Is Credit Card Roulette the Ultimate Dining Risk?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of "Credit Card Roulette," a game played at restaurants where diners randomly select one person's credit card to pay the entire bill. Participants share their experiences, opinions on the costs associated with dining out in NYC, and the social dynamics of such games.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants describe the game as a fun way to add excitement to dining out, highlighting their experiences with high restaurant bills in NYC.
  • Others express disbelief at the high costs of dining, with some stating that $800 bills are common and others arguing that such spending is excessive.
  • Participants discuss the implications of spending large amounts on meals, with some suggesting that it reflects a status symbol among certain social circles in NYC.
  • There are differing views on what constitutes a reasonable amount to spend on a meal, with some arguing that spending $1,000 for a meal is not typical for most people.
  • Some participants question the assumptions made about the number of diners and the duration of meals when discussing total costs.
  • Several participants engage in calculations to illustrate their points about the cost of dining, but these calculations lead to further debate rather than consensus.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the appropriateness of high restaurant bills or the nature of dining expenses in NYC. There are multiple competing views on what constitutes reasonable spending and the motivations behind such expenditures.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific prices and experiences, but there are unresolved assumptions regarding the number of diners and the context of the meals, which affect the overall discussion of costs.

  • #31
When the Evo Child was training to be a waitress at that fancy restaurant, part of the training was for them to order a "typical dinner with drinks". The tab for two of them was close to $800. Of course this included one shot of cognac for Evo Child that cost $345.00. Yes, $345 for one shot. She gave me the receipt. I may still have it somewhere. Of course it was all free. They had to eat the food every day so they understood what it tasted like. Of course it was not every day that they got a rare liquor.
 
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  • #32
gravenewworld said:
But why are we even talking about this? People are allowed to waste money how ever they want to. The original point: the game was pretty fun.

What's fun about getting shafted with an $800 bill? That doesn't sound fun at all...and I would feel bad for someone else, if it wasn't me.
 
  • #33
Cyrus said:
20 bucks for an appetizer?


The buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto, and bruschetta app. was $22 I believe. Some of the best mozzarella I have ever tasted outside of Italy.

What's fun about getting shafted with an $800 bill? That doesn't sound fun at all...and I would feel bad for someone else, if it wasn't me.

People who work on Wall St. who are young live in a whole different world. When you are 25 or 26 and making $300, 400, or even 500+ K a year, and have no debts, do you think they care about an $800 tab at a restaurant or even think twice about dropping $1500 a night at an exclusive club? This is privileged America. I think they are crazy too, but then again I don't live in NY or make anywhere near that kind of cash.
 
  • #34
gravenewworld said:
The buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto, and bruschetta app. was $22 I believe. Some of the best mozzarella I have ever tasted outside of Italy.

22 bucks for this:


http://www.johnnyjet.com/image/PicForNewsletterItaly2007MoioIMG_1716.JPG

:smile: "There's a sucker born every minute"
 
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  • #35
leroyjenkens said:
After reading that initial post, I knew this would turn into a debate about the cost of eating out and not about how fun that game would be. That restaurant must be making a 500%+ profit.

Wow, I think I need to change careers.

Five hours? So you go in for lunch and stay till dinner?
I was thinking more like go for wings & beer at 7, dinner's done by 9:30 and you sit around and drink till midnight.

Or go to Mandarin (30 of us) and spend the entire afternoon catching up.

OK, 5 hours is pretty long but 4 is not unheard of.
 
  • #36
Cyrus said:
:smile: "There's a sucker born every minute"
Rough childhood? :wink:

I wonder. Is there any way that you can be as clever as you need to be - without the rest of the world having to be idiots?
 
  • #37
Cyrus said:
22 bucks for this:




:smile: "There's a sucker born every minute"

And you know what they say about opinions...
 
  • #38
Best meal I ever had. Just the two of us. 5 courses, each one with a wine-pairing. Had amuse-bouche between courses. Everything was served by our personal waiter. Lasted 4 hours.

It was like a vacation for the senses without leaving the table. Totally forgot about the outside world. By the time we were done and came back to reality, it felt exactly like we'd been away for a weekend.

With the $60 tip, it came to $420. Worth every penny.
 
  • #39
I have been in restaurants with appetizers in the $40-$50 range based on ingredients, and with caviar in the $100+ range.
 
  • #40
DaveC426913 said:
Rough childhood? :wink:

I wonder. Is there any way that you can be as clever as you need to be - without the rest of the world having to be idiots?

Most of the people in the world are idiots. :smile:

My point is that there is a threshold where you're no longer paying for quality food. You're paying for quality food and getting your eyes gouged out in the process, which is stupid. For 2k, I want Iron Chef to make it for me live in under 45 mins. Todays special ingredient, endangered species!

BTW: It's called rationalization. When you spend that much money on one meal, of course you better tell yourself "hey, that was pretty good!".
 
