To think it's just weird that a pub restaurant is refusing to share costs or a sample menu?

[Allthefoodandwine]

www.facebook.com/share/p/9W3kBjFV2aQqjXTy/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Is it just me who thinks this is really bizarre?

New managers of a local pub, who despite being repeatedly asked for a menu, even a sample menu with an idea of costs, are refusing to share ANY information.

We visited there regularly when the previous managers had it, and we would like to go again.

But AIBU to want to see the kind or food they are serving & an idea of cost?

There is no way on this earth I would eat here without knowing the cost I'm signing up to. No way.

I quite like the 'mystery food' aspect, but I'd NEED to know whether I was going to be billed £30 or £130 at the end of the night!

This is just plain silly. It seems to be aimed at people who enjoy being able to book somewhere without knowing the cost. Even really good quality restaurants and ones with very nice and pretentious set menus let you know prices and what diets they can cater for. This feels a bit try to hard to be something they're not. And quite odd for Northampton!

So it could be £20 or it could be £200. Ridiculous.

I think that's brilliant. I would go. Assuming the photos are their food. I would be thrilled.

YABU their gimmick obviously isn't for you. If you don't like what they offer then go somewhere else!

Surprise menus are not hipster. They’ve been a thing for decades.

I didn't see the photos. Surely that gives you a bit of an idea about the food. I think it's safe to say you'll get some faffed about with blobs and stacks of food with arty drizzle, crispy bits and maybe some crumbs.

I think that's brilliant actually. They've got loads of really positive comments on their post so that will generate interest, and customers will be those who don't need to worry too much about the cost.

Some people will be out off, others will be attracted by the "adventure" of it.

They've managed to get themselves in MN! They'll be busy, I'll bet.

I think it's clever marketing and so is this post

I can see the appeal but it’s not somewhere I would go. Purely because a) I wouldn’t know if I can afford it and b) I have a limited diet and wouldn’t know if there was much for me to eat 🤷🏼‍♀️

It’s not an event, this is it.

@Minymile no, it's a village in Northamptonshire

Love the Mystery Menu idea (food allergies/preferences allowing), but not happy to not know if I am paying £20 or £200 per head!!

It'll be in the daily mail by tomorrow. Great advertising. Not for me though.

I wouldn't go to this. I've done tasting menus in the past at fancy restaurants and I don't really enjoy them enough to spend the equivalent of a mini break one meal.

I much prefer to choose my own food.

If cost not available I don't buy it as I assume it will be extortionate. I do buy crab, lobster or fish at TBA price but I let DH pay the bill so I can't see the eye watering price.

Wait until a few more people have been and you can get some idea of meal.

There's a restaurant near here that got rave reviews in the guardian with things like nettle soup, braised lovage [or whatever you do to lovage] celeriac remoulade [or something like that], braised beef cheek over a 7 course tasting menu of cheap ingredients cooked to perfection for £££. Meh, some people love that kind of thing.

Frequently changing menus are one thing; no sensible idea of price range is another.

We budget carefully, as do many in these tough economic times. We wouldn't even consider eating in a restaurant where we had no idea of what we might end up spending, no matter how good the food might be.

YANBU, OP

I can’t say this gimmick would be for me either. But that’s exactly what it is - a gimmick. Some people will love the idea; others will think it’s daft. Either way, it’s all pretty simple - go if you like the idea, don’t if you don’t. You seem oddly affronted/bewildered that a business would introduce a concept that doesn’t appeal to you personally. On that basis, no one would ever open a steakhouse because vegetarians won’t want to go.

Maybe it will become a cult hit with a waiting list of months. Maybe it will be an utter flop and fold within weeks. Either way, it doesn’t affect you, does it? So let them crack on. The most likely outcome is that it will be a novelty for a while and then, once everyone who really likes the idea has been once or twice, business will tail off and the mystery menus will become a weekly or monthly thing instead of their only option.

One of my favourite places to eat does something similar, we have no idea what the 7 courses will be until they are served. We do, however, know how much per person prior to going.

Go to Beckworths instead!

This might have already been pointed out but it's illegal not to display prices. I would report them to Trading Standards.

@notwavingbutdrowning1
Why? You don’t have to put your prices or menu online before hand. They just need to give out the menu with the prices on the night, before people order.

From the FB post it seems that once you are in there then you are shown a menu and prices.

You just can't look at it beforehand. A bit like in the olden days I guess.

The photos make it look good. I'd be intrigued and probably book.

Don't go then.

I mean I don't go anywhere more exciting than the local carvery, but I can understand why others want to.

I've been to restaurants that have one set menu - what the chef has decided to cook is what you are getting, and it is usually posted on the door for that day. If not knowing bothers you then you don't go.
I can't imagine this being more than a special occasion thing at a pub though.