Lakewood, NJ Restaurants Master Thread

[S209]

Their prices aren't crazy, the people paying that are.

+100

I don’t get the whole outrage at the restaurant thing, as long as their prices are clearly displayed it’s their prerogative to charge whatever they want in a highly competitive market with plenty of consumer choice. Why shouldn’t they charge as much as the market will bear? The customers paying that, on the other hand.. that is harder to understand.

[WayBackMachine]

+100

I don’t get the whole outrage at the restaurant thing, as long as their prices are clearly displayed it’s their prerogative to charge whatever they want in a highly competitive market with plenty of consumer choice. Why shouldn’t they charge as much as the market will bear? The customers paying that, on the other hand.. that is harder to understand.

we are just jealous what happened with equity, we have a right to dine at the seared and drink as much water we want regardless of income brackets

[liosac]

we are just jealous what happened with equity, we have a right to dine at the seared and drink as much water we want regardless of income brackets

Just take a thick wad of singles and light them on fire. It will give you a מעין of the feeling.

[yuneeq]

Compare prices to salt I don’t see %30.
Besides the water and fries.
The meat everybody making a big deal about is similar to other restaurants dry aged tomahawk.
I agree they’re prices are crazy but not that much crazier then comparable kosher restaurants.

Some similar comparisons

Lamb ribs
Seared - 45
Salt - 38 - much larger portion

Bread with olive oil -
Seared - 25
Salt - free

Flat bread/lachmajun
Seared - 45
Salt - 32-35

Fries
Seared - 28
Salt - 15-19

26oz dry aged steak
Seared - 234
Salt - 125

The gap widens a bit more with the service charge
Seared - 20%
Salt - 18%

[yuneeq]

Totals for my example

Seared - 377 + 20% = $452
Salt - 217 +18% = $256

Difference of $196, or 76% higher.

Happy to see further comparisons.

[JMHO]

Totals for my example

Seared - 377 + 20% = $452
Salt - 217 +18% = $256

Difference of $196, or 76% higher.

Happy to see further comparisons.

Does location, service, ambiance, etc factor in?

[yuneeq]

Does location, service, ambiance, etc factor in?

That’s all subjective. For comparisons sake, let’s assume that Seared and Salt is each worth what you pay. I have a hard time believing anyone will pay just 20% more than what they would pay for a similar meal in Salt. Probably closer to 40-50%.

[yawn]

Does location, service, ambiance, etc factor in?

Of course, but Salt is arguably in a better location, at least in terms of what they pay for rent. I know this is anecdotal, but I found the service at Salt to be far superior to Seared, as did a few Google reviewers. Salt is louder, so I'd imagine you can make the case that the ambiance in Seared may be slightly nicer, but you can't tell me the ambiance is superior to every NYC restaurant whose prices they exceed.

[liosac]

It could be that seared is aiming for a clientele that couldn’t really care less about pricing. My wife and I will go to Tomahawk and spend in the $200 range. Seared is not interested in us. They probably prefer a smaller clientele spending more money with higher margins. It’s a fine line because even those who don’t care about pricing don’t like to feel that they are being ripped off. if Seared can maintain an aura of exclusivity as the highest priced place in town rather than the town rip off, they will probably do OK even if they are just on par with the other places.

[yawn]

It could be that seared is aiming for a clientele that couldn’t really care less about pricing. My wife and I will go to Tomahawk and spend in the $200 range. Seared is not interested in us. They probably prefer a smaller clientele spending more money with higher margins. It’s a fine line because even those who don’t care about pricing don’t like to feel that they are being ripped off. if Seared can maintain an aura of exclusivity as the highest priced place in town rather than the town rip off, they will probably do OK even if they are just on par with the other places.

+1. And they are also trying to attract a demographic that assumes price=quality and the price you pay for something is the best objective measure of it's quality. It's a business model Cookie Corner, Choco Shoppe, and some meat board producers have had tremendous success with.

[Chilla]

Also, the is a demographic that will prefer them because of the hechsher (I believe crc).

[Abebee]

Also, the is a demographic that will prefer them because of the hechsher (I believe crc).

That would be a great case study. Stand outside for a week and ask everyone that comes for dinner what the Hescher is.

[Moshe123]

That would be a great case study. Stand outside for a week and ask everyone that comes for dinner what the Hescher is.

Waiting for the day a top Manhattan restaurant gets a hechsher like CRC.
I don't know how hard it is with the ingredients they use, or it will attract a different balance of clients and therefore less of another segment of customers.

[chevron]

I have a hard time believing that the only way I'm going to get an amazing steak is by paying $360

That's 19 courses at Thomas Keller 3 Michelin star French laundry

I dunno. Most of the best meals I ever had were friends cooking

[JMHO]

I have a hard time believing that the only way I'm going to get an amazing steak is by paying $360

No one said that...

That's 19 courses at Thomas Keller 3 Michelin star French laundry

So?

I dunno. Most of the best meals I ever had were friends cooking

Sure, but it's not a high end restaurant experience. Obviously people are willing to pay for that...

[chevron]

No one said that...So?Sure, but it's not a high end restaurant experience. Obviously people are willing to pay for that...

This is a high end restaurant experience

https://www.instagram.com/_tfl_/?hl=en

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/greater-london/london/restaurant/alain-ducasse-at-the-dorchester

https://www.instagram.com/elevenmadisonpark/

These are dishes that are a wonder to feast on with your eyes..

https://g.co/kgs/5EisQi

This all looks so unappetizing like heavy French cooking from the 80's

The kosher dinning scene reminds me of the marx brothers Casablanca, just keep adding tables and dinners ad infinitum

Everyone is entitled to charge what they want, but should they ?

[Tzvi687]

Also, the is a demographic that will prefer them because of the hechsher (I believe crc).

Is crc harder to get then kcl?

[jye]

I have a hard time believing that the only way I'm going to get an amazing steak is by paying $360

That's 19 courses at Thomas Keller 3 Michelin star French laundry

I dunno. Most of the best meals I ever had were friends cooking

$30 for a 16oz seared on my own cast iron marinated in Juenesse wine pile and spices. Every bit as flavorful as what I’ve had in Lakewood and Manhattan high end places for $120 plus. Then again for that price you are getting service, presentation, and ambiance.

[aygart]

No one said that...So?Sure, but it's not a high end restaurant experience. Obviously people are willing to pay for that...

But is it so much more high end than other KOSHER places that charge much less?

[Chilla]

Is crc harder to get then kcl?

Not about hard to get, fact is a certain demographic would want crc, so strategically, a smart move.