Last Friday, two friends of mine celebrated their birthday at Radegast Hall, a biergarten in Williamsburg. Another friend reported to me that the final bill for their party included a $48 [correction $20] plating fee for the two dozen cupcakes that they brought to the bar. The fee was $10 per table even though they did NOT receive neither plates nor knives or forks to eat the cupcakes.
This morning, I read in the New York Post that some restaurants in the New York City are subtly charging customers for items that are usually complimentary like bread, butter and even ice. I wonder if the plating fee is a new thing to Radegast or has the bad economy has resulted in them charging dubious fees to get more money from diners.
A google search led me to a link on Chowhound where a party at a restaurant in LA was charged a "cakage fee" for bringing in an ice cream cake for a birthday dinner. That complaint was from 2002, so this is not new. The cakage fee was similar to a corkage so it was understandable. The server sliced the cake and put slices on plates. The very cool thing about cupcakes is that you don't need plates and you would need a knife if you wanted share a cupcake. For upcoming birthday dinners, I suggest asking the server and/or restaurant management if there is a "cupcakage" or plating fee beforehand. Hopefully, restaurants will not continue to charge diners for plating fees especially when they don't give out plates. Let us know if you find any other "cupcake-unfriendly" restaurants. Happy Cupcaking!
This morning, I read in the New York Post that some restaurants in the New York City are subtly charging customers for items that are usually complimentary like bread, butter and even ice. I wonder if the plating fee is a new thing to Radegast or has the bad economy has resulted in them charging dubious fees to get more money from diners.
A google search led me to a link on Chowhound where a party at a restaurant in LA was charged a "cakage fee" for bringing in an ice cream cake for a birthday dinner. That complaint was from 2002, so this is not new. The cakage fee was similar to a corkage so it was understandable. The server sliced the cake and put slices on plates. The very cool thing about cupcakes is that you don't need plates and you would need a knife if you wanted share a cupcake. For upcoming birthday dinners, I suggest asking the server and/or restaurant management if there is a "cupcakage" or plating fee beforehand. Hopefully, restaurants will not continue to charge diners for plating fees especially when they don't give out plates. Let us know if you find any other "cupcake-unfriendly" restaurants. Happy Cupcaking!
Comments
They refused to back down, and I never went back to that restaurant. So they lost a lot more than that 25 cents they were so worried about.
I do have to pay a surcharge to bring cupcakes into my wedding, but it's a flat fee, and I don't really blame them since the venue makes cupcakes, so technically I'm taking away their business (I'm making my own, and the fee is less than it would cost me to have them make them). And I was told about it upfront.
But checking in advance - well that's always a good plan. If you're a regular and good customer, the management might comp the fee. If you're not a regular customer - and it's a nicer place - I can't imagine you've be shocked to be charged.
But cupcakage? That's just ridiculous.
However, I can understand why restaurants would frown upon outside food being brought in...since they are losing out in your dessert order...and especially if they are providing plates and forks...cleaning the dishes off the table...and the dishes have to be washed...
Thanks for posting this...I will defiinetly check the restarant policy next time we have GNO!
I don't like being in the position of informing them, but I also understand the need to keep people from just showing up and using our tables and service.