A luxury restaurant in Beverly Hills has found itself at the centre of a social media storm after a diner shared a receipt showing a $110 charge for cutting and serving a birthday cake.
The fee was applied during a group dinner at Poza, an upscale rooftop restaurant located at the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills hotel. According to the receipt, guests were charged $10 per person to have their cake sliced and plated, adding an extra $110 to the bill.
The receipt quickly gained attention online, sparking debate over whether the charge was reasonable. While some argued that service fees for bringing outside food into a restaurant are common, others felt the amount was excessive and should have been clearly disclosed beforehand.
In response to the criticism, the restaurant publicly apologised, acknowledging that the guests had not been properly informed about the fee. The venue offered a full refund and invited the customer back for another dining experience.
The restaurant has since reduced its cake-cutting fee from $10 to $5 per guest and says it is reviewing how additional charges are communicated to customers.
The incident has reignited discussion around transparency in hospitality, with many customers saying they’re less concerned about additional fees and more concerned about knowing about them before the bill arrives.
