Couple Shocked After Being Hit With 400 Euro Bill After Popping In For 'Quick Snack'
Newlyweds Lindsay and Alex were left with a sour taste in their mouth when they stopped into a restaurant on their honeymoon for a 'quick snack' and were landed with a €400 (£330) bill.
The Canadian couple, who were visiting Mykonos, Greece, on their honeymoon, were left in disbelief when they mid-afternoon snack of one beer, one Aperol spritz, and a dozen oysters cost them an extortionate amount.
During their holiday, the pair got a bite to eat at DK Oysters, but it wasn't until after they were landed with the hefty bill that they were warned about the restaurant's reputation.
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Lindsay said: "We went to the oyster bar for a bite to eat and a drink. They immediately said 'do you want oysters?' They were very presumptuous.
"We said 'yes' and he said 'a dozen?' so we said 'yes', because a dozen is a typical order.
"My husband ordered a beer and I asked for a cocktail menu and he came back with the beer. But I had to ask again for a cocktail menu and he started rhyming off different kinds of alcohol he had, vodka, gin but I asked for a menu. I didn't know how it was so difficult to see what they had.
"He finally brought me back what they consider their cocktail menu. A laminated piece of paper with the types of alcohol listed but it didn't have the brand or the drinks, nothing.
"So I said fine I'll have an Aperol spritz because they clearly didn't have a menu that they wanted to give me."
Lindsay went on to explain that the waiter returned with 'comically large' drinks, and later tried his best to persuade them to order more food.
"He was very much lurking around the table the whole time. He was always around," she said.
"When we'd finished the oysters, he was trying to get us to have crab legs and thank goodness we didn't."
The couple saw the first sign of trouble when Alex went to the bathroom and caught a glimpse of the price list.
"When he came back, he said he thought he'd seen a menu inside that said it was $30 per oyster and I said there's no way," said Lindsay.
"We had already eaten the oysters so we thought 'oh God, what are we getting ourselves into with this bill?'"
When they had finished their meal, Alex was brought to a back room to settle the bill.
"They gave him the bill which was over $400. He was shocked and asked for a breakdown.
"They had a computer screen that they turned to him and it was all in Greek, but we don't speak – or read – Greek."
Alex ended up paying the bill after picking up a 'sketchy vibe' from the restaurant, and opting to stay out of trouble.
"He definitely felt intimidated and he's the friendliest guy so even if the bill was double he probably would have paid it to avoid any problems," said Lindsay.
"It was pretty crazy. I'm glad in hindsight that we didn't cause an argument or refuse to pay because it could have ended up worse for us. They know when you're tourists they take advantage."
Admitting that the experience gave them quite a spook, Lindsay said she and her new husband will certainly be making more of an effort to research the restaurants they go to.
"On holiday, we like to stumble in wherever looks good, we don't really research but we'll probably start," she said.
"I'm so happy we didn't go there hungry and order a proper lunch."
After leaving the restaurant, the couple were met by other local business owners who apologised on the restaurant's behalf.
Lindsay said: "Next door, a store owner said he was so sorry to hear that we went. He said he warns everyone that goes into the store to stay away from there and it doesn't represent who the Greek people are."
On Tripadvisor, DK Oyster's page is full of reviews from customers who have had similar experiences to Lindsay and Alex.
"DO NOT GO HERE!" warns one customer. "Absolutely disgusting behaviour from manager and staff. Cocktails are awful and charged €125 plus service for 2! Waiters made us feel very uncomfortable."
Another wrote: "Wish we looked at the reviews before! This place is a joke! 350 euros for 4 drinks!! I would definitely NOT recommend going here. Please save your euros!"
Despite the wave of one star reviews, DK Oyster has defended their prices, and even mocked customers who claim they felt intimidated.
Reacting to one negative review, they wrote: "Thank you for taking the time to post your review, but could you please clarify the exact reason of your disappointment? The prices you mention sound correct, so I would like to understand what the problem was."
Under another, they wrote: "Let me see if I got it right: You were abducted from the beach and shoved by force into a luxury restaurant."
DK Oyster has been approached for comment.
Topics: Food and Drink, Travel
Ali Condon