By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A GEMBROOK restaurant accused of surprising guests with an add-on cakeage charge – for cutting their store-purchased birthday surprise – has branded the claims as false.
A woman celebrating her 29th birthday at the restaurant at the start of this month told the Gazette (Pricey Slice Takes The Cake, Gazette, 11 February) that waiters only made her aware that serving the cake supplied by her sister-in-law would incur a $2-per-person charge as she was blowing out the birthday candles.
But the restaurant owner, who has asked not to be named, said the party-goers were told of the charge before they were seated.
“They were informed of the charge before we cut the cake, it’s not true they were told when they were blowing the candles,” he said.
“Cakeage is a standard charge these days in many restaurants and often at $3.50 per person minimum.
“Our charge is reasonable at $2 per person.”
He said the restaurant often provides cream, compote or fresh fruit on the side of store-purchased cakes which is an added expense to the business.
“We always do something to complement the cake.”
The owner said the claims were particularly hurtful considering the new restaurant’s commitment to supporting other businesses in the area.
“We always wanted the restaurant to be a welcoming restaurant for every member of the community,” he said.
“At the moment we are using local produce like lemons and potatoes from Gembrook, apples from Officer, organic vegetables, berries and stone fruit from Monbulk and Woori Yallock, asparagus, eggs, corn, tomato and onions from Kooweerup and 80 per cent of our wine list is local.”
The birthday group made of eight adults and three children were charged $16 in cakeage which made up its total bill at $247.50.
The woman said her group did not raise concerns about the charge at the time because the restaurant was busy.
However, the owner said that was not the case.
“When they left we weren’t busy at all, so it was no excuse to say they didn’t mention it because of that,” he said.
“I remember pretty much every party that comes to the restaurant, the kitchen is completely open and that gives us the opportunity to interact with customers and see what’s going on in the restaurant.”
He said the people in the group were told they could take the cake away if they didn’t want to pay the cakeage fee.
