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Was I in the wrong?
I was having brunch with one of my friends at one of the more chic places in Brussels(privately operated) - I don't want to put them in a bad light, so never mind where. The final bill came to 33 EUR which I think was a decent size order for the establishment, eg. 2 full meals. In the breakfast menu it was listed that coffee was included, but when I asked the waitress if we could have a refill of the coffee(after the small cup was emptied) or we would have to pay extra for that, eg. standard rate for a coffee 3.20 EUR, she said, we would have to pay extra. I complained and said I found that a bit unreasonable if the menu says coffee is included and that I thought it was a bit cheap to refuse a refill of something that came out from a coffee dispensing machine, but she said, it is not me who makes the rules, etc, go speak to my boss etc etc. I mentioned then I actually, I had some time back been given a free refill of coffee by that very boss at this place(who was not in she said)
Anyhow the bill was settled and we left without leaving a tip. Who was reasonable here? I think that to pay 3.20 Eur for an extra cup of coffee when you have already paid for 2 full fairly expensive meals and the menu says coffee is included is petty. Any views?
PS: Fee free to flame me
Phew! What an R n B fiasco this has been ;)
The bottomless cup in North America is filter coffee. You rarely get filter coffee in a bar or restaurant in Belgium (or most European countries), but coffee made with an espresso machine & freshly ground beans. Even in North America that type of coffee does not come in a bottomless cup... You can hardly blame the waitress for not giving you free coffee. Did you expect her to pay it out of her own pocket (I doubt your tip would cover the two coffees...) Just remember that different country, different rules. And indeed, if you are not happy with the service (bar, restaurant, shop,...) take your business elsewhere, and make it clear to them! Customers do have a say.
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