An American couple visiting Mykonos, Greece encountered a horrible surprise when they were slapped with a huge bill for a small lunch. They fell prey to a common tourist restaurant scam that I’ve witnessed (and thankfully never fallen victim to) around the world. Here’s how you can avoid it.
Tourist Restaurant Scam: How To Identify And Avoid Wherever You Are In The World
It’s always the same. An aggressive man stands outside the restaurant or bar, cajoling passersby to enter. You somewhat reluctantly agree to enter. You’re asked what you want to drink. No menus are presented or if they are presented, there are no prices.
Run! Run!
You ask about pricing and are told not to worry about it, that prices are reasonable. So you order a drink. Next the waiter will show up and encourage you to order food. Still, no prices. Maybe a “specialty of the house” will be suggested. You ask again about prices are are told that everything is cheap.
The food arrives. It may even be okay. You eat it. Later, you ask for the bill…and then receive the shock of your lifetime.
I’m thankful it has never happened to me, but I’ve seen it happen in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East…and the old scam is making headlines around the world after a mother and daughter in Mykonos were handed a €598 bill for two mojitos and two crab legs.
When they protested the bill, the restaurant owner became menacing:
“I will call the police. They will keep you here and you will not return to your homeland.”
This restaurant is called DK Oyster. Check out their TripAdivsor page and you’ll see negative review after review after review. It’s always the same scam…and it is a scam. Defending itself on TripAdvisor, the restaurant said:
“However, we have often tried to explain the great cost of operating a business like ours. Would you ask Bugatti why they charge as much as they do? Would you ask all the luxury brands to justify their prices? You may opt for cheaper products and services. There is no monopoly.”
Lol. Right.
Here’s the amazing thing. Greek authorities investigated the business and found, apparently, that it is not breaking any laws. If that is the case, it seems to me a good reason to avoid Greece…or at least Mykonos. I wonder if the police are on the payroll?
When I was in Bethlehem, I thought I was running into a similar situation and only sat down to eat after negotiating for 20 minutes over pricing. The easier thing would have been to walk away, since there were no printed menus, but the sport of bartering was a bit of fun. Before the restaurant owner could hit me with a higher bill, I paid him in cash at the agreed upon rate at the conclusion of our meal. Thankfully, we were not blocked from leaving the restaurant!
> Read More: Negotiating For Lunch In Bethlehem
The solution is simple: don’t enter a restaurant or bar that won’t provide prices in advance, preferably on a printed menu. I’d go so far as to record the waiter on the phone explaining pricing if there really is no menu (and frankly, I’d just avoid the place altogether).
CONCLUSION
It’s very simple: don’t sit down in a restaurant or bar that will not give you prices in advance. There are so many scams around the world, but this is a common one and you’ll see it in the West, the East, the North, and the South. Be aware…unless you don’t mind paying €200 for a mediocre cocktail.
Have you been scammed at a restaurant or bar by the lack of menus?
I hope Kyle does a little more research the next time he takes his wife out to lunch.
You missed some key recommendations here other than just “don’t eat there). Depending on where you are, and Greece qualifies, being a western democracy, say sure, call the police. I’m not paying that amount. If you don’t have a printed menu then you can’t prove you didn’t say mojitos were $20, not $600. You said it was $20, not $600, and I’m sticking with that. You think the restaurant wants the police talking to patrons and having that kind of conversation in front of everyone else they’re trying to scam? Let’s have at it.
Also, when all else fails, pay with credit card and then rather than sign the credit card receipt, on the signature field sign “UNDER DURESS”. Take it up with your credit card when you’re back home.
In this case, the Americans did dispute the charge. But police appear in on the scam.
Greece may technically be a western democracy, but then again o are Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, etc. And Greece is a lot more like those places than most dreamy-eyed tourists would like to think.
One more reason why I stick with McDonalds, Starbuck and Pret A Manger when I travel 🙂
Uf, then why bother travelling.
I’d say the lesson learned is never go to a restaurant that has a tout out front trying to get you eat there. The good restaurants don’t need that. At best, it will be a mediocre meal. At worst . . .
IF the restaurant does not give you an official receipt in detail what you ordered with name iof restaurants.. transction #. it is not an official receipt.. this restaurants is known for this.. The only receipt you get is your credit card receipt…
In India, street merchants don’t have posted prices or labels. I needed AA batteries once. They presumably inflated the price, quoting what seemed to be high prices, so I didn’t buy. Later, I bought some at an expensive retail store with posted prices. An Indian man with me said they may seem cheap by Western standards but the price was somewhat high.
I fell victim to this in her Muslim quarter of the Old City in Jerusalem. Seems like common parlance among Palestinians and other Arabs. No dignity!
