skyleth t1_j2658vy wrote on December 29, 2022 at 10:59 PM

Reply to comment by spedmunki in Sighted this Dunkin's in Luzern, Switzerland. A single donut was $4. by toastyghostie

honestly it's not that far apart… yes VAT is higher but it's included in the price not added on at the end.

personally my experience is that what we would think of as cheap food is EXPENSIVE and sit-down is on par. A steak burrito will run you 18CHF at Zapote in Zurich, almost $19.50!

Comparing "flatbreads" A Margherita form Copa in the Southend is $17 + $1.06 in Tax + $3.40 in Tip = $21.46 and a Margherita from Santo Bevitore in Zurich is 21.50CHF or $23.29 and 18CHF at Santa Lucia (also Zurich) not that far off.

Continuing onto Pastas and Mains... a Bolognese form Porto in the Back Bay is $28 + $1.75 + $5.60 = $35.50 or NEBO $30 + $1.88 + $6 = $37.88 and from the same Santo Bevitore is 34.50CHF or $37.35 or 23CHF at Santa Lucia. Lamb Chops from Porto $42 + $2.63 + $8.40 = $53.03 and Lamb Chops at Santo hits at 44.50CHF or $48.12

edit: i should say that i'm not arguing against your original point that that it's expensive to eat out in switzerland, just that it's _also_ expensive in boston and we're at a point where prices in switzerland aren't all that far off and most people don't realize it.

GM_Pax t1_j28ya42 wrote on December 30, 2022 at 2:41 PM

That's the gimmick of Tipping, at least for full-service restaurants: the actual cost of the food is obscured by the fact that the menu lists only the pre-tip price.

$20 steak? No, really it's $24. If you don't tip that extra $4, honestly you're being a jerk, to the server and maybe the kitchen staff as well. Meanwhile, the owner gets to pay the server a lower hourly wage, because theoretically everyone leaves that extra 20%.

If Massachusetts abolished tipping, and the lower tipped minimum wage, instead (somehow!) mandating that the tip be included right in the menu price ... you'd see those menu prices go up between 20% and 25% literally overnight.