I think the best thing to do would have been to laugh hysterically in her face, and then congratulate her on being a great comic. Then, sell her a steak dinner (regular price) to go, and cook her steak for her. Split the other steak among the staff, and there you go!

John, removing tongue from cheek.

I have simply got to figure out where your restaurant is, so that I can come in and people-watch next time I am in Seattle. (with reservations, ordering off of the menu, natch!) Clearly, it's way better than the Zoo.

What can one comment? I myself am speechless... and that in itself is a feat!!! I read your posts, respond: "that's unbelievable" AND THE NEXT ONE is even more unbelievable than the last.

GALLONS of Lemon Drops ALL AROUND!

are you making this stuff up? ;) and there we have it, truth really IS stranger than fiction...

Ok, the only thing I can come up with is there are places in China that do that. I don't suppose she was chinese? Other than that, I'm at a loss....

Excueeze me? Baking Powder?

I can't even believe that the woman had the gall to ask that question...

BTW, what exactly WAS your answer? Please tell me that you laughed your head of and finished off with a resounding "NO!"

Actually this sort of thing is fairly common in the rural parts of the US. I've had restaurants cook up fresh meat brought in fresh from the kill (either from hunting or from whereever) for me and other patrons. Once I was given two steaks and didn't have anywhere to cook it and the local cafe in Basin, WY had no problem with cooking them for me as long as I bought all the trimmings. They used to do it for hunters a lot at the resorts I've worked at (and the staff would reap benefit from this in the form of fresh venison and moose)

However, I think that it's fairly tacky to bring in meat you bought at a grocery store in downtown Seattle.

Actually, I once read a story about a bar and grill that took to letting patrons cook their own steak on the restaurant grill. Became sort of a novelty that customers came to like.

there has to be a suitable "plating charge" ... $50 ?

I have never posted before but I read your blog daily. I love it.

crazy this steak person. thank you for your stories. as an former waitress I am not surprised but I am amazed at what folks will do. thank you for your blog. xoxo

How do these people always find their way to you???

I swear, there must be a sound coming from your kitchen that only the morons of the world can hear...

Love the blog, keep it coming!

I used to live in a town that had a restaurant like RLR described. You went in and picked out your own steak, cooked it yourself and then thery charged you $30 for the privilage. The one time I went there I insisted on having them cook my steak because if it wasn't cooked correctly, it wasn't my fault (I never could master steak)

While I do think this is crazy, what's even crazier is the thought I had: "Huh. I wonder if I could get away with that at my favorite local restaurant."

You see, we live in Oakland, CA within walking distance of a great hang-out restaurant, where the people are really nice, the ambience is terrific, but the food is overpriced and not that great. Especially their beef, which manages to be fatty and tough at the same time. I like grass-fed steak and I pretty much don't eat any other kind of beef. So I never, ever order the steak at this restaurant. Is it possible that she was just being picky about her steak? I know, I know, she should have cooked it at home...

Beside being presumptuous and rude, isn't that against some kind of health code?

If not it should be.

...And then you....?
well don't leave us hanging, did you-or didn't you cook the show and tell steak??

Of course we would be willing to do this!

And at the bottom of their bill:

Liability Waiver: $5.00
Use of Kitchen: $15.00
Preparation Fee: $15.00
Personal Chef Service: $25.00
Table Rental: $2.00
Waitstaff Fee: $12:00 (+ gratuity of course)

Look on customer's face... priceless!

Back when I was working as a prep cook we had one customer who loved Fiddleheads and he would always bring some in in the spring to be prepared with his meal. Of course he had a deal with the owner. He would bring in a bushel basket full and it would be the veggie for the night,... and he would get the rest of his meal for free!

In San Diego - one block from my house - there is a restaurant of long standing in which customers grill their own meats - steak, chicken, hamburgers. One has to watch their own grill carefully because it has been known that some other customer might steal the perfectly grilled meat from under our own noses.

Please do tell....what did you say?

She could also be politely informed that due to health department regulations, you are not permitted to cook anything brought in from outside. After all, how could you control the length of time that the item was in the "danger zone" of temps, and due to liability, your insurance carrier also would prohibit this. What if the meat was tainted when it was brought in? It could contaminate your kitchen.
Besides her having complete lack of manners and sense, she is not a very smart customer.
I love your blog and it is a constant source of grins for me.
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Wanda