As of late, I have been 'balling' out eating at more medium to 'high-end' restaurants in Bangkok, not sure why websites class them as that because they food is always average. But that doesn't grind my gears, I already expect food which isn't Thai, Japanese or Korean to not taste so great unless I end up spending 1,000 baht or more on a meal, and even then it's a hit and miss.
But what does really grind my gears is all the restaurants and bars who exclude the service charge (10%) and VAT (7%) from the prices on their menu, sometimes replaced with ++. To name a few places off the top of my head, I recently went to Bourbon Street and Sway, who both serve fairly decent food and have great value buffets.
However, when I visited both restaurants I was expecting to pay 315b and 299b for their respective buffets, because that's what their website and menu told me. Instead, I get fucked in the ass for an extra 17% because of the ++ hidden fees. Both times it's no big deal and I am happy to pay more for their buffets because they are nice, but don't be hiding fees brah.
Yes, it's written in every restaurant menu in tiny letters that all prices exclude 10% service charge and 7% VAT, but who really reads that. I can't think of a single why restaurants would do this other than to trick customers into thinking the food is cheaper than it actually is.
Rustled Jimmies
The hidden service charge and VAT is starting to become more and more common in Bangkok as of late, so many places are doing it. Just tell me what the price is before hand and I will pay it, don't trick me.
I went to a happy hour near Phloen Chit BTS, I forgot the name of the hotel but they had a huge sign saying happy hour beers for 79 baht. I buy one beer and call for the bill and it's for 93 baht. Sheeeeeeeit, I would of poured the beer myself if I knew they wanted an extra 14 baht for the privilege.
Anyway, the hidden service charge and VAT that a lot of restaurants and bars in Bangkok charge really grinds my gears. I just want to eat, I don't want to do math and add 17% to every meal on your menu to find out the actual cost.