STRATEGY v. TACTICS IN EATING

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 301, 20 September 1928, Page 3

STRATEGY v. TACTICS IN EATING

4 EXPERIMENTS. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. Two Wellington journalists have discovered that it is not wise to enter a restaurant together when in search of a light meal, since the proprietors of such places differ markedly from other business men in that they do not encourage trade by giving extra eatables for two or more patrons together. The investigators visited restaurant after restaurant, but found that the same principles apparently actuated all proprietors. The following census of a typical menu illustrates the point. By entering together, and giving the order for two, they were served with the items enumerated in the first list, while, by entering separately, and giving the order as for himself, each received the items set out in the second list. Together Separately (total). (total). .Sandwiches 8 10 Scones 4 Cakes 5 6 Tea (in cups) .. 4 6 Total 21 2S By entering together each patron loses 25 per cent, of the meal he would have obtained had he ordered separately. Following this a little further, four men would have to pay for a meal which was really only for three. Fearing lest they should be given a lighter meal than the light meal intended, the second of the pair now enters, after having allowed sufficient time to elapse for his colleague to give his order.