I debated writing this for a few reasons: I don’t want to single out a waiter or a restaurant, and I don’t want to get flack for being cheap, but what happened to me recently at dinner really left a bad taste in my mouth. I decided to write it though, because it doesn’t just happen at one restaurant. It happens at many and I was upset with myself for falling for it.
I was on a work trip at a beautiful five star hotel in California’s wine country and I had a lot of work to do so I skipped the event I was supposed to attend and grabbed a quick bite at their stunning restaurant overlooking a valley with countless rows of grape vines.
I told the waitress I wasn’t too hungry since I’d already eaten earlier and I just ordered a salad; it was amazing.
She asked if I would like some delicious homemade bread with that? I said, “Sure, I’ll try it.” The bread was good, but it was served with butter in duck fat. I’m sure foodies would love that but I’m a simple man.
The worst part was when the bill came. Instead of paying the $25 for an appetizer I was expecting, they charged me $9 for the bread. I was going to say something, but I didn’t for a couple reasons: One, I didn’t want to look cheap and two, the client gave me a food credit, so it wasn’t costing me any money. It was just the principle of the matter.
I know that at a hotel with rooms starting at $1600 a night during peak season, $9 is nothing. But again, it was the principle. The server should have informed me that there was a charge for the bread instead of offering it as though it were free of charge, as bread is at most restaurants.
Another thing I didn’t like about the restaurant is that when the check came, they had three options to tip: 20%, 22% or 25%. I really think it should start with 15% even though I tip at 20%.
It reminded me of the traveler who ate at a restaurant at Boston Logan last year and the waiter crossed out the two lowest tip options and circled the most expensive one, as well as the optional part.
There are actually worse tricks to fall for, especially when dining internationally, such as restaurants having appetizers already on the table when you sit down and you think they’re free. They do it in Portugal but if you eat them, you get charged. Same thing happened to me in the Czech Republic but with potato chips on the table. Best thing to do is ask if there’s a charge and if there is, asked for them to be removed before you sit down (unless you want them, of course).
There are also restaurants that will either hand you a menu with lower prices, but when it comes time to pay, show you another menu with higher prices when you challenge them. This is why I always recommend taking a photo of the menu or video. This happened to me once in Budapest, Hungary.
I also wrote about a restaurant in Greece that will charge an extraordinary amount of money for their market price. You always have to ask the cost. Cruise ship captain Kate McCue once shared her own experience being charged 616 euros for fish in Mykonos and reminds travelers that there’s “no shame in your game” to ask for the prices of menu items before ordering.
Another thing some restaurants and hotel room services do is automatically charge a tip and then offer another line to tip, making you think the tip wasn’t included. If you don’t look at the bill closely, as many diners don’t, you would miss this and tip again.
These tricks don’t happen often but when they do, they leave a bad taste in your mouth. What are your thoughts? Has this happened to you before?
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Agreed, these days you have to scrutinize the bill AND get a copy of the bill. I have had a different charge post to my account a few days later when it tentatively showed on my text msg as the correct charge. Thank goodness I had the receipt because I disputed it with AmX and AmX did state it is important to have receipts these days either get the receipt text or emailed if you do not want to carry it. I know make it a point for restaurant charges that are high or at nice places to ask for the receipts. At hotels if I am staying at the restaurant I prefer to have it billed to my hotel room so I can then see the charges when I exit. It is HORRIBLE that one cannot TRUST them to do the right thing. Another time at a Waldorf I had a very high tip added AFTER it was already added similarly to what you indicated. Today, I prefer to TIP for spa services in cash. I will call ahead and ask if this is permissible and if they say yes, I will ask when given the bill to remove the TIP since I have taken care of it. I encourage my friends to do the same to pay in cash for TIP. I prefer to pay even for restaurants tips in cash. I REALLY dislike the SNEAKINESS restaurants are pulling on guests. Thanks for sharing the other unscrupulous ways they are trying to put a fast one over the guests. Then, they wonder why MOST of us prefer NOT to return.
The bread charge is quickly becoming the new normal.
https://www.foodandwine.com/complimentary-bread-restaurants-11738407
You are absolutely right in what you said. You have to question everything at a restaurant now and if they think you are cheap..too bad. The tipping thing is way out of control since Covid. I’m sick of it.
August 10, 2025 – Hi Johnny. I assume all is well with you and your family, considering the fact that you folks are traveling all over the place.👍👍😊Sooo John.. is this an intended pun.. Restaurant tricks that “leave a bad taste in your mouth”?😁 It is a very interesting and informative article. I guess anytime something is offered in one way or another, (already on the table), is to ask if it is free, and bring a local lawyer with you to examine you bill.🙄🤨 Stay well Johnny, and safe travels.🤜🤛
Play theses games = get 0% tip and a bad review
Not relevant to tipping, but here is a restaurant in Mykonos right near the harbor, called Jackie O (not to be confused with another Jackie O closer to where the windmills are). We have been there twice and both times the SAME waitress shorted us on our change, because of course we are dumb tourists who don’t know a euro from a penny. Of course, she was apologetic, blah blah, but trust me this dual rip-off was not coincidence. I wonder how many people get fleeced on a daily basis.
It frosts me as well when I see the tip starting at 20% on the bill. I think it’s balderdash. It can ruin the experience you just had.
My friend went to Starbucks drive-through and when he picked up his order the person handing the food through the window said “Tip or Stiff?” to him. My friend was a bit miffed so he called me to tell me the story…
So true Johnny. I hate all the tricks that some places use. I definitely won’t go back. I had the same experience in Portugal. The locals know the appetizers on the table cost money, and at least at the restaurant where I ate, I was able to find it in small print at the bottom of the menu. Americans aren’t used to that so we don’t know.
I also don’t like when restaurants charge a fee to use a credit card. I always give them a 1 star rating on Yelp, explain why, and simply don’t ever eat there again. There was a restaurant I used to frequent several times a month for years. They started charing a 3% fee to use a credit card. I haven’t been back. We were spending almost $1,000 there a year (maybe more) and now they have lost our business.
Thanks for keeping us vigilant to these scams.
Wow they want to nickel&dime u ,crazy..I remember once they charged me for a baked potato wow..also I don’t like it when they charge you for a side salad!!
As an American who is fortunate enough to travel to Europe and / or South Pacific annually, I always get kind of a kick out of the tipping charge which is not done / expected in those areas traditionally except for Americans. In USA I’m most offended by tip being calculated on total bill inclusive of taxes. When I get that one I just recalculate based on non-tax amount and then reduce my typical 20% to 15%. Bread charge? If not part of listed menu item, I wouldn’t pay.
Being a bread lover, not sure that bread looks all that appealing, nor the chunk of fat served along with it….sorry that happened to you. Since most restaurants no longer server a welcoming bread, this happens more, even locally , than you probably think.
I travel frequently for work and eat way too many meals in restaurants, to the dismay of my cardiologist.
I tip 30% usually but I always review the bill and always ask when offered, is there a charge.