Watch out for this restaurant!

[critical]

I went to a seafood restaurant 2 days located in Phayathai about 150 meters from Siam City Hotel. We ordered 1 fish, 2 fried rice, 1 plain rice 1 Som tam, 2 bottles of water and a coke and our bill was THB 6500. The place didn't even look like it. When I first entered the place I asked the people to show me the menu and confirmed with them that the fish would costs between 500 to a 1000 baht depending on the size. Yet, after receiving the bill I was shocked and spoke to them about it to no avail. The best was yet to come, as I paid the bill the waitress walks upto us and says Mr. you also need to pay the service charges which is 650 Baht...I was appalled, yet had to pay it off. I even asked for a break up bill and they said it would not be possible, neither was a VAT bill so that I could put it in my expenses.

So, if you guys are in that area and want to go to this restaurant, be prepared!

[bobbyd]

by critical on Thu May 26, 2011 11:16 am
I went to a seafood restaurant 2 days ago located in Phayathai about 150 meters from Siam City Hotel. We ordered 1 fish, 2 fried rice, 1 plain rice 1 Som tam, 2 bottles of water and a coke and our bill was THB 6500. The place didn't even look like it. When I first entered the place I asked the people to show me the menu and confirmed with them that the fish would costs between 500 to a 1000 baht depending on the size. Yet, after receiving the bill I was shocked and spoke to them about it to no avail. The best was yet to come, as I paid the bill the waitress walks upto us and says Mr. you also need to pay the service charges which is 650 Baht...I was appalled, yet had to pay it off. I even asked for a break up bill and they said it would not be possible, neither was a VAT bill so that I could put it in my expenses.

So, if you guys are in that area and want to go to this restaurant, be prepared!

Say the fish was 1000 baht. That leaves you with 5500 baht for the remaining 7 orders, 2 fried rice, 1 plain rice, 1 som tom, 2 waters and a coke.

You most certainly itemized each item no doubt, when an extravagant bill of that amount arrived for a standard size order meal.

So how could they for example charge you at least 1000 baht (which they would have had to do to reach 6500 baht, 8 items total) for a fried rice plate and be able to answer you with a straight face, truthfully without losing face?

[surinfarm]

I believe I would have stood my ground...without paying the obviously exceedingly price {ripped-off}.
Allow them to call around the authorities, and see what happens.
A little less naivete would have helped in this situation.

[critical]

bobbyd, you are absolutely right and that's exactly what I did. However, after a strenuous talk with the manager and I asked a few times to give me a bill that clearly states what am I being charged for separately. I was told by the manager that this is the way we give the bill (bullcrap). I reminded him that when I walked in I was told the fish would cost no more than 1000 THB and how much am I being charged now? To that the reply was we charge separately for cooking it...I said I understand and how much is for the cooking to which he replies it's added in the total bill . I really didn't wanna make a bigger argument and fight as I was with the mrs. and a friend; hence, I paid the bill. Guess I was the bigger fool. But I still wanted to open this thread so that others are not as unfortunate as I was.

surinfarm, I know what you saying mate. But I assure you I tried my best under the circumstances.

[bobbyd]

Mate, put this phone number in your mobile, 1155. It's the tourist police phone number. Next time you run across an incident such as this, tell the restaurant staff your calling the police. T hen start to make the call. You can bet the restaurant staff will start saying, 'wait, wait, ok,ok'!!

[critical]

thanks mate, will keep this number saved

[sibley]

Welcome to the land of Smiles or should I say snarls and scams and the Thais wonder why a lot of people are giving Thailand a miss, you should have stood your ground. I was in Korat and the owner of a restaurant wanted to charge me 95 bart for a Leo beer when on the menu it said 70 bart, I speak and read Thai ok I showed him the menu with Leo 70 bart, when I gave him only the 70 bart he did not look happy and said he would get the police, I said up to you my friend and walked off, he did not follow me.

Two days later I want to the restaurant opposite with a group of Thai friends total bill was 3,200 bart it was good food and value for money, we go there regular now, the owner of the restaurant who tried to rip me off for 25 bart has seen me many times now and must be wondering why we never go for food at his restaurant, or maybe not who know how some Thais think ????

[critical]

Sibley, I hear you mate.

[emmale]

Thanks for letting me know. I was about to go there but now I have second thoughts.
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neato xv-11