London eatery lets customer decide bill [2009-02-05 17:26]

A London restaurant has come up with a novel idea to drum up customers in the economic downturn: letting customers decide how much they want to pay for their meal.

The Little Bay restaurant in Farringdon is offering the all-you-can-eat deal for the rest of this month, to cater for credit crunch hit workers from the nearby City financial district.

"It's entirely up to each customer whether they give 100 pounds or a penny," said owner Peter Ilic. "All I'm asking is they pay me what they think the food and service is worth.

"It just seemed the right thing to do with everyone under the cosh and feeling pretty miserable. We have seen so many more City folk coming into the restaurant lately, looking for a better value lunch," he added.

The menu ranges from starters like Smoked Haddock Brandade or Oriental Duck Salad to Paupiette of Salmon or Whole Bones Poussin for main courses, or straight burgers for the more down-to-earth diners.

Normal prices vary from two pounds 25 pence (3.2 dollars, 2.5 euros) for a starter to eight pounds and 80 pence (12.6 dollars, 9.7 euros) for a main course, which are already competitive prices for central London.

Drinks are not included in the offer, although "tap water will be freely available," said the eatery.

伦敦餐馆出绝招 餐费随你付多少

为了在眼下的经济衰退期招揽顾客，英国伦敦一家餐馆想出奇招，让食客自己决定付多少餐费。

这家位于法林顿区的Little Bay 餐馆于本月推出"餐费随你付"活动，以体恤附近"金融城"的那些遭受信贷危机打击的人们。

餐馆老板彼得•艾里克说："100英镑也好，1便士也罢，付多少钱完全由每位食客决定。他们认为菜品和服务值多少钱，就付多少钱。"

"这种做法在眼下的经济拮据时期很合适。最近我们看到很多金融城的人来餐馆吃午餐都倾向于选择经济实惠的东西。"

餐馆提供的食物也很丰富，其中开胃菜包括烟熏鳕鱼奶酪和鸭肉沙拉，主菜则有三文鱼卷和全骨童子鸡，对于更"实际"的食客们来说，还有汉堡可供选择。

菜品的价格从一道开胃菜的2磅25便士（3.2美元/2.5欧元）到一道主菜的8磅80便士（12.6美元/9.7欧元）不等，这在伦敦中心区已经是十分诱人的价格了。

但酒水不参加活动，不过"店里免费提供自来水"。