Restaurant sparks debate by charging diners extra for window seats

A popular Sydney restaurant is offering diners the chance to book a window table to ensure the best views for their experience – but they’ll have to pay $20 for the privilege.

Ormeggio at The Spit in Mosman overlooks stunning water views, and it first began introducing the surcharge last July, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The money is paid at the time of booking.

“We receive a lot of requests for window tables and the restaurant manager prioritises these based on a first-in first-served basis,” co-owner Anna Pavoni told the publication.

“A lot of customers were saying ‘we will only confirm if you can guarantee the window’. Now we are able to do it.”

She hopes other eateries will follow their lead, rather than just introducing extra charges on special events such as Valentine’s Day and Christmas.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgp4HXAAaTo/?taken-by=ormeggio

She said things like taking credit card details for bookings were once frowned upon, but are now completely normal – so she expects the same to happen with this too.

It sparked a mixed reaction, as Jeremy Courmadias, general manager of The Fink Group, which owns top dining destinations like Bennelong and Quay, was against the idea, adding: “We see tables as a gift and a right, not a privilege.”

It’s claimed more than 400 diners have already opted to pay the extra fee since it was rolled out last year. It’s thought it’s one of the first Australian establishments to adopt the practice so far.

It comes after a restaurant sparked shock last year by charging diners with children an extra tipping fee.

According to news.com.au, Wayne Hills Diner in New Jersey tells its customers “gratuities are appreciated”, but while adults are given the option, teens and children have to pay a small compulsory “teen-tax”.

One mother, Melissa, spoke of her anger when her daughter Bella, 11, was caught out with the wrong amount under the new rule.

“It’s not about how much she paid, it’s the simple fact that she didn’t have a choice,” she told WCBS-TV at the time. “So she was double tipping the server because she didn’t realise that they were actually adding the tip onto her bill.”

The pair claim Melissa wasn’t asked to pay a mandatory tip fee at all, when she visited on the same day.

Would you pay extra to get a table seat in a restaurant ahead of time?