You don’t want to be told what to eat?!

Prior to every Toronto Perl Mongers a group of us meet prior to the meeting for dinner and warm up beers. We generally pick somewhere close to the meeting location, and a time that most people can make it, and still have time to enjoy their meal.

Last night it was agreed that we should meet at an Indian place, and after a couple of very good recommendations The Biryani House was chosen.

We were a lot late arriving, but some of our group knew we were coming and had a table for all of us. On our arrival we were informed by the others at the table:

“The waiter says we have to order from the fixed price menu.”

We asked the waiter to clarify for us:

“No, you don’t have to order the fixed price, but there’s a $20 minimum for each person, not including taxes, drinks, or tip”

There’s an automatic 15% tip included on the bill for groups of 5 or more. We were a group of 6.

We picked out what each of us were going to order, some fixed price, some multiple dishes from the menu, all over the $20 minimum, tax, tip, and drink not included of course. Next round of ordering begins:

“I’ll order the fixed price, appetizer 1, main course 6, and dessert 8″
“very good”

“I’d like main dish 9, and main dish 13….”
“I’m sorry, either all of you have to order fixed price, or none of you”

“Let’s leave”

So we did. Way too many rules for something as simple as ordering dinner.

If the rules were the waiter’s (which I doubt) he lost out on a minimum $20 tip as required by their rules. If they’re the restaurant’s rules, then they’ve lost the business of 6 people, and likely anyone we tell.