I have many beefs with the Palestinians, extremely serious ones. But they aren’t more fraudulent in business than anyone else. Sadly, everybody does this to gullible westerners/tourists, all over the world.
Tell me you’re an Islamophobe without telling me you’re an Islamophobe. Yuck.
Drink menus in the USA often don’t have prices listed, even at reputable places.
Really? Where?
(I guess you go to classier places than me! 😉 )
The scamming around the world knows no bounds these days. Hilton corporate is getting in on the game in Rome trying to fulfill a confirmed reservation for a hotel that now will not switch its flag in time for many travelers with a scammy offer. They are offering to move guests to a further away hotel of lesser quality for the *same amount of points* as the high end property rather than refund the points difference. And they are doing this as a “friendly courtesy”. So watch out on every step of your holiday anymore. Even trusted corporations are scamming for dollars
Well, if they can afford to fly to Greece (Jet Setters!) they can afford to pay for an expensive meal.
And isn’t that the reason people visit countries they have no business visiting?
To have “an experience?”
At least they now have an interesting story to tell the grandkids…..
What do you mean “no business visiting?” People have a right to travel and counties like Greece greatly benefit from tourist dollars! Not everyone who travels is super wealthy! We make sacrifices and prioritize travel over other things because it’s important to us to learn about other cultures. Jealous much?
Reminds me of my first day in India (Chennai). I got talked into a tour to the beach by a rickshaw driver. I explained I didn’t have much rupees on me. He said it was cheap. After stopping at several shops (where he got a commission) we went to the beach. I knew something was up and requested to return back to where we started. He then quoted me 800 rupees which was more than I had (not including what I had hidden in my sock). We argued as he drove me back towards my hotel. When he threw me out of his rickshaw on a busy street I knew where I was. I gave him 420 rupees and walked away. By the time I left India, I was a master at playing hardball with rickshaw drivers.
Dear Author,
Let me make sure I understand this correctly, you’re recommending that tourists ditch the whole country or perhaps just even the island based on one overpriced restaurant. How about caveat emptor? Your article appears very juvenile.
I love Greece and never made such a statement…
It’s likely this sentence that’s problematic: « If that is the case, it seems to me a good reason to avoid Greece…or at least Mykonos. »
That appears to be a suggestion to avoid Greece due to the scamming. Perhaps the suggestion should be to insist on seeing a menu before ordering anything? Personally, I’ve made it a policy to always avoid buying anything from anyone who pressures me. It doesn’t matter if I miss out on something. The risk is never worth it.
Americans have a tendency to be embarrassed to ask for the prices up front expecting prices to be reasonable. But better to ask up front that get a surprise at the end. When we went to the beach on Crete, we were accompanied by an older lady from NYC who spoke Greek and had her do the negotiating for the beach chairs. My wife speaks Spanish and when we travel in South America, I let her do the up-front negotiating for taxis or haircuts. We sat down in a beach front restaurant in Rio and made sure we looked at the menu first just minutes after a bike rider tried to grab a friend’s cellphone on the promenade in Copacabana.
The same happened to me in Crete. I never had this problem in Athens.
Happens to me last summer. I have a lengthy review on trip adviser as well.
Thanks for highlighting this shady place! All of which you said was true, but I’ll add they had a sign out saying “loungers were free as long as you ate the 2-1 lunch special of €39.99”. Fries, tzatziki and one mojito €400
Complete scam artists and rip offs! Thankfully I disputed it through my AMX and got all my money back.
Thanks for your comment. I’m curious, did they try to fight you via the dispute process?
First, if someone is outside begging you to go in, probably a reason why that is and best to avoid. Walk one block away from the tourist area and that stops, usually. Second, a good trick is to ask outright how much a popular drink is (e.g. an Aperol Spritz in Italy or a Caipirinha in Brazil). We were tired after a long hike and wanted to park our butts at a place right by the port in Capri, and asked how much spritzes were… €15. That’s just insane and when we told him that he sold them to us for €5. LOL
Yep, this happened to me in Mexico City. To make a long story short – believed the hawker out in front, ordered a “regular margarita” and a bowl of soup. The soup was cold – the margarita was made with seven-up, and the bill was $65.00. Dang.
If the guy threatens the Greek police for me to pay, I’d so go right ahead! But honestly I experienced Greece for 3 months and have no desire to ever go back. I’m Greek and I’m born here. But I speak it also. Listen, I couldn’t take them hating us as Americans, ok…..they didn’t know I speak Greek.
When you go to a foreign country and don’t know the language, I’d advise you to try and learn it. At least get familiar.
They only want our $$$$$$$$$
They’re selfish.
Oh how I love the USA. RED WHITE BLUE!!
I WAS SO happy to come home!