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  • #41
DaveC426913 said:
Best meal I ever had. Just the two of us. 5 courses, each one with a wine-pairing. Had amuse-bouche between courses. Everything was served by our personal waiter. Lasted 4 hours.

It was like a vacation for the senses without leaving the table. Totally forgot about the outside world. By the time we were done and came back to reality, it felt exactly like we'd been away for a weekend.

With the $60 tip, it came to $420. Worth every penny.
Sounds awesome Dave.
 
  • #42
Cyrus said:
Most of the people in the world are idiots. :smile:
I don't know what to say to this except that you don't need to set the bar so low in order for you to be clever. Your claim says nothing factual about the world but it does reveal some things about you. :wink:
Cyrus said:
My point is that there is a threshold where you're no longer paying for quality food. You're paying for quality food and getting your eyes gouged out in the process, which is stupid.

but I don't get how you are able to make such a judgement without it being your money, your life or your values. Surely you recognize that there are some things that it is just nonsensical to have an opinion on.
 
  • #43
DaveC426913 said:
but I don't get how you are able to make such a judgement without it being your money, your life or your values. Surely you recognize that there are some things that it is just nonsensical to have an opinion on.

Huh? That doesn't make any sense. I've known people that have hundreds of millions of dollars that don't go around wasting a few grand on a single meal because they have some sense to them. There free to spend that kind of money on a meal if they want, that doesn't mean I will respect that choice or think they are smart for it.

If you want, we can settle this over a $800 meal though, (on you), of course. (Not in a naked sushi kind of way) :wink:
 
  • #44
Cyrus said:
Huh? That doesn't make any sense. I've known people that have hundreds of millions of dollars that don't go around wasting a few grand on a single meal because they have some sense to them. There free to spend that kind of money on a meal if they want, that doesn't mean I will respect that choice or think they are smart for it.
But it is a subjective thing. You call it waste. That would only be if it was your money. You call it sense. Surely you have the capacity to say 'huh. Different strokes for different folks.'
 
  • #45
DaveC426913 said:
But it is a subjective thing. You call it waste. That would only be if it was your money. You call it sense. Surely you have the capacity to say 'huh. Different strokes for different folks.'

I'm surprised you haven't given me any grief about me liking fashion. You're terrible at this game Dave. I'm being facetious.

Buy me some expensive food. Let's break $350 bread. :-p
 
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  • #46
Huh, you didn't take one bit of bait I threw down. You're a pro. I have to admire that. :smile:
 
  • #47
I mean, I could buy a $10,000 pencil sharpener and claim that it sharpens my pencils better than any other pencil sharpener ever could, and tell you that sharpening pencils is important to me and you can't have an opinion of it since it's my personal choice, but (and I may be wrong) I bet you'd still think it was a waste of money.
 
  • #48
AUMathTutor said:
I mean, I could buy a $10,000 pencil sharpener and claim that it sharpens my pencils better than any other pencil sharpener ever could, and tell you that sharpening pencils is important to me and you can't have an opinion of it since it's my personal choice, but (and I may be wrong) I bet you'd still think it was a waste of money.
Who are you refuting? Me or Cyrus?
 
  • #49
mgb_phys said:
I go to my favorite local indian, most of the menu is <$10 so dinner for two and a dessert is a tip of around $5. But if I go out for my wedding anniversary somewhere that dinner + bottle of wine is nearer $100 = a tip of around $15.

I prefer small restaurants run by a small single family (mostly immigrants) - just more friendly and humble IMO provided that their food is good.
 
  • #50
DaveC426913 said:
Who are you refuting? Me or Cyrus?

The tell-tale sign of a quality post is that you have no idea what they're talking to. Thanks.

Seriously, though, I guess if I were arguing with one of you, it would probably be with you. I know it's your money to do with as you like, but I can still think you're blowing your money.
 
  • #51
Ok for once, I have to agree with that dirtbag... err I mean Cyrus.

$800 on dinner? Should new york just be shot into space because apparently reality doesn't come into play over there. And $2000 for a business dinner? In the US, it's called being a New Yorker, but I think in Africa it would be called a war crime.

I no longer feel like a bloated savage when I go out to a restaurant every friday night.

I don't really like the idea of that game however. What if someones unfortunate and gets a disproportionate number of bills? People can get touchy about bills...
 
  • #52
The point was that this "game" is really nothing more than a pissing contest to see who can afford to blow away their money the fastest. It's also a rude game to play because if someone can't afford to play they are singled out and look bad. You can have money, but you can't buy class...

Pengwuino said:
I like turtles.
 
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  • #53
Cyrus cussed in chat!

I do agree, though, it shows no class. It confuses me why Cyrus isn't for it however.
 
  • #54
Cyrus said:
The point was that this "game" is really nothing more than a pissing contest to see who can afford to blow away their money the fastest.
Thats the point - see "Liars Poker" by Michael Lewis about being a Wall St trader, there are some good points about why they should play this game.