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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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When 20-year-old Aribella Menold and her family went for a meal at a North Carolina restaurant, they got a shock when they called for the check.
In a video with 19 million views, the Gen Z girls shared how they had ordered from the menu without understanding the pricing structure, leading to a bill they weren't prepared for of $154.14.
"POV: You didn't know what 'mkt' meant on the steak menu and now you're paying for it," the text overlay said.
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"We thought the price was going to be like $20-$30," Menold told Newsweek. In the video it is clear the girls were worried about the bill, with shocked faces throughout.
Newsweek reached out to the restaurant via email for comment.
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What Does MKT Mean on a Menu?
"MKT" is restaurant shorthand for "market price," often placed next to items like seafood or steak instead of a number. This means that the kitchen prices the item day-by-day according to the current wholesale cost of the item.
For example, prime steaks swing in cost with supply, season and grade, meaning that the cost can change by the day. Usually though, asking the server when ordering will give you an idea of the price.
As the video gained more and more attention on Instagram, people were divided in the comments. Viewer @aidoniouss said: "$160 for three people? That's a pretty good deal lmoa."
While @laetitiablt wrote: "People saying $50 a steak is normal... are you ok? In a very expensive restaurant sure, but no, it is NOT normal."
Generally, menu prices for steaks vary depending on the location. Casual chains can charge as low as $13-18 for a steak, while fine-dining chains average closer to $54 for an 8-20 oz cut.
"I first posted on Instagram and then on TikTok," Menold said. "I was definitely surprised how well the video did giving the fact that I filmed and posted the video with no effort, just for fun."
In the end, the girls were lucky enough not to have to pay for the bill. "Our grandpa ended up paying for it which was so sweet of him," Menold explained.
This isn't the first time someone was left stunned by a big restaurant bill. Earlier this year a dad shared online how he was stunned by a Disneyland breakfast bill.
He agreed to take his kids for a "Princess Breakfast" but wasn't prepared for the bill at the Disneyland Resort in California. In the X post, he revealed the $937.65 bill, with the total including a $150 tip.
Meanwhile another man was surprised when he looked at a restaurant receipt that caused quite a shock. When he looked at the bill, he was shocked by a $5 "bitching fee" had been added to the receipt.
"Honestly, I thought it was hilarious. In fact, it was probably the funniest thing that happened that night. I passed the receipt around the table so everybody could get a good laugh," the man told Newsweek.
At the time, he didn't think anything notable happened, except for the waitress mixing up his beer order, but when he asked for the correct beer it was clear the team had noted the request.
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