interesting, many good restaurants charge full dollar menu. Like 7, 9, 11. You never see something like 8.99 unless it is a chain.
Maybe b/c, they realise their clientele is:
1. Smart enough to do the rounding up themselves.
2. Want to look more sophisticated by showing they are not using cheap tricks to nickel and dime customers.
Good example. Perhaps they're trying to encourage you to tip in whole numbers, further away from your "mental anchor" than you would with a number like $8.99.
Maybe a $10 meal nets a carefree $2 tip whereas a $9.99 meal merits a meticulous $11.49 total in the customer's head.
Maybe b/c, they realise their clientele is: 1. Smart enough to do the rounding up themselves. 2. Want to look more sophisticated by showing they are not using cheap tricks to nickel and dime customers.