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The menu image that sparked debate over paying for condiments.\u00a0Faceboook\/EverythingSutherlandShire<\/p>\n
Commenters on community Facebook page Everything Sutherland Shire labelled the \u201csaltage\u201d charge \u201cdisgraceful\u201d and worse, \u201cun-Australian\u201d while some even threatened a boycott. <\/p>\n
Error or not, this would hardly be the first time a venue has charged for a condiment, nor the last. Many eateries have surcharges for condiments, including tomato sauce and tartare sauce, while at least one fish and chip shop in Sydney\u2019s eastern suburbs even charges extra for salt and pepper sachets.<\/p>\n
As debate rolled on, we asked the burning question in an exclusive poll of nine.com.au readers: Should customers have to pay for condiments, like sauces and salts, when dining out?<\/p>\n
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90 per cent of respondents to an exclusive nine.com.au poll said customers shouldn\u2019t be paying for sauce and seasoning additions.\u00a0iStock<\/p>\n
A resounding 90 per cent of the 1226 readers who responded to the poll answered \u2018No\u2019 while just 5 per cent said \u2018Yes\u2019. The remaining 5 per cent said it depended on the circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cDining out is expensive enough without having to pay for condiments and sauces,\u201d said one reader.<\/p>\n
\u201cCustomers should not have to pay for sauces or condiments regardless,\u201d said another.<\/p>\n
\u201cCondiments should never, ever be an added extra when dining out. Just absurdity to expect customers to pay more,\u201d wrote another.<\/p>\n
Some readers suggested venues should add the additional cost of condiments into the price of the dish.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would much prefer that restaurants increased costs of meals than start charging for condiments,\u201d said one.<\/p>\n
Others felt that with costs continuously rising, restaurant owners might be trying to find ways to \u201crecoup costs and try to make a profit\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, some argued that if a restaurant started charging fees for condiments, they would simply bring their own.<\/p>\n
\u201cCondiments [are] all part of the service, otherwise how can they charge you for salt grains or pepper?\u201d one reasoned.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think paying for sauce on top of the meal cost is a rip off. Should bring a bottle of tomato or barbecue sauce in my handbag,\u201d said another.<\/p>\n
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Many eateries charge extra for sauces and in some cases salt and pepper sachets.\u00a0iStock<\/p>\n
And this: \u201cIf a restaurant asked me to pay for condiments I would never go there again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Back at The Prince, chicken salt is no longer found on the list of condiments. However, Social House still charges $3 or $5, depending on if you are a member, for other condiments including salsa verde, tartare sauce, toum, spicy mayo and chicken gravy.<\/p>\n
Ben Auricht, group marketing director of Feros Group, which owns the venue, told nine.com.au chicken salt was the standard seasoning used on chips served at Social House and had always been included \u201cat no additional charge\u201d. <\/p>\n
He said they were surprised the issue had gained \u201cso much attention\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cA chicken schnitzel served with chips and salad comes with chicken salt as part of the meal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe confusion arose because chicken salt was mistakenly listed as a separate item in the condiments section of the menu. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis was a menu-entry error that was missed during the approval process and did not reflect how the item was being served at the venue.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we were made aware of the mistake, it was removed.\u00a0Our intention is to always deliver quality at value to our customers, and we work really hard to deliver this across all of our food and beverage offerings.\u201d <\/p>\n