I'm not going to pay a lot for this Muffaletta!

A soon to be published article in the International Journal of Hospitality Management reveals that diners spend more if the "$" symbol is dropped from the menu. The study, conducted by a group at Cornell University, found that menus with prices stated in plain numerical format yielded an extra $5.55.

According to the researchers the decision for restaurateurs to update their menus should be an easy one.

"Lead author and doctoral candidate Sybil Yang says restaurant owners would be wise to consider changing their menus. "Especially inside today's environment, where they are looking everywhere to squeeze pennies, this is really low-hanging fruit. It doesn't piss off the chef. You're not playing around with ingredients. This is incredibly easy."

Something to keep in mind next time you're dining out in these budget-conscious times.

Photo by mezzoblue on Flickr.