Many have been there: They’re happily out to dinner when suddenly they get a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach. The realization hits as they peruse the menu that this is about to be a very expensive meal.
Posting multiple TikToks from across Europe, Elizabeth (@lizkggg) is thrilled with the beaches, the shopping, and the gelato. As a student on a study-abroad summer, she’s making the most of her time on the continent. In turn, it’s occasionally making the most of her.
In a post highlighting a recent dining dilemma, Elizabeth says, “OK, I’m at dinner, and I’ve never seen this before.”
A clue is given in the text she’s added to the screen. It reads, “Me before I realize I cannot afford this dinner.”
Peering over the tops of her sunglasses, she holds the menu up while saying, “I’ve never seen this, ever. Adorable, right?”
Then she flips it open, and a screen is visible. She immediately quips, “It’s an iPad, my new iPad.”
She’s arrived at the conclusion that dinner is going to be très chère (very expensive) due to the fancy digital menu.
So How Much Is The Meal?
Some are interested in the price of the meal. Others are curious where the eatery is, and some tell their own stories of social and fiscal woe.
“Is this by any chance nice?” asks Grace (@lacegraceh), and it’s not clear if she means Nice, the city in southern France, or if it’s a nice place to eat.
Then Kaitlyn (@kaitlynnnnnnnnx) mentions a place she went to in Manchester, England. She says she ordered a shot and walked out. She accompanies the comment with a photograph of the bar’s menu. Shots of Bacardi start at 190 pounds (about 250 U.S. dollars).
Studying The French And Italian Rivieras
Study abroad is one of the greatest opportunities offered in college—and not just because you can breathe the same air as Michelangelo or form an opinion on Picasso’s later works in person. Living in other countries helps you experience other ways to live. Plus, European pastries are phenomenal.
For Elizabeth, who is traveling around parts of the French and Italian Rivieras, the lesson seems to be one of good living. In the video, where she couldn’t afford dinner, she’s in Nice, France, the unofficial capital of the French Riviera. Not a bad place to be if you can get there.
Though she doesn’t detail her adventures there, veteran travelers suggest several not-to-miss attractions in the seaside city. Walking is free in Europe. In Nice, walk along the Promenade des Anglais toward Castle Hill. Climb to the top for wonderful views of the coastline.
For a cultural take on the area, head into Antibes, which is about 20 minutes away. Explore the forts or the Picasso Museum. When you’re ready for a break, grab a coffee and people watch. Then, take a page out of Elizabeth’s book, and head back to Nice for a drink and a bite at Castel Plage, le restaurant.
Unlike Elizabeth, don’t be put off by the high-tech menu. Though not a budget find, the prices are manageable: 15€ for a Limoncello Spritz and 26€ for a Caesar salad. The salad is among the least expensive items on a menu that also offers a 140€ caviar starter.
But salad for dinner seems like a small price to pay for days spent exploring islands and some of the most elegant cities in Europe.
BroBible reached out to Elizabeth via email and with a TikTok direct message. We’ll update this if she tells us what she ended up doing for dinner.