Are You Being Taken for a Ride? This Café's 'Absolute Joke of a Surcharge' Will Make You Red with Rage!
- Replies 27
There's no denying that we all love a good breakfast from time to time. Whether it's stopping by a local cafe or whipping up something a bit more exciting in our own kitchens, it's a meal that always hits the spot.
But let's be honest – it isn't always the most budget-friendly affair. Sure, we all love to treat ourselves from time to time, but sometimes our wallets just can't handle it. That's why we love dishes like eggs, which are a great way to fill up quickly and cheaply.
That’s why this customer had a bit of an ‘eggsistential crisis’ (sorry, I had to) when they discovered an unusual fee on the menu of a local Adelaide cafe.
Sharing a snap of the menu with the highlighted surcharge and the meal, ‘Whole Hog’ circled, the diner wrote: ‘Why am I being charged $2 to have my eggs scrambled as opposed to other methods?’
At $27.90, the dish includes ‘Two eggs poached, fried, or scrambled’ with the scrambled option costing $2 more ‘per serve.’
It also features ‘bacon, chorizo, mushrooms, fresh cherry tomatoes, hash potatoes, baked beans, and toasted Turkish bread.’ If you order eggs scrambled, the price goes up to $29.90.
Other users were quick to share their outrage, with one describing the situation as an ‘absolute joke’.
Someone else commented and said: ‘Restaurants are getting more expensive it seems.’
‘What the hell, it’s already extremely expensive as it is for a big breakfast, wtf.’ a third said.
Another user invited a response from the original poster, saying: ‘Yeah I know it’s crazy expensive.’
‘Probably the last time I go there. But it is really good food and coffee despite the price. I was just really hungry for a big breakfast this morning so I caved.’
They claimed that this was the first time ever that the café has added a surcharge for scrambled eggs, clarifying that the eatery never used to charge the extra $2 for the scrambled option.
Here at the SDC, this is the first we’ve heard of a so-called ‘scrambled surcharge’, but apparently it’s not unprecedented.
‘It’s fairly common on a lot of breakfast menus in Adelaide. A lot of places don’t even offer scrambled eggs because it slows down the line,’ one user suggested.
Another said: ‘Extra labour and the place I work at does this. For poached eggs, they can keep a pot of water hot and boiling. For fried and scrambled eggs, they have to wash the pan every time.’
‘I should add that the $2 surcharge is probably more of a deterrent to make things easier for the kitchen than to actually pay for the kitchen’s extra labour.’
However a user pushed back on this, writing: ‘I’ve been a chef for 25 years and call b*******!’
‘Extra labour – that’s what chefs are paid to do.’ they explained.
They also pointed out the bottom menu item ‘Eggs Your Way’ which offers the same two eggs for $2 extra.
'Check out the “Eggs Your Way” $13.90. That’s the rip off! Two eggs may cost $1.60 (and that’s generous) plus 2 slices of toast may cost $1.30 (again, generous),’ they said.
‘It drives me nuts that places charge $14 for two eggs and two slices of toast.’
Members, cafés and restaurants are businesses run to make money, but the extra scrambled fee wasn’t only a ‘yolk’ to the customer, but to us too! So, how do you know if you’re being taken for a ride? Here are some things to look out for:
1. Research the restaurant/café’s prices and look at their menu online beforehand.
2. Check out their reviews and ask around to see if other people have had a good experience.
3. Ask questions and double, or triple check - never be afraid to ask questions at a restaurant or café.
What are your thoughts about this surcharge? Was the cafe well within their rights for adding it or was it a tad ‘eggcessive’? (again, sorry I had to) Let us know in the comments.
But let's be honest – it isn't always the most budget-friendly affair. Sure, we all love to treat ourselves from time to time, but sometimes our wallets just can't handle it. That's why we love dishes like eggs, which are a great way to fill up quickly and cheaply.
That’s why this customer had a bit of an ‘eggsistential crisis’ (sorry, I had to) when they discovered an unusual fee on the menu of a local Adelaide cafe.
Sharing a snap of the menu with the highlighted surcharge and the meal, ‘Whole Hog’ circled, the diner wrote: ‘Why am I being charged $2 to have my eggs scrambled as opposed to other methods?’
At $27.90, the dish includes ‘Two eggs poached, fried, or scrambled’ with the scrambled option costing $2 more ‘per serve.’
It also features ‘bacon, chorizo, mushrooms, fresh cherry tomatoes, hash potatoes, baked beans, and toasted Turkish bread.’ If you order eggs scrambled, the price goes up to $29.90.
Other users were quick to share their outrage, with one describing the situation as an ‘absolute joke’.
Someone else commented and said: ‘Restaurants are getting more expensive it seems.’
‘What the hell, it’s already extremely expensive as it is for a big breakfast, wtf.’ a third said.
Another user invited a response from the original poster, saying: ‘Yeah I know it’s crazy expensive.’
‘Probably the last time I go there. But it is really good food and coffee despite the price. I was just really hungry for a big breakfast this morning so I caved.’
They claimed that this was the first time ever that the café has added a surcharge for scrambled eggs, clarifying that the eatery never used to charge the extra $2 for the scrambled option.
Here at the SDC, this is the first we’ve heard of a so-called ‘scrambled surcharge’, but apparently it’s not unprecedented.
‘It’s fairly common on a lot of breakfast menus in Adelaide. A lot of places don’t even offer scrambled eggs because it slows down the line,’ one user suggested.
Another said: ‘Extra labour and the place I work at does this. For poached eggs, they can keep a pot of water hot and boiling. For fried and scrambled eggs, they have to wash the pan every time.’
‘I should add that the $2 surcharge is probably more of a deterrent to make things easier for the kitchen than to actually pay for the kitchen’s extra labour.’
However a user pushed back on this, writing: ‘I’ve been a chef for 25 years and call b*******!’
‘Extra labour – that’s what chefs are paid to do.’ they explained.
They also pointed out the bottom menu item ‘Eggs Your Way’ which offers the same two eggs for $2 extra.
'Check out the “Eggs Your Way” $13.90. That’s the rip off! Two eggs may cost $1.60 (and that’s generous) plus 2 slices of toast may cost $1.30 (again, generous),’ they said.
‘It drives me nuts that places charge $14 for two eggs and two slices of toast.’
Key Takeaways
- A customer in Adelaide was charged an extra $2 for their eggs to be scrambled at a local cafe
- The additional fee was questioned by the customer, who took to Reddit to vent their frustration
- Some Redditors offered possible explanations for the fee, while one user called it a ‘rip off’.
Members, cafés and restaurants are businesses run to make money, but the extra scrambled fee wasn’t only a ‘yolk’ to the customer, but to us too! So, how do you know if you’re being taken for a ride? Here are some things to look out for:
1. Research the restaurant/café’s prices and look at their menu online beforehand.
2. Check out their reviews and ask around to see if other people have had a good experience.
3. Ask questions and double, or triple check - never be afraid to ask questions at a restaurant or café.
What are your thoughts about this surcharge? Was the cafe well within their rights for adding it or was it a tad ‘eggcessive’? (again, sorry I had to) Let us know in the comments.