When They Know They Fee’d Up

A new ramen restaurant just opened up, and I was eager to try it. They had a lunch deal where you bought a bowl of ramen ($12) and got half an appetizer for an additional $3. I ordered the lunch deal and added tofu to my ramen for $2. Everything was DELICIOUS, but then the bill came

My bill was, by my math, supposed to be $17 plus tax and tip, but it ended up being $22. There was a $5 charge for “modification” at the end. I waved for the waiter.

Waiter: “Ready to pay?”

Me: “Hi, sorry, what is this $5 charge?”

Waiter: “Modifications are extra.”

Me: “But I already paid extra for the tofu. Where was this notice in the menu?”

Waiter: *Shrugs.* “It’s policy.”

Me: “Could you bring me the menu, please?”

Waiter: “Ma’am. It is our policy to charge for modifying the lunch deal.”

Me: “And I would like to see where that is written.”

Waiter: *Sigh.* “One moment.”

Eventually, the waiter returned with a smug expression and the manager, but no menu.

Manager: “Hello, ma’am, I understand there is a problem with your bill. I have removed the modification charge as a one-time exception.”

He takes the bill from my hand and gives it to the waiter.

Me: “Thank you, but I still want to see where it’s listed.”

Manager: “We have resolved your issue. My staff and I will not be engaging in this conversation any further. Please pay and leave.”

So I did.

I went back a few days later and asked the hostess to see the menu. After confirming that there was no notice of this charge, I took pictures of every page, found the restaurant on every platform I could, and gave detailed one-star reviews with my photos. The restaurant went out of business within six months.