Have you ever been charged for having your sushi rolled?
Being a total sushi connoisseur, I had to check out the much-talked about celeb hot spot, TAO while I was in Vegas. Known for its incredible Asian cuisine, Eastern decor and top-notch ambiance, I checked out the Ventian hotel's restaurant famous for "spiritual dining".
The elegant decor drew me in: beautiful candle-light entrance with gorgeous bathtubs filled with rose petals. We peared inside at the beautiful golden Buddha statue and decided that this could be a fabulous meal for a mother and daughter to remember forever.
After a long wait, we were brought to the back, speakers pounding a deafening beat. We were so excited, we didn't mind yelling over it. In the beginning that is. Unless you're Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, or any of the other a-list diners they're used to, don't expect your experience to be zen-like.
After our waiter suggested his personal favourites (the three priciest items on the menu, of course), he added that "the portions are very small, so... you'll want to order LOTS."
We were just having a little morsel--the real dinner would come later in the night. When the bill came, I pointed out a charge for two rolls we hadn't ordered.
"Here are the two rolls you ordered," our waiter said with arrogance. "That," he says pointing at the other $10 charges, "is the fee for having your sushi rolled."
No joke. TAO charges an additional $5 on top of the price of the $10 tuna we had selected to have the chefs roll it.
What a TAOtal waste of a night in Vegas!
Sushi Rolling Fees
TAO's 'Spiritual Dining' in Vegas
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Dining Practices - Opportunity for innovative sushi restaurants to explore sustainable alternatives to sushi rolling fees.
2. Customer Experience Enhancement - Opportunity to develop zen-like dining experiences in upscale restaurants by focusing on ambiance and personalization.
3. Transparent Pricing - Opportunity for restaurants to adopt transparent pricing practices, avoiding extra charges for basic services like sushi rolling.
Industry Implications
1. Restaurant Industry - Opportunity for upscale restaurants to differentiate themselves by offering unique dining experiences and transparent pricing.
2. Food Service Industry - Opportunity for food service providers to develop sustainable alternatives to traditional sushi rolling practices.
3. Hospitality Industry - Opportunity for hotels and resorts to enhance customer experiences by partnering with innovative dining establishments that prioritize ambiance and personalization.