Inconsistency with local pizzerias
Over the last two or three months I've noticed that some of my usual pizza spots have become very inconsistent. I am not only speaking of the quality of food. I do not understand how you can get a slice of pizza or a pasta dish somewhere on Monday and then again on Thursday and it can be totally different. I also think Pizzerias are really feeding off this gas cost thing a little bit too much.
Here's my most recent example. I ordered food from a pizzeria in the Yonkers/Mount Vernon area. The food arrived a little soggy and the charge for two dishes of pasta and an appetizer was $35. I gave the guy a $6 tip even though the food came about 80 minutes after we ordered and they said 30-40 minutes. I looked at the bill and noticed that the dishes were $3 a piece more than their menu stated and the appetizer was $1 more. There was also a $1 delivery charge, which went against the "free delivery" statement on their menu. So $8 more than I thought it would be. I was hungry, the food was terrible, so I chalked it up to being late on a Tuesday night. In a pinch we ordered Saturday night at 9:15. Kept it simple and got a white pizza, half with one topping, half with another. Read the menu and it was to come to $21. The guy on the phone said 40 minutes, it was there in 25. Piping hot, nice and crisp, and delicious..they even threw in some garlic knots. $22 with the delivery charge. $5 tip. $27 for a pie...I guess there are our times! But I was happy.
Here's my thing. This is one example. I got two pasta entrees for lunch and a side order of meatballs a few weeks back at a pizza place owned by someone I know. The online menu (which is now gone) said $12, $11, $5 for each item. My boss went and picked it up. gave him $20, he hands me back $2. I sorta smirked and said "what'd I buy your side?" He said, "Nope, it was $36." We checked the bill $15.50, $14.50, $6. No tax, no delivery charge, no tip. They had raised the prices almost 30% since the last time we were there with no warning or explanation.
Now all of this might seem minor in the grand scheme of things, but I'm finding the ridiculous cost of pizza and pasta at local places and the odd differences in price depending n day of the week or time of day is becoming troublesome. Especially when the advertised price is different from the actual price.
Has anyone else seen these growing and glowing inconsistencies?
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A pizzeria that I have been frequenting in Mount Vernon for decades has raised their prices so much that I'm about ready to stop ordering from them. I haven't noticed inconsistencies with their pricing, but I think that their price increases are getting out of hand. $17.50 for a plain small pie is ridiculous.
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Sra. Swanky
Aug 11, 2008 01:16 PM
I definitely see the inconsistencies too - and the prices keep going up! For these 2 reasons, I never order out for pasta - it's tastier and cheaper homemade. But for pizza - I'm stuck - it never turns out well for me at home! So I always look for a coupon or I ask the price before ordering to make sure the price isn't 3+ bucks higher than what the menu says! Gotta hold onto those savings to gas up the car!!
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re: Sra. Swanky
In a pinch I'll buy a jar sauce, but usually end up disappointed and wish I had ordered out. But a few days after spending nearly $16 on a plate of penne vodka, I stopped into Trader Joe's and picked up there Vodka sauce. $2.99. I added some chopped up proscuitto to it, but for $3.99 I basically had 3 meals, as opposed to the $16 lunch. And I was eating in 12 minutes. No driving, no wait, no tip!
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applesauce23
Aug 11, 2008 07:58 AM
I'm not sure why the quality of the food you ordered suffered, but I know that the cost of flour is going up like crazy...
