It was a salt and pepper shakedown.
A diner who asked for pepper on his pizza at a restaurant in Italy was appalled after realizing he’d been charged extra for the seasoning.
The incident reportedly occurred at an undisclosed pizzeria located in the center of Bari, a seaside hotspot teaming with tourists, Newsflash reported.
The unnamed patron ordered a bottle of water, a beer, and two pies, upon which he had the waiter sprinkle pepper.
But when the bill came, the customer was shocked to discover that this seasoning service was not complimentary.
A picture of the bill, shared on Aug.9, showed that the customer had been charged a total of 38.50 euros ($45), including a 0.50 ($0.58) surcharge labelled “+pepper.”
While some defended the seasoning service fee as reasonable for an added accoutrement, others labeled the pepper tax “crazy,” calling it the latest incident in a veritable epidemic of tourist spots in Europe fleecing visitors.
Last month, a coffee shop in Oderzo, in northern Italy allegedly charged a customer an extra 0.10 euros ($0.12) for cutting her croissant in half.
The unnamed woman shared a photo of the bill online, sparking a tsunami of backlash against the java joint.
“You have to hate your customers to charge them EUR 0.10 to cut a croissant in half,” declared one critic. “A total lack of elegance, refinement, and empathy.”
They added, “They should bring hotel management students to your restaurant to show them how not to treat your customers. Pathetic.”
Another vented, “What a disgrace… just to cut a croissant!!!”
However, the coffee spot’s owner Massimiliano Viotto defended the questionable move, claiming that extra dough was to cover the use of an extra plate and napkin and for the “skill” required to cleave said confection in two.
Oftentimes, the ridiculous fees aren’t equitably applied either.
Last month, an undercover investigation by the city’s leading rag Le Parisien found that certain Paris restaurants are charging US tourists up to 50% more than local residents.
Following a series of complaints about the so-called tourist tax, the publication sent two reporters to a cafe on the heavily-touristed Champ-de-Mars with one dressed as a local while the other posed as a stereotypical American traveler.
The probe found that the “American” diner was forced to order the more expensive large-size Coke — while the Frenchman was given a choice of three sizes.
Also whereas the Parisian was given a free bottle of water, the undercover US citizen had to pay $7 for the small bottle of Vittel.
In total, he was charged €9.50 ($11.15) than the bona fide Parisian.
