didn't know why though (I guessed maybe it was related to dishes and cleaning tables being an increase in workload for staff?). Thanks for the explanation.

 

[Subpar Scrub]

I've never personally seen that in Australia. Usually just the same price regardless of whether you dine in or take away.

 

[MNC]

Is this an American thing where every restaurant is also always a takeout?

I mean, a restaurant is a food place to dine away from home, right?

 

[Social]

always found this total bullshit at Cafe Nero or Pret in the UK. When you decide to eat in, extra charge for an impossible to find seat. Fuck them.

 

[MikeHattsu]

In the UK coffee shops and whatnot sometimes charge more to sit in with certain things due to VAT. Some things have VAT when eaten in, but don't when taken out so can be cheaper.

Here in Norway there's different VAT depending on whether you eat in or take out.

 

[maxcriden]

Is this an American thing where every restaurant is also always a takeout?

I mean, a restaurant is a food place to dine away from home, right?

FWIW I've never seen this in America. Usually if anything certain discounts at chain restaurants for example only apply if you dine in.

 

[Dusk Soldier]

I've heard that this is the norm in Europe. Maybe not the norm, but common.

In US/Canada where tipping is customary, it's common for people to not tip when ordering takeout. So dining in can often be more expensive there as well.

 

[Darth Karja]

I've seen places charge sales tax if you dine in, but not if you take out.

 

[Klotera]

Definitely not common on the U.S. In fact, many restaurants have specials and discounts that are only for dine-in. Presumably, they hope to sell you more drinks and/or dessert if you dine in rather than take out.

 

[ahoyhoy]

Definitely not common on the U.S. In fact, many restaurants have specials and discounts that are only for dine-in. Presumably, they hope to sell you more drinks and/or dessert if you dine in rather than take out.

This. I've seen convienence fees applied to carry out orders before. Besides not being able to sell drinks it's likely also because they can't get you to subsidize their employee's wages via tips. Kinda bullshit.

 

[panzone]

Here in Italy is a normal thing (we call it "Coperto" and, depending the restaurant, it varies between 1 and 3 euro)

 

[User 479360]

It's not like that here. You can get 10% off if you pick up orders and pay with cash, but it's not more expensive to dine in otherwise.

 

[Edwardo]

Is this an American thing where every restaurant is also always a takeout?

I mean, a restaurant is a food place to dine away from home, right?

It's more of a place to eat at or get food from so that you don't have to cook.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

Never been to any sort of restaurant that charges the customer more for treating it like a restaurant.

 

[jesu]

I was in a Greggs today that had pizza slices for £1.60 take away.
£2 to eat in.
It's a Greggs, it's not like there is seats or anything :/

 

[NervousXtian]

Prices go up and they don't always update the menu online.

 

[entremet]

Don't go by online menus.

They're almost always outdated. Running a restaurant is a tough job--working weekends, nights, early mornings, etc.

The website is usually the last priority.

 

[Veritigo_X]

I've seen discounts for takeout. It's usually just a flat 10-15% discount, they don't price items differently or anything like that.

 

[bigkrev]

Huh.

It's usually the opposite in the USA. Plenty of places will charge a convenience fee for take-out, but I've never seen it be more expensive to eat-in.

 

[GoldenEye 007]

Well I guess you spend anywhere from 0-25% by dining in and tipping. So there's a discount right there.

 

[Gravy Boat]

Yeah I was just gonna say that it's pretty common in the UK. I didn't know why though (I guessed maybe it was related to dishes and cleaning tables being an increase in workload for staff?). Thanks for the explanation.

Yeah, I don't know why the difference exists but it only applies to cold food. So a cold sandwich would be VAT free but if the same sandwich were heated, it would have VAT on it. A lot of places just charge you the same regardless, like Subway for instance. Just means you're technically paying slightly more than you otherwise would.

 

[ZeroX03]

A local Indian place charges more to dine in at dinner. Take out at all times and dine in at lunch are cheaper. That's the only place I've seen it.

 

[GifGafIsTheBestGaf]

yeah, i noticed that with pizza hut and it makes sense business wise

 

[BassForever]

Makes sense both ways depending upon the restaurant, for a place thats always super busy lower prices for eating out make sense since it incentivizes people to still come in and pay if the place is slammed. On the flip side places that rarely have capacity seating should offer discounts for eating in to try and fill the store.

 

[Kite]

The site's menu is probably out of date, this has happened to me several times. If it is a local mom and mom joint they've probably forgotten they have a website.

 

[travisbickle]

I was in a Greggs today that had pizza slices for £1.60 take away.
£2 to eat in.
It's a Greggs, it's not like there is seats or anything :/

That's a tax thing. Also McDonalds milkshakes cost more if you drink in the establishment.

 

[NervousXtian]

It'd be helpful if people say where they were based that this is happening.

In the States, this is usually because of an outdated menu.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

That's a tax thing. Also McDonalds milkshakes cost more if you drink in the establishment.

yup

Though weirdly I haven't been asked about the milkshakes in literally years. I often pop in just for a shake but I can't remember the last time they asked.