One of my best friends, and a world traveler over the years, stopped by yesterday for a while and told me about a recent dining experience he had that totally infuriated him, and he is not easily set off.
A local seafood restaurant in our town that has been here 30+ years, and a local favorite, experienced new ownership as the original owner died recently. This is a medium priced place that specializes in crab and crawdads (when in season) and has a small fresh fish market inside of it. They also have a small live band on the weekends and is kind of a family place.
My friend, his DW, and visiting brother and wife went there last Friday night. The menu was "abbreviated" as the new owner has not got the place up to speed yet. Surprised me as the suppliers would be the same and the place is not changed from the previous owner's use.
Anyway, my friend orders fresh Snapper (labelled "market price" on the menu) and the others just order other menu items. When the bill came, the fresh Snapper was itemized as $35 for the fish and a $50 cooking fee. Hello?
Friend went ballistic and asked to see the manager and when he came he defended the cooking fee as the fish was "fresh" and taken from the fish market side of the establishment. It's one that is really hard to believe..
Needless to say, this spot is now on my friend's "do not visit" list.