Meals that leave a bitter taste

The bill brought a shock

When is expensive just too expensive?

That's the question that arose after Susan Pym's husband took her to London's exclusive Savoy Grill as a birthday treat.

The couple enjoyed a meal, accompanied by a glass of champagne at £12.50 a glass, and a half bottle of wine at £16.

But Susan said her birthday was ruined when the bill arrived stating that two glasses of dessert wine had been charged at almost £100.

Selection

"Throughout the evening we were asked if we wanted more wine, which we didn't, and then towards the end of the meal we said we'd have a dessert wine and she brought along a trolley with a selection of wines," says Susan.

"We chose one - just pointed it out, really - and she poured two very small glasses of dessert wine.

We also didn't know where we stood legally so we just paid it. Susan Pym

"We finished the meal, the bill came and to our absolute horror, we found that those two glasses of wine had cost us £98.

"My husband was absolutely stunned. We felt naive, foolish, angry."

But they also felt a bit embarrassed about making a fuss in front of other diners.

"We also didn't know where we stood legally so we just paid it," adds Susan.

That's understandable, because it's not an easy decision to make on the spur of the moment.

"If a customer asks for something during a meal and they're not sure of the price the restaurant's not under any obligation to tell them the price," says Sue Jones, chief trading standards officer for Westminster Council.

Reasonable

But even if they don't know the price, they should reasonably expect it to be in line with the other prices they had been paying.

"You expected to pay a reasonable cost for the wine and they are charging you a higher cost," explains Jonathan Woodroffe of solicitors Ashley Wilson.

Jonathan: Up to restaurant to take action

"You are saying to them 'I am not paying a higher cost, I'm paying what I consider reasonable', by looking at the menu, checking the cost of the lower end wines and therefore paying.

"It will be up to them to take action against you in the small claims court which I doubt, having spoken to their lawyers, they will do."

The Savoy Grill said it was sorry the Pyms were disappointed with the choice of wine and has offered two free glasses next time they dine there.

The Pyms aren't alone in their experience.

Bottle cost £800

Earlier this year, a couple had a meal at another posh London restaurant, Petrus.

They ordered a bottle of wine for £160, but were advised it might not suit their food. The sommelier recommended another bottle.

When they got the bill, they found the 1966 Margaux had cost them £800.

Again, they paid up, but the restaurant acknowledged there had been a mix-up and offered the couple a free meal.

Feelings

This experience is not limited to restaurants. It can apply to anything you buy.

It often arises at garages, when parts are put on your car which turn out to cost a fortune.

So what can you do if you're not happy with the food or service in a restaurant.

It's always best to make your feelings known at the time; if you've drunk nearly all of a bottle of wine before deciding it's corked, you'll probably get short shrift.

Send your food back if it's cold or not cooked; tell the waiter if he or she is rude or is serving you badly.

Options

When it comes to paying the bill, you do have options.

You can pay but make it clear you are doing so under protest - write this on the back of the bill. You can then try to claim back some of the money through the Small Claims Court.

Or, as Jonathan Woodroffe points out, you can pay less than the full amount, explaining your reasons.

Leave your name and address so the restaurant can contact you if it wishes.

It is a criminal offence to leave without paying anything, so always explain why you are taking a particular course of action.