I can only speak about my native United States. Indeed, QR codes are a thing, yet the high-end restaurants that are apt to list a menu item as Market Price are also places where there's an emphasis on service (along with the food/drink offerings and the atmosphere of the establishment). As of now, asking customers in such places to do that isn't considered appropriate. Certainly, that may change, as standards always shift over time.
Fine. So when the high-end server arrives to announce the high-end specials, he can tell you the market prices without prompting. Never have seen that, though.
I understand. But if they told you the price regardless of whether someone asks, it would address all the potential reasons weitendorf suggested about not wanting to ask. They're happy to tell me the specials. There aren't usually more than a couple of things that are "M.P.". They can go the extra mile and tell me those.
They almost always ask if you want to hear the specials.
They will however only tell you the price of the specials if you specifically ask, and if you don't ask they'll often not volunteer that information. I have on a few occasions 'screwed' myself by assuming that starter that was the special would be roughly the same price as all the other starters on the menu, only to get the bill and find out it was almost twice the price.
Yeah, I get it. They're not there to be happy. They're there to make the customers happy. Here is what weitendorf's concerns were:
weitendorf> but it discourages me from ordering them because I don't want to 1. ask the price (when you're with people you don't know well it brings attention to you possibly spending more than they would on the meal, and can make you come across as a bit overly focused on price/money - could be interpreted as rude or poor manners) 2. potentially say no based on the price and deal with related social vibes that might put off + come up with a backup on the menu 3. not ask for the price at all and be handed a surprisingly large bill. Some of the times I have asked, the waiter will have to physically leave to go check the price, which is also something I want to avoid.
Providing the specific Market Price when already there to inform diners of something like specials is a good idea, especially in higher-end places. Their service goals are typically focused on making guests comfortable and accommodating the obvious and less-obvious needs/wants. This seems like a complementary addition to those service ideas.
