A family dining out in an Austrian pizzeria were left stunned after learning they would be charged €11 (£9.50) for sharing a single plate of food. This is part of a broader trend across Austria, where restaurants are increasingly introducing surcharges for shared dishes, often referred to as 'stolen dishes', 'thief's plates', or 'freeloader plates'.
Incident in Grieskirchen
The unnamed father said he had taken his wife and children to a popular pizzeria in the Grieskirchen district this month, expecting a routine meal. With the two children too young to finish a full portion of food, the parents planned to order one pizza for them to share. However, after scanning the menu more closely, they noticed an unusual policy: 'Our pizzas are charged per person', effectively prohibiting shared meals. With pizzas at the restaurant starting at €11, and prices rising to nearly €20 (£17.30) depending on toppings, the family would have faced a nearly €40 (£34.60) bill for two children to eat.
Broader Trend Across Austria
The shift has sparked debate across the nation, particularly in tourist-heavy regions such as Salzburg and Vienna, where the practice is becoming more widespread. Customers requesting extra plates to divide a single meal can now face fees of up to €8 (£6.90), though businesses can enforce their own charge, or choose not to apply any at all.
Restaurant Owners' Perspective
Restaurant owners argue the policy is necessary for their business to stay afloat. The issue often arises with larger groups who order fewer main courses than the number of diners, then ask for additional plates, effectively reducing overall revenue while still requiring full service. Ernst Pühringer, president of Salzburg's Tourism Division, said the trend has reached a tipping point. He noted that some businesses began introducing the charges after the pandemic put a heavy strain on the hospitality sector, adding: 'You have to reach a level of revenue that makes sense'. Similarly, Peter Dobcak, an expert in Vienna tourism and gastronomy, said in August that many customers had come to expect full service at minimal cost, putting additional pressure on restaurant margins.
Regional Variations and Discretion
Fees tend to vary by region. In Salzburg, diners typically pay around €4 (£3.45) for an extra plate, while in other areas the charge may be lower. However, many establishments say they still apply discretion, particularly when customers spend enough overall to make up for the service. As for the restaurant in Grieskirchen, experts say they were well within their right to impose the €11 charge. According to Heute, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce said: 'In Austria, we have a mandatory price labeling requirement. Everything that is on the menu is valid.'
Other Examples of Surcharges
Select Austrian eateries are also now charging a £1.20 'washing up fee' if customers choose a bowl over a cone for their ice cream. Two travellers from Lower Austria had been holidaying near Vienna when they decided to visit an ice cream parlour. The establishment seemed popular, with one of the tourists, named Wolfgang, telling Heute: 'There was a huge queue'. The pair entered the dessert shop and sat down at a table before ordering an iced coffee each and a bowl of ice cream. But after they had finished, Wolfgang took a closer look at the receipt and noticed there was a third fee charged. The receipt showed £6 for the drink, £7.30 for the dessert, plus a £1.20 'glass surcharge' fee. 'I immediately got up and asked at the counter if we had paid a deposit,' Wolfgang told the newspaper. The answer left the tourist stunned: 'That's how it is with us, for the washing-up,' the parlour worker responded. The worker explained that the charge was added as the ice cream was served in a container that needed washing, but if it had been dished out in a cardboard cup, then there would have been no extra charge. The owner of the ice cream parlour explained to the newspaper: 'We don't have separate table prices, we simply charge this surcharge – it's displayed on a sign in front of the shop'.
