link to full NY Times article

Excerpt:

Dear Diary:

As I exited the Wall Street subway station stop one morning recently, I noticed a deli sign announcing a breakfast special. It offered "scrambled eggs and bacon on a roll, small coffee or tea: $2.25." I ventured inside, went up to the counter and ordered it. The eggs and bacon were prepared and, since I'm on the Atkins diet, I declined the roll and proceeded to the cashier, where I ordered my coffee.

"That will be $2.75," I was told. The cashier explained that there was a rule against substitutions and that "no roll" was a substitution. No appeal to reason availed.

More recently, at a deli on 58th Street just east of Fifth Avenue, I ordered two scrambled eggs on a roll at $2.65 as stated on the menu board. When I was asked if I wanted butter on the roll I said, "No, and if it's O.K. I'll skip the roll."

I was amazed to find out, again, that without the roll the same scrambled eggs would be more: $4.25. Being experienced now, I ordered the eggs on a roll and took my breakfast tray to a table in the rear, although I confess to having a certain fear that the management might assess me an additional $1.60 for my failure to consume the obligatory roll, which I left on my plate.


Mitzi Filson

I've run into this situation also. One place I stopped at had a special: Burger w. Potatoes and Soda for $x. Don't remember the exact price. I asked and it turned out if I wanted just the burger it would be $1 more than the burger, potatoes, and a drink [because the burger wasn't the special.] So, I ordered the special, left the potatoes, and asked for unsweet tea, to which I added Stevia.

THAT'S AWFUL!! I have been lucky to have had the opposite experience. I recently ate dinner at Applebees and gave them my standard line now "no potaotes, no bread". They offered to substitute more vegies, which I gratefull accepted! And in a local breakfast diner, I reiterated my standard line to which I heard 'OK, no problem, I just won't charge you for your coffee then"

I wonder if it's just the difference between Small Town USA and Big City USA. Anyway, we certainly pay more for Low Carb foods, however, like Atkins, KETO, etc. Disappointing.

Kathy

i work at a restuarant in the Dallas area and we always make substitutions for our customers. When i take their order and its all LC i always cant wait to ask them if they are on the Atkins diet and then exchanging success stories. Its an italian restuarant so you can imagine the substitution requests. my favorite is thosse who order a pizza and leave the crust. as i do the same but people who arent familiar with the lc'ing look at you like your crazy and i just smile and think... 'ahh i can feel the weight dropping off"