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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be annoyed that we were going to be charged for extra butter?

201 replies

NotEnoughTime · 03/12/2019 11:54

I went out for lunch on Sunday with my DH (a very rare occurence). We went to a restaurant that we have been going to for years. We go there on special occasions ie birthdays, anniversaries etc. It usually costs around £60-70 for lunch for two with no alcoholic drinks.

Anyway, we ordered soup for our started and we were given bread with this. We used the (small amount of) butter and then asked for some more butter. We were then told we could have some more butter but we would be charged a £1 for it! I thought this was very strange. Has anyone else ever been charged extra for butter? The waitress insisted this was common practise but I have never come across it before. I know it was only a £1 but I thought it was very mean.

OP posts:

Choclips · 04/12/2019 18:49

I would pay for starter and express that I'm not going ahead with further courses because I'm no fool .
I'd also add that I'd never heard such shite in all my life and that I'm from the real word.

SunshineCake · 04/12/2019 18:53

Maybe the manager charges a pound as they would feel silly charging the pennies that maybe the butter costs.

DH and I had lunch out yesterday and spent just over £68. We had two drinks each and a three course meal and for the first time DH didn't leave a tip. The food was lovely but we had to wait too long to order our meals and then spent too long trying to catch the waitresses eyes when we wanted the second drink and to see the dessert menu. When she brought it I asked her to wait while I looked and said we'd decide quick. I just couldn't face another ten minutes of waiting. There were 6 or seven tables and two waitresses serving. She asked at the end if everything had been okay and he just said yes as felt too late by then. I'm going to remind him to do a review as I found no soap in one of the dispensers and the loo roll was empty.

Thinkingabout1t · 04/12/2019 18:55

Seems silly for a restaurant to be so penny-pinching when it's charging £30-35 for lunch without alcohol (fair enough for a celebration, but not cheap). Charging for extra butter just looks mean. For the sake of £1 they're wiping out the goodwill that they depend on.

vincettenoir · 04/12/2019 18:57

YNBU. I think that is mean and shortsighted of the restaurant.

namechangeididtoo · 04/12/2019 18:59

We asked to change from potato’s to chips once and they did this but when we got our bill we were charged for an extra portion of chips
We’ve never been back

fluffedupferretonsteroids · 04/12/2019 19:11

Surprisingly butter costs the restaurant money, mad I know same as coleslaw, bbq sauce (when its made) and all sorts of little things. They add up and can cost 100s, its then us chefs that get in shit because theres stock missing or high food waste.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 04/12/2019 19:11

You think thats bad! Me and my mates were charged a fee for using cutlery at a resteraunt in prague once! We were also charged because they put a basket of sauces on our table even though we didnt touch them just because they were put there

Pizza Coloseum by any chance ... ?

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 04/12/2019 19:26

Surprisingly butter costs the restaurant money

Yes and OP had already paid for a portion once. Why should she be charged a second time?

maddiemookins16mum · 04/12/2019 19:30

YANBU, they never give enough butter these days. I had a toasted tea cake in a cafe once and it came with one tiny square packet, you need (at least) two.

Gobelinoisawitchescat · 04/12/2019 19:31

@fluffedupferretonsteroids so does salt, pepper, lol roll and hand soap. I wouldn’t expect to pay for them.

cakewench · 04/12/2019 19:48

YANBU. I'd expect a charge in a cafe where profit margins are minimal (I'd still not expect £1!!) but not someplace like that. And before I get a lecture about my ridiculous expectations, not only have I waited tables once upon a time, but I've managed restaurants and understand the situation. I'd compare it cost-wise to the olive oil which is often available on request or already on the table at some establishments.

MargotB7 · 04/12/2019 20:07

I can understand them not putting lots out as it might get wasted. If someone asks for more it should be free as should gravy. It's not as if you were asking for more meat and veg.

Derbee · 04/12/2019 20:10

I wouldn’t go back, and I wouldn’t have left a tip.

I’d expect a decent waitress who would get a tip, to bring some extra butter and not add it to the bill. It’s clearly a ridiculous policy

MargotB7 · 04/12/2019 20:11

Yes everything comes of the profit but as a business you should also be concerned about your reputation.

Haffiana · 04/12/2019 20:24

So by the same token, can OP ask for a reduction in the bill if she doesn't require any butter with her roll?

Amazing, all these 'chefs' and people in the restaurant trade who know the cost of everything and have no idea whatsoever of the value of repeat customers and good reviews.

No wonder so many restaurants fail.

managedmis · 04/12/2019 20:27

Are you going to go back there, op?

GabsAlot · 04/12/2019 20:33

I would have told the manager/owner that i wouldnt be coming back-up to you if yu want to tip or not

FelicisNox · 04/12/2019 20:42

YANBU.

A decent restaurant would provide the correct amount of food and condiments as per cost.

As for the waitress bearing the brunt: I almost never tip. Tipping is for exceptional service not good, bad or mediocre and very few restaurants provide exceptional service.

I would put an email in regarding your experience, feedback is all.

Diva66 · 04/12/2019 21:32

Never been charged extra for more butter,

Original poster

NotEnoughTime · 04/12/2019 22:14

managedmis

No, we won't be going back. The whole incident has put me off the restaurant. It's a shame because we have had some lovely meals there on special occasions ie my 40th birthday, our wedding anniversaries etc but the trying to charge for the butter and the rude waitress has dampened my appetite somewhat. Excuse the pun. I could do with losing a few pounds stones anyway

OP posts:

DreamTheMoors · 04/12/2019 22:31

That was downright LOW of you not to leave a tip OP.

Punishing the waitstaff for some random policy is not the way to get your point across.

Makes you look petty & small.

JacquiG2 · 04/12/2019 22:45

A pound? £1? That's half a pack of best French butter at Waitrose prices!

Might be an idea to tell them on leaving that you won't be back because of this, It's mean imo. At the restaurant we go to regularly, they will dish up a pat of butter on request.

RightOnTheEdge · 04/12/2019 22:46

The OP has said a few times that the waitress was rude and "off" so didn't deserve a tip anyway.

I work in a chain pub /restaurant and they charge for everything. I hate saying people have to go back to the bar and order and pay for more gravy, coleslaw, bbq sauce etc. People look at me like I'm mad but it's not my fault!
Even they don't charge for butter though! I think it's actually the only thing I can give out extra for free.

I always need extra butter there too. I hate butter stingyness.

KatherineJaneway · 05/12/2019 08:40

@NotEnoughTime I'd definitely leave a TripAdvisor review if I were you. I'd want to know about the butter charging if I was planning to go there.

Justaboy · 05/12/2019 12:35

Amazing, all these 'chefs' and people in the restaurant trade who know the cost of everything and have no idea whatsoever of the value of repeat customers and good reviews.

No wonder so many restaurants fail.

Exactly! couldnt have put that better myself!

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