Earlier this week, a photo of a nectarine dessert at Zuni Cafe came to light, and since then, it's caused quite the stir around the world wide interwebs. Yesterday, we ran a note from the original photographer who was responding to hoax claims, and not soon thereafter, Zuni—or a representative, we assume—chimed in on the matter as well, both in our comments and on the original Chowhound thread:
Yikes! If the customer who posted this photo was charged $8.00 for the nectarine it was definitely an error. We would love the customer to contact us with their receipt and we would be more than happy to refund the entire amount for the fruit. Checking our menus, the Blossom Bluff Summer Grand nectarine was on our dessert menu from July 29-31st for $4.50. The only $8.00 item on the menu was a pot de crème, listed directly above it. Our computers were programmed with those prices so we are not sure how it happened, but the customer should not have been charged $8.
For those who think that the solo nectarine dessert at Zuni Cafe might be a mere gag: "I'm the one who ordered the nectarine and I can assure everyone that this is not a fake. It was on the dessert menu on the evening of Thursday, July 31, 2008. We saw a waitperson walking by our table while trying desperately to balance a nectarine on an otherwise empty white plate and asked our server what it was. When she responded with an absolutely straight face and described it as a Blossom Bluff nectarine, we instantly [knew] we had to order one so we could capture it on film in all its glory. My big regret is that we didn't think to include the menu and the knife that came with it as part of the picture. I can attest to the quality of the nectarine, but given said quality, it actually did deserve a better presentation." [EaterWire]
The above snapshot of Zuni Cafe's $8 nectarine "dessert" comes to us via Chowhound, where the posters are doing their best to try to rationalize the dish. Zuni, we're big fans, but assuming it's not a prank, this does not look good. We know the restaurant represents the antithesis to stuff like this and we're sure that's one great nectarine, but really? Given the estimated markup, the presentation and the lack of warning, one poster sums it up nicely: "That is either ridiculously pretentious or lazy, I'm not sure which."
· Nectarine dessert at Zuni is just that [CH]
UPDATE: Zuni chimes in and says the nectarine is/was supposed to be $4.50 not $8.
In April we asked for candidates for the worst table in San Francisco, and you responded to the call of duty. On that note, we'll showcase our findings neighborhood by neighborhood, with a final showdown looming at the end. Vote early, vote often. And please be advised that we're still taking nominations.
Today's poll: Hayes Valley and the Lower Haight
Welcome back to Receiptrocity, wherein entertaining dining/drinking receipts are shared. If you've got an interesting or outrageous receipt, scan/photograph it and send it on over to sf@eater.com.
The health care surcharge movement has evoked strong feelings from both sides of the argument and has put restaurants in a pretty tough situation: either suck up thousands of dollars or piss off the customer.
Everyone's playing it differently. Some restaurants (Delfina, TWO, Zazie) are tacking on a cover charge ranging from $1-$1.25, while others (Epic, Zuni) are taking a 4% cut from the diner. Now, it's one thing to have a 4% boost from the likes of Epic and Zuni, as both aim to be near the top of the class in terms of quality and service, but from a tipster comes word of the biggest markup we've encountered, well at least so far. And surprise surprise, it's not even from a restaurant proper: a 5% surcharge from ... DeLessio Market?
The explanatory letter from the DeLessio CEO, which graces both San Francisco locations, follows:
From the Eater Complaints Department, Health Care Division: "A week or so ago some were up in arms because of Delfina's $1.25/person 'coperto' to cover health costs. While I was dining at Zuni over the weekend I noticed that they've added a 4% charge to the entire bill for health care. Excessive? And while Delfina was good enough to include an explanation of the fee with the menu, Zuni made no mention of it. Still love Zuni..." Have complaints? Operators standing by. [Eater Inbox]
All news fit to publish goes in EaterWire. Got some juice? We have you covered.
MARIN—Dungeness season already took a hit. Now, the largest oyster company in the North Bay, Drakes Bay, has been forced to close as a result of last week's oil spill, putting more than half of the state's oyster supply at risk. Furthermore, the closure may put Drakes out of business: "The state Department of Fish and Game 'told us to expect losses,' [owner Kevin] Lunny said. 'It doesn't take much to harm filter feeders (oysters). The oil clogs up their gills and they die.' ... Drakes Bay produces more than 80 percent of Marin County's $3.3 million in farmed shellfish annually. All of the county's other oyster farms are located in Tomales Bay. 'We're potentially looking at millions of dollars worth of product losses and a year and a half without production.'" P.S. Here are just a few of the restaurants that serve Drakes Bay oysters: Zuni, Slanted Door, Fish, Aqua, Farallon and Swan Oyster Depot (pictured). [Marin Independent Journal]
Earlier this week, a photo of a nectarine dessert at Zuni Cafe came to light, and since then, it's caused quite the stir around the world wide interwebs. Yesterday, we ran a note from the original photographer who was responding to hoax claims, and not soon thereafter, Zuni—or a representative, we assume—chimed in on the matter as well, both in our comments and on the original Chowhound thread:
Comments
The health care surcharge movement has evoked 
MARIN—Dungeness season already took a 
