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.
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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.
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« 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.
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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?
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.
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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. »
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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. »
Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/gen-z-diners-learn-costly-lesson-restaurant-steaks-labeled-mkt-add-up-bill
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Publish date : 2025-07-20 11:00:00
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