VENICE’S sky-high restaurant prices are almost as famous as the city’s miles of canals, with arguing over a bill in St Mark’s Square as much a part of the tourist experience as taking a gondola trip under the Bridge of Sighs.
But last week police were brought in after a group Japanese tourists were charged an eyewatering €1100 (£970) for four steaks, a plate of fried fish and some water.
The report shocked even the Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, who asked for the claims to be looked into immediately.
“We will thoroughly examine this episode, we’ll check to see if the complaint was made properly,” he tweeted.
“If this disgraceful episode is confirmed, we’ll do all we can to punish those responsible. We are for justice – always!”
The four Japanese men paid the bill at the Osteria da Luca and only complained to police when they returned to Bologna, where they are studying.
Local campaigners Gruppo 25 Aprile who argue for “sustainable tourism” and whose members include gondola builders, doctors and lawyers, have taken up the case, saying the greediness of the St Mark’s Square eaterie “undermines the good name of Venice and causes harm to all Venetians”.
There was also a suggestion Asian tourists were seen as something of a soft target.
Last November, Luke Tang, a university lecturer from Birmingham, was charged £463 for a meal with his parents at a different restaurant.
The week before, a Japanese couple was charged €120 for a plate of spaghetti with lobster, when they had expected it to be €8.
It’s not clear if the bad publicity will affect Osteria da Luca. The restaurant has shocking reviews on TripAdvisor, with 83 per cent of them describing it as terrible.
One wrote: “Overpriced and bad quality. Worst experience ever. Don’t go there. A waste of time. They just take your money.
Another said: ”DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel