Crying Over Spilled Meat
Posted on April 24, 2007 by Her and tagged afford
So last week we took Him's parents out to dinner at Fogo de Chao, a brazilian cowboy meat emporium. None of us had ever been there before, but the concept is almost like a table-side buffet. Waiters in costume bring around large spears of meat, which they carve table-side. There is no menu; you simply accept or decline each meat offering as it comes to your table. The absence of menus made us unaware of the price of the meal. We also ordered a cheap bottle of wine and a single dessert to share. The total bill with tip came to OVER THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
I WAS STUNNED.
So was Him. Not wanting to cause a scene in front of our guests, we quietly paid the bill and left. Later when we got home, I expressed how upset I was (not at Him, just in general). I was so upset I cried. Him felt guilty, since he had made the reservation without looking up the average meal price. I don't blame Him, since I did not look it up either. We have never spent that much on dinner, even for special occasions at fancy restaurants. We would never have gone there if we had known how expensive it was. This was far more than we budgeted for. While this won't bankrupt us, it was a severe blow to the budget and devastating to the sense of financial control we had previously felt.
This is the most upset I have been about finances in many months.
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I think you should be grateful that you were able to enjoy a lovely meal with your husband and in laws.
It's only money!
BD | Apr 24, 2007
Don't beat yourself up over it, but consider writing to corporate headquarters, expressing distress, and asking them to make the pricing clearer. It can't hurt and it might help you deal with the frustration - and then, remember - you do such a good job with your finances that one dinner, no matter how expensive, isn't going to change that.
Sarah | Apr 24, 2007
I had the same experience that you did at a brazilian restaurant, only it was on the company dime for me... $80 per person. Ouch. I do laugh about it now, I more than ate my fair share of meat, I wasn't hungry at lunch the next day! It was a good return on investment.
Be easy on yourself. Mistakes happen. How could you have known? I bet now in the future that you will always check menu prices before going. The past can be the best teacher. Be proud of the accomplishments that you have made the past year and half. Don't let one dinner bill ruin that.
Finding Balance | Apr 24, 2007
Yikes! I've heard of Fogo de Chao, and I'd heard it was a little bit on the expensive side, but I had NO idea... It doesn't even appear that you can look at a menu online, even though there is a link that indicates such a thing would exist. I'd definitely write to corporate and express your displeasure at the lack of price information.
Gigi | Apr 24, 2007
I love the Brazilian restaurants around here. But at ~$50/ person it's expensive. The trick is to go during lunch, but often they are not open on Saturdays and Sundays for lunch. So try going on a Monday Holiday. I heard some places are open on Mother's Day for lunch. If you choose to go again, compare the multitude in Chicago, Schaumburg, Orland Park (~$40 for dinner, ~$20 for lunch) They all have the same meats, but different rents.
I'd also recommend trying the Caiprinha. It's the traditional Brazilian drink made from Cachaca (sugar cane) with sugar and lime.
mandy | Apr 24, 2007
I'm not going to burn you- I can see the mistake being easy enough to make.
But you got dinner at a restaurant in downtown Chicago- the Chicago location is where many expensive (overpriced) restaurants are located- for $75 a person. I don't know which cuts of meat you ate, but you ate prime cust of beef, I'm sure, because that's what they do. That's about the cost of a steak dinner in downtown Chicago, and you essentially got more than that, I assume, from what I've heard of that restaurant. Also, regardless of what you ate, it's a prix fixe. You need to know one thing- there is absolutely no shame, even an upscale restaurant, to ask the price of what you're ordering, even when you're already at the table. This is one of the lessons of frugality- even though you live in a big city, you can't be intimidated by the idea of how things look.
Why were you taking his parents out anyway, with your budget? You guys could have cooked for them...
Ann | Apr 24, 2007
This is the kind of thing you all will laugh about in 10 years when things are better. It will become a special memory for you two. :-)
I've eaten at another location a couple of times (once on my grandparents' dime, and once where I split the bill with people). Yeah, it's really expensive (although not nearly as stratospheric as some other places around me).
For now, take a deep breath and move on. You'll get past this. In the future, I'd simply suggest that, before you visit ANY restaurant, you check the local paper and get the average meal price. I just checked the Tribune; FdC's pricing is front and center in their review.
cli | Apr 24, 2007
um this is a stupid comment to make to a couple that is trying to be fiscally responsible and live within a budget. the "it's only money" philosophy is fine in some instances but this isn't one of them. the idea that it's only money and therefore you can be as capricious as you want with it only contributes the fiscally irresponsible mentality of the society we currently live in.
