Many expensive restaurants don’t put dollar signs on their menus. This is said to make expensive menu items psychologically easier to order.
     
“If the menu doesn’t have dollar signs in the price, it’s too expensive. #fb” was posted on Twitter by Chris Colvin on August 22, 2009. “If the menu doesn’t have dollar signs by the prices, it’s too expensive” was posted on Twitter by Jay Martin on May 4, 2013. “You know the food is expensive when the menu has no $ sign” was posted on Reddit—Showerthoughts on January 16, 2022.
   
         
Twitter
Chris Colvin
@mistercolvin
If the menu doesn’t have dollar signs in the price, it’s too expensive. #fb
10:17 PM · Aug 22, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
Mitch Kapor
@mkapor
Menu psychology: people order more expensive dishes when menus list prices without dollar signs (9 vs. $9) http://bit.ly/7VRfON
10:59 AM · Dec 24, 2009·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
Kieran Murphy
@Kieran_Murphy
@JOY949 Apparently if you put prices on a menu but leave out the dollar sign people are more likely to buy expensive meals.
5:29 PM · Oct 14, 2012·Tweetbot for iOS
   
Twitter
Jay Martin
@Jay__Martin
If the menu doesn’t have dollar signs by the prices, it’s too expensive.
6:57 PM · May 4, 2013·Twitter for Android
     
Twitter
jesso
@jessthestresss
Dad: the menu doesn’t have dollar signs, just numbers. That’s when you know it’s a pricey place.
#dadlogic
3:44 PM · Nov 22, 2013·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
jesso
@jessthestresss
If the menu doesn’t have dollar signs, you know it’ll be expensive.
#dadlogic
4:20 AM · Mar 9, 2014·Twitter for iPhone
   
Reddit—ExplainlikeImfive
Posted by u/PlaidDragon January 6, 2015
ELI5: What’s with restaurant menus not using dollar signs?
COMMENTS
nomadbishop
As the old saying goes: “if you have to ask, you cant afford it.”
marypopsicle
class. It’s called class. Putting dollar signs on an upscale menu, is supremely tacky.
In the BEST restaurants, only men will be given menus with the prices. Women will receive menus that have no prices listed. (Unless only women are at the table).
     
Twitter
Jㅇ$ㅌ
@PakJinnwoo
You know a restaurant is fancy when it’s menu doesn’t have dollar signs
10:28 PM · Jul 2, 2016·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Visit Bat Country - We’ve skipped ahead to Psi
@JackLint1984
I can tell if a restaurant is too expensive for me if on the menu they leave off the dollar sign & decimal point.
12:42 PM · Jul 31, 2016·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
rach
@RachelTerry_47
i know a restaurant is too expensive for me if the prices on the menu has no dollar signs or decimals, just numbers
6:50 PM · Jul 19, 2017·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
zack
@zack_dogepilled
You know it’s a fancy restaurant when the menu doesn’t have dollar signs next to the food.
9:22 AM · Apr 20, 2021·Twitter for iPhone
 
Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/CoolCanBeans January 16, 2022
you know the food is expensive when the menu has no $ sign