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Fox News
4 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Gen Z customers learn costly lesson after restaurant steaks labeled 'MKT' add up to startling bill
A group of Gen Z diners learned a tough and unexpected lesson in restaurant pricing after unknowingly ordering steaks labeled "MKT" – and ended up paying a hefty price. A young woman named Aribella Menold posted a TikTok video about the ordeal in June. She was dining at a North Carolina restaurant with her siblings when they decided to order two steaks. Their total bill came to $159, including a 3% credit card surcharge and 6.75% sales tax. The culprits, she said, were two 12-ounce New York strip steaks labeled "MKT" that ended up costing $52 each. The total also included a $28 kale salad – including $11 for grilled chicken – and a $10 kid's grilled cheese meal. "POV: You didn't know what 'MKT' meant on the steak menu and now you're paying for it," she captioned the video, which showed the dinner party's stunned reactions. Menold told Newsweek she thought the steaks would cost $20 or $30 at most. "Our grandpa ended up paying for it, which was so sweet of him," said the 20-year-old college student. Fox News Digital reached out to Menold for further comment. On TikTok, the video drew reactions ranging from sympathetic to critical. "Eleven bucks to add grilled chicken is wild," a money-conscious viewer observed. "Unless you're rich, don't buy items off a menu if they don't have a price," one person advised. Another chimed in, "If you have to ask the market price, you can't afford it. Just order something else." But the Gen Zers weren't the only ones unfamiliar with the "MKT" designation. "What does 'mkt' mean?" one curious user asked. "MKT means it's a scam and they can charge you whatever they want," a cynic replied. But is market pricing a scam or is it a way for restaurants to stay in business while offering premium items? "Don't hesitate to ask the server for the price." Hal Lawlor, chief operating officer of Smokey Bones, a casual-dining chain that operates dozens of barbecue joints across the U.S., spoke to Fox News Digital about market pricing. Some restaurants choose market pricing because premium items "can vary significantly in size and price throughout the year," the Florida-based business executive said. "This fluctuation is influenced by factors such as seasonal availability, market demand and sourcing conditions," he said. Steaks and lobster rolls are just a few summer favorites that are often labeled "MKT" – and Lawlor reported that the size, cut and overall price of these types of meats "may change at the time of purchase." He also encouraged customers to stay informed and not to be shy when it comes to asking the server how much a lobster roll or high-end steak costs. "At Smokey Bones, our servers are trained to inform guests of the price of items marked as market price, so there are never any surprises on the bill," he said. "If you find yourself at a restaurant that does not provide this information automatically, don't hesitate to ask the server for the price."
New York Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Gen Z diners tripped up by common menu pricing abbreviation — and wind up slapped with $160 bill
Talk about a pricey 'POV.' Three Gen Z sisters got a not-so-tasty surprise when they ordered steak at a coastal North Carolina restaurant — only to realize too late what 'MKT' on the menu actually meant. Spoiler: it doesn't mean 'Marked down' — it means 'market price.' Advertisement In a TikTok video that's racked up more than 19 million views, Aribella Menold, 20, and her siblings shared their shock after ordering dinner at Moonrakers, a white-tablecloth waterfront joint in Beaufort. 'POV: You didn't know what 'mkt' meant on the steak menu and now you're paying for it,' the caption read as the camera panned to their stunned expressions and the $159.14 bill. The sisters had unknowingly racked up a hefty tab that included two 12 oz New York strip steaks for $52 each, a $28 baby kale Caesar salad with an extra $11 for grilled chicken, a $10 kid's grilled cheese and a $3 Sprite — proving once and for all that even salads can be a financial ambush. Advertisement Their subtotal came to $145 with a 3% credit card surcharge that added an additional $4.35 and the 6.75% sales tax tacked on another $9.79. 'We thought the price was going to be like $20-$30,' Menold told Newsweek. Turns out, 'MKT' is restaurant shorthand for 'market price,' a cryptic code used for items that fluctuate based on availability, seasonality and ingredient cost — usually seafood or steak. In other words: if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it. Advertisement Menold's video, originally posted to Instagram and then to TikTok, blew up overnight. Luckily for the sisters, their wallets were spared the full damage. 'Our grandpa ended up paying for it, which was so sweet of him,' Menold explained to the outlet. The sisters unknowingly feasted their way to a fat bill totaling $160. Aribella_Menold/TikTok But the internet had thoughts — and no shortage of them. Advertisement '$160 is not bad if you divide the bill by three, each person pays 53 dollars which is good,' one commenter shrugged. Another gasped, 'That's like 53-55$ each girl is spending on dinner. That's wild tbh.' Others zeroed in on the leafy green culprit: 'Okay but a salad being 28 dollar [s] is diabolical.' Still, some blamed the staff for not stepping in: 'Honestly shame on your server for not informing you of the price when it's clearly not listed. One complaint and all of my old bosses would have ripped me a new one for not informing the guest and probably make me pay out of pocket for it.' A separate TikTok user offered this sage advice: 'Unless you're rich, don't buy items off a menu if they don't have a price.' Lesson learned: when dining out, always ask the price — or bring your grandpa. As The Post previously reported, a whistleblowing ex-staffer at California's now-closed Automat claimed those feel-good 'living wage' fees slapped on your bill are nothing but a tip-toeing façade. Advertisement 'If you see a restaurant charging a 'cost of living,' 'equal pay' or 'mandatory service fee' like the 20% this restaurant did, be suspicious,' Jordan Smith explained in an Instagram story post shared by Eater San Francisco. 'It's possible the back-of-house teams aren't seeing much of that money,' he continued regarding the non-server crew. Meanwhile, a ticked-off diner went viral last month after posting a receipt showing a mandatory 'living wage fee' — and the internet lost its appetite. Turns out 'MKT' is just fancy menu-speak for 'market price' — a slippery little code used for steaks, seafood and other dishes that change with the tides and the supply chain. nicoletaionescu – Advertisement Tipping rules may differ coast to coast, but here in NYC, the law's pretty clear: 'Restaurants cannot charge a surcharge or other fee in addition to listed food or beverage prices,' per the city's Consumer and Worker Protection rules. However, they can 'charge a bona fide service charge — but only if the charge is conspicuously disclosed to consumers before food is ordered.'
Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Gen Z Girls Get Restaurant Check—Realize Too Late What 'Mkt' Price Means
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When 20-year-old Aribella Menold and her family went for a meal at a North Carolina restaurant, they got a shock when they called for the check. In a video with 19 million views, the Gen Z girls shared how they had ordered from the menu without understanding the pricing structure, leading to a bill they weren't prepared for of $154.14. "POV: You didn't know what 'mkt' meant on the steak menu and now you're paying for it," the text overlay said. "We thought the price was going to be like $20-$30," Menold told Newsweek. In the video it is clear the girls were worried about the bill, with shocked faces throughout. Newsweek reached out to the restaurant via email for comment. Pictures from the video with 14 million views of the moment the girls were shocked by the bill. Pictures from the video with 14 million views of the moment the girls were shocked by the bill. @bellebelle_menold/Instagram What Does MKT Mean on a Menu? "MKT" is restaurant shorthand for "market price," often placed next to items like seafood or steak instead of a number. This means that the kitchen prices the item day-by-day according to the current wholesale cost of the item. Read more Server can't believe what Gen Z diners leave on check instead of tip Server can't believe what Gen Z diners leave on check instead of tip For example, prime steaks swing in cost with supply, season and grade, meaning that the cost can change by the day. Usually though, asking the server when ordering will give you an idea of the price. As the video gained more and more attention on Instagram, people were divided in the comments. Viewer @aidoniouss said: "$160 for three people? That's a pretty good deal lmoa." While @laetitiablt wrote: "People saying $50 a steak is normal... are you ok? In a very expensive restaurant sure, but no, it is NOT normal." Generally, menu prices for steaks vary depending on the location. Casual chains can charge as low as $13-18 for a steak, while fine-dining chains average closer to $54 for an 8-20 oz cut. "I first posted on Instagram and then on TikTok," Menold said. "I was definitely surprised how well the video did giving the fact that I filmed and posted the video with no effort, just for fun." In the end, the girls were lucky enough not to have to pay for the bill. "Our grandpa ended up paying for it which was so sweet of him," Menold explained. This isn't the first time someone was left stunned by a big restaurant bill. Earlier this year a dad shared online how he was stunned by a Disneyland breakfast bill. He agreed to take his kids for a "Princess Breakfast" but wasn't prepared for the bill at the Disneyland Resort in California. In the X post, he revealed the $937.65 bill, with the total including a $150 tip. Meanwhile another man was surprised when he looked at a restaurant receipt that caused quite a shock. When he looked at the bill, he was shocked by a $5 "bitching fee" had been added to the receipt. "Honestly, I thought it was hilarious. In fact, it was probably the funniest thing that happened that night. I passed the receipt around the table so everybody could get a good laugh," the man told Newsweek. At the time, he didn't think anything notable happened, except for the waitress mixing up his beer order, but when he asked for the correct beer it was clear the team had noted the request.
NDTV
18-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Viral Video: Friends Order Steak At Restaurant, Shocked To See The Bill - Here's Why
Three friends went to dine out at a beautiful restaurant in Beaufort, US. They decided to order two steaks, a salad and a grilled cheese. While they did not order too many food items, they were shocked when the bill arrived - a total of $159 (Rs 13700 approx). The girls later realised the confusion had happened as they were not aware of the cost of the steaks. The price of steak can vary depending on the cut of the meat and the restaurant you're eating at. Some restaurants don't fix a price and simply write "MKT" on the menu. This stands for "market price", which means the cost of this dish can fluctuate due to the changing price of the main ingredient. Diners are advised to enquire about the cost before ordering. However, the three friends did not pay attention to "MKT" and simply ordered two "Local Steak - NY Strip 12oz" (340 grams) and ended up paying $52 (Rs 4480) for each. The girls captured their shock and new learning in a light-hearted reel on Instagram. The video opens with a glance at the bill, and then the camera moves on to their faces with dramatic expressions of being in shock. The text on the video reads, "POV: You didn't know what 'MKT' meant on the steak menu and now paying for it". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aribella Menold (@bellebelle_menold) The video has gone viral on Instagram with more than 11 million views. Take a look at the reactions in the comments section: One person said, "I have to say for a steak dinner that's actually really cheap." Another commented, "In a good location, the waiter would tell you the price and ask if you still want to order." A third wrote, "I thought they only did market price for seafood, so I just learned something new too." Another viewer confessed, "I have done this with lobster a few times...I've learned to ask now." Have you ever had any such hilarious moment while paying the bill at a restaurant? Share with us in the comments below.