Christiana | Apr 24, 2007
I understand your frustration. I've never been stuck quite like that before, but I've had brief panics over any meal that gets pricey.
Tuck it away as a mistake and learn from it and you'll be fine. The good news is, you CAN handle it - it's not like you have to give up the electric bill to pay for this.
mmmmm, Fogo de Chao. There's one right across the street from my office, and I was able to go on my company's dime (or dollar).
I didn't think I would ever get to go back, but I decided that I'll use my first Adsense check to pay for myself and my neighbor Nick from Punny Money, since I wouldn't have launched CleverDude.com without him.
The first check should be sent at the end of May, and I promise to get my fill of meat!
I would have cried too! And probably had a big argument with my husband. :( Even if you had checked online, the prices aren't posted--I probably would've gone too.
You definitely have to be careful with places like that... They're total tourist traps, which is why they get away with charging so much. I agree that it's pretty much the same as going to one of Chicago's steakhouses.
Maria | Apr 24, 2007
Fogo de Chao is *great* food & dining experience - and definitely very expensive - as you discovered in a most unfortunate way. There isn't one near where I live, but there are other Brazilian Churrascaria's nearby - the least expensive meal is the weekday lunch, and even then it's more expensive than I'd like to spend on a lunch.
These most definitely provide great food (just be sure to be very hungry when you arrive so it'll be worth the price), however definitely not a place to go often - just now & then.
Elle | Apr 24, 2007
OK, so a mistake was made and a lesson learned. The important thing is what you do about it now. You can't get a refund and you can't return what you ate. All you an do is either try to offset the expense through other savings or take the loss and work on forgiving yourself enought to let it go. Is there anything you could sacrifice this month and/or next month to offset the cost of the meal? I know your financial ship is already pretty water tight on a monthly basis, but there must be something that you could cut back on to make the sting of the bill feel less harsh.
beeble | Apr 24, 2007
Definitely live it up as a mistake and learn for the next time. A good place for reader reviews and prices is yelp.com. You'll get some honest reviews from fellow Chicagoans.
Xtopher | Apr 25, 2007
It's a funny idea: a Brazilian restaurant in Chicago as a tourist trap. Hmm... luring Brazilian/Portuguese tourists? LOL!
$300 for four people in downtown Chicago doesn't sound that unreasonable to me. I would have expected the bill to be at least $200.
The reason you didn't see a menu is probably because they are prix fix.
Tiffany in Houston | Apr 25, 2007
Long time lurker, first time commenter.
I'm sorry you had sticker shock but like everyone else has been saying consider it a lesson learned.
In response to Mandy's comment (which pissed me off BTW), what if Him and Her didn't want to cook for Him's parents??? Maybe they were celebrating something special. I don't understand how these folks sharing their financial journey with us gives some the right to be so damn holier than thou.
Shit, you act like they are supposed to be at home eating ramen noodles every day in the interest of being 'frugal'. Get over yourself.
Livingalmostlarge | Apr 27, 2007
Lesson learned no big deal. It happens to everyone.
I was wondering how did it cost $300 for 4 people? That's not terrible. I assume $200 for food, $100 for $30 wine, $10 dessert, tax and tip?
I am really interested in going, how do they charge? I would plan for it, but I'd like to know how they price food. I ate at Ruth's Chris last year $200 for DH and I out the door, but we were warned by friends.
sharon | Apr 27, 2007
The very same thing happened to my inlaws at the same place, and the $300 bill shocked them to their cores as well. The funny thing is, they went to the restaurant with friends who had been there before, and whose house was being foreclosed on, and so they assumed the place at which they were eating would be within their budget. The friends with the foreclosed house didn't even bat an eye when the bill came. Go figure.
The charges break down approximately as follows:
$48 per entree
$40 bottle of wine
$8.00 dessert
$30 tax
$50 tip
boomie | Apr 27, 2007
Hey, you had the $300 to pay the bill. End of story. If you didn't then this would be grist for the mills. Be thankful that you were able to pay the bill. That's how you measure your success. By being able to pay the bills! Gabish?
