30 in 30 IV - VII - The Prisoner's Dilemma
Dresden Codak sort of inspired an idea for a gimmick restaurant. It would be called The Prisoner's Dilemma, and here is how it would work.
(If you're not familiar with Game Theory, or the Prisoner's Dilemma, read up on those before you continue. Or not. It doesn't really matter, you just won't understand why I chose the name.)
When you come in, you are paired with a random table in the restaurant. Everything works as normal, until it's time to pay your bill. Here's where the trick is - the table that got the cheaper meal has to pay for the table that got the more expensive meal.
Obviously, this would only really be marketed to rich people, and even then we'd probably have to put in some sort of limit - like the cheaper table only paying up to 200% of the value of their own meal. Otherwise, you might think you're big and bad ordering two $100 steaks, but when the other table orders Roast Suckling 3rd World Child for $35,000, everyone is going to be unhappy - especially the restaurant, who's going to have two tables skip on the check!
(If you're not familiar with Game Theory, or the Prisoner's Dilemma, read up on those before you continue. Or not. It doesn't really matter, you just won't understand why I chose the name.)
When you come in, you are paired with a random table in the restaurant. Everything works as normal, until it's time to pay your bill. Here's where the trick is - the table that got the cheaper meal has to pay for the table that got the more expensive meal.
Obviously, this would only really be marketed to rich people, and even then we'd probably have to put in some sort of limit - like the cheaper table only paying up to 200% of the value of their own meal. Otherwise, you might think you're big and bad ordering two $100 steaks, but when the other table orders Roast Suckling 3rd World Child for $35,000, everyone is going to be unhappy - especially the restaurant, who's going to have two tables skip on the check!