Austin restaurants let diners name their price
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The migas taco at Nixta. Photo: Asher Price/Axios
Some of Austin's most acclaimed restaurants will let diners decide their own bill Wednesday, part of a global experiment in making dining out more accessible.
Why it matters: Dining can easily become a special-occasion expense. For one day, four Austin restaurants — Nixta Taqueria, L'Oca d'Oro, Lenoir and Comadre Panadería — will remove that price barrier.
State of play: The Paga Lo Que Puedas/Pay What You Can campaign comes from Norma Listman and Saqib Keval, the duo behind acclaimed Mexico City restaurant Masala y Maíz.
- This year, more than 100 restaurants across 13 countries are taking part, from Austin to Istanbul.
How it works: Instead of a check, diners get a blank envelope and decide what they can pay for their meal. Drinks are priced as usual.
- Everything else stays the same: Restaurants serve their regular food with their regular hospitality, whether a diner leaves $5 or $500.
The intrigue: Asking diners to set the price hasn't necessarily meant taking a financial hit.
- Masala y Maíz says its pay-what-you-can days have often generated roughly the same revenue as a typical service, while staff tips have been the same or higher.
What they're saying: "Not everyone has the privilege to enter these spaces easily, and making room at the table for everyone is a natural way for us to show up for our community," Lenoir said in a statement explaining why it's participating.
Between the lines: L'Oca d'Oro is already familiar with the model, currently offering weekly pay-what-you-can meals as part of its efforts to make the restaurant more accessible.
If you go: On Wednesdays, L'Oca d'Oro is open 4–9:30pm; Nixta 5–9pm; Lenoir 5–10pm; and Comadre Panadería 8am–2pm.