Eeek. DC has a place called Malibu Grill. The guys at the office call it The Boo. The food is yummy, but $300 for four? Yikes.
It's a small setback, but lesson learned. I try to be really careful where I go and eat, but dinner last night for three at a Korean place was over $100. That just about killed me as well since I had gotten good reviews of the restuarant from several places, but the bottom line is I HATE KOREAN FOOD AS BUFFET. Hm. I feel a blog post coming on.
A similar thing happened to me. I only drink water and never order appetizers or dessert. So when I took some friends out to dinner as a thank you, I merely trebled the amount I would normally spend. I was completely shocked when I got the bill. It had never occurred to me to bring enough money to cover 3 glasses of alcohol each, plus appetizers and dessert. This is apparently what they did all the time without thought. I was so embarrased and worried that my charge card wouldn't go through that I was unable to keep it from my face and it made them feel bad -- and they had no reason to feel bad. They can well afford to eat like that all the time. So at least His parents' didn't learn of your dismay! That's something to be thankful for.
Bummer! Whenever we have an expense that is more than we bargained for, I do a little money trickery on myself. I'll think of something else that I've found recently for a great price (shopping thrift stores and Craig's List makes this happen more often!), and I'll equal them out in my mind. You've gotten some great deals lately on wedding stuff, so you can pretend that you paid a little more for that suff (still a good deal) and a little less for dinner. It always makes me feel better, because it automatically reminds me of all the frugal choices I've made. It makes one not-so-frugal moment seem not so bad. And you guys are doing great - your nw keeps getting better, and it will do so this month even with that dinner.
SMY | Apr 30, 2007
I completely understand why you would feel that way! I just wanted to comment that I thought it was admirable that despite what you were feeling, you didn't make a fuss in front of your guests, who would also probably just feel bad about it.
I came to this post from Mapgirl and I don't understand some of the hostile comments people left. "It's only money"?
"You had the $300 to pay for it... End of story"?
$300 is a hella big bill, especially when it was unexpected and when it wrecks the budget. Shoot, I've got $1,000 I could spend if I had to, but I would be just miserable about it! And it would really mess my finances up. I understand completely how you feel about things feeling in control one minute and then a big, unnecceary expense blowing that the next minute. Your reaction was totally understandble and, I think, the right reaction to have.
Had you not ask the prices before ordering?
I live in ATL and everyone knows Fago de Chao is very very expensive.
$300 is not much, but it is alot for dinner
Like many others said, all you can do is chalk it up to a lesson learned. I've had a similiar experience and all you can do is just learn from it.
The good news is that it bothers you. I bet a couple years ago, before you made the decision to change your finances, it wouldn't have bothered you nearly as much. It shows that you are both serious about being successful!
I really sympathize. My husband and I would definitely be cutting back every expense for the next few months to make up for a big, unplanned one like that.
Livingalmostlarge | May 7, 2007
Thanks for the breakdown. You can't exactly run out on the bill after you ate. Well you could but you could go to jail too. It's just a learnt lesson and yes you can be upset but it's in the past already.
rheanna | May 7, 2007
just curious. what would you have considered to be a fair price for the dinner you had? everything seems pretty much in line when you break it down. don't mean to be negative or anything about it, but just wondering. it will probably help you put in perspective any future "fancy" dinners you have and know what to expect to pay beforehand.
After Bankruptcy | May 8, 2007
"Build and bridge and get over it"
- Stephen Snyder
You'll recover. It's already done and over with.
Mortimer | May 8, 2007
Actually, all the Fogo De Chaos are a flat per person price. There is no "per entree" price. I think the per person price is $50.
To me $300 for four people at a decent restaurant is normal - nothing to cry over!
But if you're that sensitive about money, you should've looked at the menu prices first, right? No problem!
D | Sep 28, 2007
Wow, you ordered dessert at Fogo? I've been to the one in DC during restaurant week (when thankfully the price was $20.07), and I ate the single largest meal of my entire life. There was no way I could have even tried to eat dessert. Granted, my friends and I did try to eat at least 2 of each of the 15 cuts of meat.
The bill stings, but it was pretty good food wasn't it?
plonkee | Apr 24, 2007
I can see why you feel so bad.
On the positive side though, you're probably in a better position to pay a $300 restaurant bill now than you used to be. And you'll get back on track.
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