STK

olympia tennenbaum · 2025-02-08T23:30:04+00:00

Is anyone doing one of these shops this weekend? I have asked the scheduler a couple of questions and they tend to be not answered in a very friendly way. I had another question - the survey states that each person can order a draft beer, house wine or soft drink. The issues is, the beers appear to all be bottled. Also, and this will sound silly, does one ask for a glass of the house red? The menu has only wines by the glass and they are all specific (Pinot Noir, Malbec, etc.). I feel like the last time I saw house wine on a menu was a cheap happy hour menu at some mom and pop place. I wouldn't mind being able to order a glass of wine but the idea of ordering a house wine has me on edge lol. I'd rather get iced tea and not sweat a $$$ reimbursement over the wine I order. Thanks for any advice on this one. And just a rant, it really is frustrating when the schedulers are unhelpful and seemingly purposefully. We're expected to follow the instructions completely and outlay a lot of cash and sometimes just want some confirmation of the requirements. As per usual, the instructions have instances of differing information. And there are definitely warnings that if you don't get it right you won't be paid.

STK

February 11, 2025 11:05PM

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

I was thinking of SteveSoCal and how they have had some shopper get togethers in the past. I think this would be the perfect opportunity - meet, no one has to pay, everyone knows the drill!

I am completely down for a meet up shop in West LA some time! STK is kind of halfway between @sandyf and me

Roy's used to have an occasional shop where you could bring three people and it was a decent reimbursement. You had to say it was someone's birthday but they allowed you to order the signature martinis, so that always made a good shopper get-together.

I have shopped STK many times in the past in both the old and new location, back when I was fighting to make the reimbursement work. I would definitely not touch the food or drink before the pic, and could manage with house wine...

Sandy says:
I am going to opt out of this shop as tempting as it might seem. I am a cheap date and prefer a bunch of veggies to all the fancy stuff like steak and lobster. I thought they had one entree listed that I would choose but cannot find it in the latest round. I would get the pasta on the menu if it was my choice. And not a big drinker so house wine is fine for me....If they have this job again where what I like to eat is on the list I would be happy to go. Thinking my simpler choice would balance out the budget but it has truffles in it (which I tried once years ago and did not see why so many hankered for that) but the truffle pasta is at a higher price point than many other choices. Just not a surf and turf gal to quote some classifications. Take me to the corner mom and pop place and I am happy.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

February 11, 2025 11:08PM

@soonerself wrote:

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

How long did it take for your job to be approved? I saw the confirmation from my friends’ surveys but I’m paranoid something could have gone wrong. Having someone else fill out the survey was probably the most stressful part for me.

Thanks!

Mine was approved the next day. However, I think I was scheduled on the tail end of the Kona shops, while you appear to have shopped on the frontend for STK...i.e. they have some time to get the STK shops done since some of us still haven't gone. The available date for my STK shop was through 2/13.

I actually drove home and had my friends email me their pics and fill out their surveys during the drive so that there was no chance they'd delay or forget.

Ha ha, I also picked up my guests to ensure I’d have them for the survey.

February 11, 2025 11:09PM

@foodluvr wrote:

I wonder if this is for a competitor and not STK and Kona. Seems like it would be based on the weird guidelines and ordering requirements.

Nope, not a competitor.

February 12, 2025 03:09AM

@sandyf wrote:

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

I was thinking of SteveSoCal and how they have had some shopper get togethers in the past. I think this would be the perfect opportunity - meet, no one has to pay, everyone knows the drill!

I am completely down for a meet up shop in West LA some time! STK is kind of halfway between @sandyf and me

Roy's used to have an occasional shop where you could bring three people and it was a decent reimbursement. You had to say it was someone's birthday but they allowed you to order the signature martinis, so that always made a good shopper get-together.

I have shopped STK many times in the past in both the old and new location, back when I was fighting to make the reimbursement work. I would definitely not touch the food or drink before the pic, and could manage with house wine...

Sandy says:
I am going to opt out of this shop as tempting as it might seem. I am a cheap date and prefer a bunch of veggies to all the fancy stuff like steak and lobster. I thought they had one entree listed that I would choose but cannot find it in the latest round. I would get the pasta on the menu if it was my choice. And not a big drinker so house wine is fine for me....If they have this job again where what I like to eat is on the list I would be happy to go. Thinking my simpler choice would balance out the budget but it has truffles in it (which I tried once years ago and did not see why so many hankered for that) but the truffle pasta is at a higher price point than many other choices. Just not a surf and turf gal to quote some classifications. Take me to the corner mom and pop place and I am happy.

It was fun to be able to treat friends to dinner. I didn't adore the options that were required. Some were really good but others not so much, or at least, like you put it, not my first choice.

Not having to write a report was pretty nice though!

February 12, 2025 01:34PM

I'm chiming in a bit late but I did this shop with my husband and two friends two nights ago. I thought it was awesome! I ended up just having us each order a glass of one of the cheaper wines on the menu. Of course, it got a bit awkward when, after I ordered my glass, my two friends ordered the same one and the server tried to get us to order a bottle instead, which would have been more cost effective, and I refused. We ended up having a lot of food leftover too, that I took home and had last night for dinner.

As for the photo of the four of us, I was under the impression that the restaurant does not get it - it is just for the editor to be sure that we actually had 4 people in attendance.

I LOVED the shop, because it was, hands down, the least amount of work that I have ever done for a meal that cost $570. I still cannot believe that it was that much money - that place is way overpriced. Still, it was super fun and my friends were delighted and happy to do the survey after.

I noticed that, in my area, there were something like 10 of the exact same shop, and in New York, there were 20 of the same shop. My take is that these particular food items are not as popular and they are trying to get a lot of data on why. I would definitely do it again if it shows up in the future.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

STK

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine