{"id":8815,"date":"2025-07-20T12:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T12:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.euro-tv.ro\/news\/gen-z-customers-learn-costly-lesson-after-restaurant-steaks-labeled-mkt-add-up-to-startling-bill\/"},"modified":"2025-07-20T12:00:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-20T12:00:58","slug":"gen-z-customers-learn-costly-lesson-after-restaurant-steaks-labeled-mkt-add-up-to-startling-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euro-tv.ro\/news\/gen-z-customers-learn-costly-lesson-after-restaurant-steaks-labeled-mkt-add-up-to-startling-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Gen Z customers learn costly lesson after restaurant steaks labeled ‘MKT’ add up to startling bill"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

A group of Gen Z diners learned a tough and unexpected lesson in restaurant pricing after unknowingly ordering steaks labeled “MKT”<\/a> \u2013 and ended up paying a hefty price.<\/p>\n

A young woman named Aribella Menold posted a TikTok video about the ordeal in June. She was dining at a North Carolina restaurant<\/a> with her siblings when they decided to order two steaks.<\/p>\n

Their total bill came to $159, including a 3% credit card surcharge and 6.75% sales tax.<\/p>\n

BARTENDERS SPILL THE BEANS ON GEN Z’S ‘ANNOYING’ DRINK-BY-DRINK PAYMENT HABIT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The culprits, she said, were two 12-ounce New York strip steaks labeled “MKT” that ended up costing $52 each.<\/p>\n

The total also included a $28 kale salad<\/a> \u2013 including $11 for grilled chicken \u2013 and a $10 kid’s grilled cheese meal.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

Menold told Newsweek<\/a> she thought the steaks would cost $20 or $30 at most.<\/p>\n

‘FRIDGE CIGARETTE’ IS GEN Z’S NEW DIET COKE OBSESSION THAT CONCERNS HEALTH EXPERTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

“Our grandpa ended up paying for it, which was so sweet of him,” said the 20-year-old college student.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital reached out to Menold for further comment.<\/p>\n

On TikTok, the video drew reactions ranging from sympathetic to critical.<\/p>\n

“Eleven bucks to add grilled chicken<\/a> is wild,” a money-conscious viewer observed.<\/p>\n

“Unless you’re rich, don’t buy items off a menu if they don’t have a price,” one person advised.<\/p>\n

SCAM LEAVES RESTAURANT WAITRESS STUNNED AS DINERS LAUGH IN HER FACE: ‘WHY IS THIS THE NORM?’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Another chimed in, “If you have to ask the market price, you can’t afford it. Just order something else.”<\/p>\n

But the Gen Zers weren’t the only ones unfamiliar with the “MKT” designation.<\/p>\n

“What does ‘mkt’ mean?” one curious user asked.<\/p>\n

“MKT means it’s a scam and they can charge you whatever they want,” a cynic replied.<\/p>\n

But is market pricing a scam or is it a way for restaurants to stay in business while offering premium items?<\/p>\n

Hal Lawlor, chief operating officer of Smokey Bones, a casual-dining chain that operates dozens of barbecue<\/a> joints across the U.S., spoke to Fox News Digital about market pricing.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Some restaurants choose market pricing because premium items “can vary significantly in size and price throughout the year,” the Florida-based business executive said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“This fluctuation is influenced by factors such as seasonal availability, market demand and sourcing conditions,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Steaks and lobster rolls<\/a> are just a few summer favorites that are often labeled “MKT” \u2013 and Lawlor reported that the size, cut and overall price of these types of meats “may change at the time of purchase.”<\/p>\n

For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com\/lifestyle<\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“If you find yourself at a restaurant that does not provide this information automatically, don’t hesitate to ask the server for the price.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

– FOX NEWS<\/p>\n

This article appeared on the website foxnews.com
\nThis article is taken based on Law no. 8\/1996 of Romania. News does not enjoy copyright, so they can be taken, this is our right to take news and information in its entirety and distribute them further. The content was made available to us through the rss mechanism
\nOriginal Content<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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