Behind the menu—Something’s off with this Sydney restaurant’s deliveries
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If you’ve ever found yourself craving a piping hot pizza and decided to order through Uber Eats, you might want to double-check what you’re actually paying for.
A recent revelation from Sydney’s Northern Beaches has left locals scratching their heads—and their wallets—after a popular Italian restaurant was exposed for a sneaky pricing trick that’s left many diners feeling short-changed.
Let’s set the scene: Valentine Woodfire Pizzeria in Narraweena is a beloved local spot, known for its delicious woodfired pizzas.
But when one eagle-eyed customer took to the Northern Beaches Community Facebook group, they revealed a surprising discovery about the restaurant’s Uber Eats menu.
While the pizzeria itself only makes one size of pizza—a generous 13-inch ‘family size’—the Uber Eats listing offered three different sizes: medium, large, and family, each with a different price tag.
The catch? No matter which size you ordered, you’d receive the exact same pizza every time.
'It’s either genius or a glitch with a PhD in sneaky,' the local wrote, sharing screenshots of the menu. The prices ranged from $24.90 for a medium Potenza pizza, up to $29.90 for the so-called ‘family size’, a full $6 more than the $23.90 you’d pay if you ordered directly from the restaurant’s own takeaway menu.
The customer only discovered the ruse after ordering a mix of sizes and noticing that every pizza was identical.
A quick phone call to the restaurant confirmed the truth: 'Yep, turns out there’s only one size after all!' Despite the confusion, the poster was quick to add that they still supported the local business, praising the quality of the food.
But not everyone was so forgiving. The Facebook post quickly filled with comments from outraged locals, some calling for the business to be reported to Fair Trading, while others pointed the finger at Uber Eats for allowing such discrepancies.
Also read: ‘I want to sleep with you’: Woman shares terrifying experience with food delivery driver
'This is outrageous,' one commenter fumed. 'Don’t go there if they are that dishonest. So wrong!!!' Another urged, 'Report to fair trading, scammy and scummy.'
However, a number of savvy diners pointed out that this isn’t an isolated incident. Many restaurants on delivery apps inflate prices or list phantom sizes, and it’s not always clear who’s to blame—Uber Eats or the restaurant itself. Uber Eats, for their part, confirmed that restaurants independently control their menu pricing on the platform.
This isn’t just a Sydney problem, either. Across Australia, more and more diners are noticing that ordering through delivery apps can cost significantly more than ordering direct.
Not only are there delivery and service fees, but menu items themselves are often marked up. One commenter shared, 'It saved us almost $40 the other day to order directly from the business rather than through the Uber Eats app…'
Also read: ‘It really is that simple’: How a kind message scored a free treat on Uber Eats
So, what’s really going on here? Is it a deliberate scam, a technical glitch, or just a symptom of the modern food delivery landscape? The answer is a bit of all three.
While some restaurants may be taking advantage of the system, others might simply be struggling to keep up with the complexities of managing multiple menus across different platforms.
And with delivery apps taking a hefty commission—sometimes up to 30%—it’s no wonder some businesses try to recoup costs where they can.
Read next: Could this Uber glitch leave you stranded? What every Aussie needs to know before their next ride
Have you ever been caught out by a sneaky menu trick on a delivery app? Do you always order direct, or do you find the convenience of apps worth the extra cost? We’d love to hear your stories, tips, and tricks for getting the best value when ordering in. Share your experiences in the comments below!
A recent revelation from Sydney’s Northern Beaches has left locals scratching their heads—and their wallets—after a popular Italian restaurant was exposed for a sneaky pricing trick that’s left many diners feeling short-changed.
Let’s set the scene: Valentine Woodfire Pizzeria in Narraweena is a beloved local spot, known for its delicious woodfired pizzas.
But when one eagle-eyed customer took to the Northern Beaches Community Facebook group, they revealed a surprising discovery about the restaurant’s Uber Eats menu.
While the pizzeria itself only makes one size of pizza—a generous 13-inch ‘family size’—the Uber Eats listing offered three different sizes: medium, large, and family, each with a different price tag.
The catch? No matter which size you ordered, you’d receive the exact same pizza every time.
A Sydney pizzeria has been caught offering three different pizza sizes on Uber Eats, but actually only makes one size in-store, resulting in customers paying more for the same item. Image source: Robert Anasch / Unsplash.
'It’s either genius or a glitch with a PhD in sneaky,' the local wrote, sharing screenshots of the menu. The prices ranged from $24.90 for a medium Potenza pizza, up to $29.90 for the so-called ‘family size’, a full $6 more than the $23.90 you’d pay if you ordered directly from the restaurant’s own takeaway menu.
The customer only discovered the ruse after ordering a mix of sizes and noticing that every pizza was identical.
A quick phone call to the restaurant confirmed the truth: 'Yep, turns out there’s only one size after all!' Despite the confusion, the poster was quick to add that they still supported the local business, praising the quality of the food.
But not everyone was so forgiving. The Facebook post quickly filled with comments from outraged locals, some calling for the business to be reported to Fair Trading, while others pointed the finger at Uber Eats for allowing such discrepancies.
Also read: ‘I want to sleep with you’: Woman shares terrifying experience with food delivery driver
'This is outrageous,' one commenter fumed. 'Don’t go there if they are that dishonest. So wrong!!!' Another urged, 'Report to fair trading, scammy and scummy.'
However, a number of savvy diners pointed out that this isn’t an isolated incident. Many restaurants on delivery apps inflate prices or list phantom sizes, and it’s not always clear who’s to blame—Uber Eats or the restaurant itself. Uber Eats, for their part, confirmed that restaurants independently control their menu pricing on the platform.
This isn’t just a Sydney problem, either. Across Australia, more and more diners are noticing that ordering through delivery apps can cost significantly more than ordering direct.
Not only are there delivery and service fees, but menu items themselves are often marked up. One commenter shared, 'It saved us almost $40 the other day to order directly from the business rather than through the Uber Eats app…'
Also read: ‘It really is that simple’: How a kind message scored a free treat on Uber Eats
So, what’s really going on here? Is it a deliberate scam, a technical glitch, or just a symptom of the modern food delivery landscape? The answer is a bit of all three.
While some restaurants may be taking advantage of the system, others might simply be struggling to keep up with the complexities of managing multiple menus across different platforms.
And with delivery apps taking a hefty commission—sometimes up to 30%—it’s no wonder some businesses try to recoup costs where they can.
Read next: Could this Uber glitch leave you stranded? What every Aussie needs to know before their next ride
Have you ever been caught out by a sneaky menu trick on a delivery app? Do you always order direct, or do you find the convenience of apps worth the extra cost? We’d love to hear your stories, tips, and tricks for getting the best value when ordering in. Share your experiences in the comments below!
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