Controversy over €430 paid for two spaghetti plates in Rome

A couple of Japanese tourists dining in Rome were shocked to receive a bill for more than €429.80 after ordering two plates of spaghetti and fish and two glasses of water.

A picture of the bill was uploaded to TripAdvisor. The bill shows that they were charged €349.80 for the food and an extra €80 as a compulsory service charge.

The Independent reports that the incident took place at the Antico Caffe’ di Marte near Castel Sant’ Angelo in the city centre.

The restaurant has hit back at accusations it is scamming tourists out of hundreds of euros, telling Italian paper Corriere della Sera: “The menu is clear, the reason they (the Japanese tourists) paid that price is because they not only ordered the spaghetti but also the fish that was fresh.

“The customers chose it at the counter themselves.”

Via Corriere Della Sera / The Independent