Restaurant charges 'thongage'
Restaurant charges 'thongage'
Restaurant charges 'thongage' | Northern Territory News | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia | ntnews.com.au
BEN LANGFORD, NT News
March 31st, 2010
A DARWIN restaurant is charging patrons $10 for wearing thongs while they dine. The "thongage" charge is announced in a sign on the door of John Spellman's Tramontana restaurant on McMinn St.
Last night Mr Spellman said the "campaign" was setting the tone for his "boutique" restaurant. "It's a formal restaurant - tablecloths, napkins. I wear shoes and socks," he said.
"There's actually a button on the register. I just put it on the bill - you don't have to argue about it. Two lamb chops, one thongage.
"Why not have somewhere in town where people can dress up and be decent ... a lady comes in dressed to the nines, guy's wearing T-shirt and shorts."
Spellman's notoriety grew early this year when he gave a group of diners $10 and told them to go do McDonald's. They had complained about the service and wanted to split their drinks bill.
The Northern Territory News was yesterday flooded with tales of stingy behaviour and poor service at restaurants, after a story of a cafe that refused to give a diner water with his meal.
Taking the cake for service was the now-defunct Charlie's restaurant. A diner said that she found a cigarette butt in a jug of water brought to her table.
When she complained, the waiter said: "So what? You don't pay for water." She explained she had already drunk some of the offending liquid.
"He gave us five bucks and told us to get out," she said.
"It was one of the most disgusting things I'd ever endured.
"I laugh about it now but at the time I was a bit shocked."
The incident happened two years ago. Charlie's has since closed down.
CUSTOMER DISSERVICE
A SIGN on the water cooler at Cafe Uno on Mitchell St says: "This water station is here for your convenience. We will refill when we have the time. We will only put ice in when we have excess ice available. Please do not ask our staff for ice. If you require chilled water and none is available at this station, please order and pay for bottled water at the cashier's desk."
DINER Claire Taylor bought wine at Christo's fish cafe at Tipperary Waters but was refused a glass of water. "Must buy bottled water. Disgusted! Won't go again," she said.
A CULLEN BAY Italian restaurant charged $32 for four prawns on a bed of wilted lettuce.
A GROUP decided not to eat at Indian eatery Garam Masala after being told the corkage charge was $6.
THE cafeteria at Royal Darwin Hospital charges 30c for a serve of soy sauce to go with a $1.20 dim sim.
