Birthday Cake Tax?

Question

in Australia more resturents are making a sur chage on people that bring in there own cakes

eg--$5 per head "that eats the cake"

my boss/chef thinks it dumb "but he does not know how to make a cake to begin with any way lol"

do you think its ok to charge people that be that bring in there cakes? after all you dont go to the pub with your own beer

Answer 1

It's not called a tax, it's called a cutting & plating fee. I am all for them. $5 per person is a perfect charge. We charge that much to discourage people from wanting to bring in outside desserts. That is so odd that your boss or chef don't agree with a plating fee. We charge by how many people are in attendance, not how many people decide to eat cake or not.

I work at a restaurant and we have a fabulous pastry chef that will make fabulous, unique cakes for a celebration if given enough time (and went to do school to do so.) I hate when people bring in outside food to a restaurant. It's totally stupid. Then you want to use our tables, silverware, plates, want to be served, won't clean up afterward and don't think you should be charged. That all costs money to execute and you want it for free? Are you high?

Having their own dessert means that my table is not being used by guests who are willing to pay for desserts made in house. My server loses money & the restaurant loses money. Which is why I truly believe folks should be charged for bringing in outside desserts. We already get annoying requests from people for food restrictions and don't charge for that.

You don't take sand to the beach do you?

Answer 2

I've never heard of people bringing cake into an establishment like that, but I'm from Canada. It sounds similar to a government change a few years back that meant places that applied could now allow people to bring in their own wine for consumption with their meal. They had to have food, the wine had to be completely sealed before they entered. There is a corkage fee, meaning that the restaurant has to open it for you a charge a bunch of money. As well if you don't finish your wine you can take it home if it can be completely sealed with a cork again, and again there is a fee for that. Otherwise, you can't bring your own food/drink into an establishment that sells it. I've never heard of any where where you can bring your own wine by the way. The fee sounds reasonable, but weird that people would do it.

Answer 3

I've never heard of a place charging to bring your own cake in, either they allow it or they dont. And charging $5 per head that eats the cake is ridiculous.... if they wanted to pay that much just to eat the cake (after they have already paid for the cake itself) im sure they would have just ordered it from the restaurant itself. crazy....