In a bold move, East Kensington's Post Haste restaurant has adopted a pay-what-you-can policy on Sundays, allowing diners to choose their own price for meals. The concept is not entirely new, having been pioneered by Manhattan's HAGS, which offers a pay-what-you-can brunch every Sunday.
Post Haste executive chef Ari Miller was inspired after trying out the idea with his wife and discovering that it wasn't just about serving food, but also about showing the restaurant's commitment to its customers. After collaborating with HAGS chef Telly Justice on a successful pop-up event in November, Miller decided to roll out the pay-what-you-can model for Sundays.
The twist is that customers can only pay what they're comfortable with for their food, with every item listed at $0 and a line inviting them to contribute whatever they feel is fair. The policy applies only to food, leaving drinks outside of the deal.
So far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with Miller attributing increased interest on other nights as customers are drawn in by the restaurant's mission. He hopes that this initiative will not only increase foot traffic on Sundays but also help Post Haste connect with its community and make fine dining more accessible.
For Miller, pay-what-you-can is about expanding the reach of high-end restaurants like his own and rewarding customers for their time and interest. "We're fortunate to have lovely people coming into our restaurant, and part of our mission is to meet them at the restaurant and reward their interest with some notion of beauty," he said.
As Miller plans to continue this pricing model in 2026, it remains to be seen how the concept will evolve and whether other restaurants in Philadelphia will follow suit. One thing is certain, however: Post Haste's commitment to its customers and community has already sparked a positive reaction, and that's something to be celebrated.
Post Haste executive chef Ari Miller was inspired after trying out the idea with his wife and discovering that it wasn't just about serving food, but also about showing the restaurant's commitment to its customers. After collaborating with HAGS chef Telly Justice on a successful pop-up event in November, Miller decided to roll out the pay-what-you-can model for Sundays.
The twist is that customers can only pay what they're comfortable with for their food, with every item listed at $0 and a line inviting them to contribute whatever they feel is fair. The policy applies only to food, leaving drinks outside of the deal.
So far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with Miller attributing increased interest on other nights as customers are drawn in by the restaurant's mission. He hopes that this initiative will not only increase foot traffic on Sundays but also help Post Haste connect with its community and make fine dining more accessible.
For Miller, pay-what-you-can is about expanding the reach of high-end restaurants like his own and rewarding customers for their time and interest. "We're fortunate to have lovely people coming into our restaurant, and part of our mission is to meet them at the restaurant and reward their interest with some notion of beauty," he said.
As Miller plans to continue this pricing model in 2026, it remains to be seen how the concept will evolve and whether other restaurants in Philadelphia will follow suit. One thing is certain, however: Post Haste's commitment to its customers and community has already sparked a positive reaction, and that's something to be celebrated.
got me thinking... if they're charging $0 for food, does it still feel like fine dining? I mean, isn't the point of eating at Post Haste supposed to be about enjoying a high-end meal? 
! It's all about sharin' the love and makin' fine dining more accessible for everyone 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good deal, especially on Sundays when people are lookin' forward to a chill day out? 
. I think it's awesome that Ari Miller and his team are leadin' the charge and makin' a positive impact on their community 
. Can't wait to see how this concept evolves in 2026!
- I love how they're being transparent about it by pricing everything at $0 and leaving it up to customers to contribute. It shows their commitment to making fine dining more accessible to everyone 
. The fact that Ari Miller was inspired after trying out the concept with his wife just goes to show that personal touch matters too 