Until a few years ago, dining out and being waited on wasconsidered a luxury that was exclusive to the wealthy. That was until the inventionof the fast food industry and also the increasing number of restaurants both bigand small that have mushroomed all over the place.
Today many people are prepared to put down a few rupees andget a cooked meal without having to step foot into a kitchen. We all know thatit is much cheaper to buy ingredients and make a good home cooked meal.
Yet we are inclined sometimes to travel to a particularrestaurant and indulge on a meal prepared and cooked by somebody else.
It may perhaps be on any day during the week or sometimes itcould be on a special day like celebrating your birthday or anniversary withfamily and friends.
Going out for a meal at a restaurant is all about treating yourself.It’s about loosening your belt rather than tightening it. But none of us canafford to be careless about what we spend, especially in a tourist belt likeGoa. It’s important to check on prices before you place your order.
If prices are not clear on the menu then it’s always betterto clarify the same with the waiter so that you do not land up getting aninflated bill.
Those in the food industry have no qualms of conscience whenit comes to fleecing customers using various tricks and cons.
Keeping a bottle of mineral water on a table in restaurantsin Goa is common. The price of the bottle will be included in your bill. Youcan always ask for simple water, which is free. Be assured, that if you ask thewaiter/waitress what is good in the restaurant, then you will be advised tohave the most expensive dishes.
It’s a marketing strategy in which most people get taken fora ride.
Don’t be bullied or hoodwinked by the waiters or anyone elsegoing out of their way to see you comfortable.
If you’re not happy with any part of your meal, speak up andmake sure you get what you pay for. If you are unsure whether main courses comewith side dishes of vegetables or these have to be ordered separately, don’t beafraid to ask before you place your order and if you do not want to embarrassyour guests, phone ahead.
When you have shelled out for an expensive meal in arestaurant of your choice, make sure you leave the restaurant you have dined inwith a happy feel that you would like to visit the place again and introduce itto others who have not visited the place.
The writer a social scientist and lawyer has been a Srmember for 10 years at the Consumer Court in Goa
