The $1 one was probably the tester - they do that over here to make sure the transaction goes through ok before they hit you with the big ones. If the $1 doesn't work it's easy for them them to pay cash and bluff their way out of the card thing. Anyone using a card for a $1 purchase should automatically set the alarm bells ringing  - might save a lot of costlier fraud later on.

Mesh
In my case, they didn't even have the card, but were able ot eat at Chili's.....  

My guess is that it was a phone order which only asks for the CCV number on the back to "prove" you're holding the card.  Usually, they want to see the card when you show up to grab the food but, if it goes through just fine and they're busy, they're more than happy to give you your bags and move on to the next person.
 
+1 with what Paulo said about the $1 test charge too.  I once had perfect credit and a Platinum Am/Ex card was one of the cards I had.  I had a pro take my wallet out of my front jeans pocket in a very brief window of time at a Macy's once.  Within ten minutes they had gone down the street to a jewelry store and spent $9,800 then never used the card again.  They knew what cards to use and not use, the amount of time they had available and how much they could use without a flag being raised.  Didn't have to pay, but never heard what happened and replacing the stuff in my wallet was a huge pain (plus I couldn't buy what I had spent time looking for - I was pissed!).