Sheldon wrote:

>
> > I was fortunate to find a restaurant in (Bella's in Smithfield RI) that has
> > a super deal on Tuesday night. �Dinner for two, appetizer, entree, dessert,
> > and a bottle of wine for $35 a couple. �The same meal other nights would be
> > close to $85 to $100.
>
> That's an awfully low price for a full dinner for two even without the
> wine.. hard to determine without knowing what foods.

That is indeed low. We have an excellent restaurant in town where we can have a
great meal with appetizers, a modest wine and dessert for about $100. There are
several nearby with comparable food that will cost at least double.




> The restaurants don't even need to prepare wine, no ice, no mixers, no garnish,
> the restaurnt does nothing, just pour... and even a bowery wino gets a
> plain brown paper bag for presentation.

That is my beef with restaurant wine prices. It is not like they are maintaining a
cellar with thousands of bottles of vintage wines. They are buying the wine from
the same liquor stores and wineries where I buy mine, bringing me a couple glasses
and popping the cork for me, the service being provided by someone working for
minium wage plus tips, so I am having a hard time understanding why they think
there are entitles to soak me for an extra $30 or more to provide that low level of
service. Worse yet, after they have socked it to me for a 200% markup I am supposed
to leave 15% to the waiter?