re: Five of the Most Overpriced Foods on Restaurant Menus

I have to add in a wedge salad...what a ripoff!

I analyzed drink costs when I was running my own restaurant and I think people overestimate profits on soft drinks. If customers get 1 or 2 refills, the profits aren't as high as most people think. You still make money on it but it's not where you are going to make your money in a restaurant.

Analysis from a while back- costs on bag in the boxes may be different now.

There is around 3960 ounces served in a 5 gallon ($70each) bag in the box which puts the cost at $.02/oz ($70/3960) Most restaurants use 20 ounces cups or something similar. I would assume that at least 10-15 ounces of coke go into a cup. So @12.5(assume the middle) ounces per cup

1 Fill= $.25 + Ice (assume $.05) + Foam Cup & Lid-$.07(or diswashing fee for plastic/glass cup) + CO2 tank (assume $.005 per oz)= $.43 cost

2 Fills= $.50 + Ice + Cup= $.68 cost

3 Fills= $.75 + Ice + Cup= cost $.93

4 Fills= $1.00 + Ice+ Cup= cost $1.18

The only thing I didn't add in here is the cost of electricity to run the machine which would be hard to quantify and the cost of the servers to bring it to you. Restaurants do make money on soft drinks but I don't think it is as much as most people think after everything is factored in.