Charging for extra bread

Does the restaurant patron have the responsibility for asking if bread, when offered, is free of charge? I just went to a local establishment and ordered my meal, and the waiter asked me if I wanted bread, to which I said yes. My meal came with the bread that was offered plus another kind of bread (which apparently came with the meal). When I saw the bread on my bill, I said that I was under the impression the bread was free. He responded by saying that I wanted the bread and that he wasn't the owner and just worked there.

So, who is at fault here? Me, the waiter, or both?

Does the restaurant patron have the responsibility for asking if bread, when offered, is free of charge? I just went to a local establishment and ordered my meal, and the waiter asked me if I wanted bread, to which I said yes. My meal came with the bread that was offered plus another kind of bread (which apparently came with the meal). When I saw the bread on my bill, I said that I was under the impression the bread was free. He responded by saying that I wanted the bread and that he wasn't the owner and just worked there.

So, who is at fault here? Me, the waiter, or both?

Marie, the waiter was totally in the right to bring you bread when you asked for it...but if it was an extra charge he should have told you BEFORE he brought it to the table. Not when...not after, but before. You did everything right. His response was inappropriate and unprofessional.

Does the restaurant patron have the responsibility for asking if bread, when offered, is free of charge? I just went to a local establishment and ordered my meal, and the waiter asked me if I wanted bread, to which I said yes. My meal came with the bread that was offered plus another kind of bread (which apparently came with the meal). When I saw the bread on my bill, I said that I was under the impression the bread was free. He responded by saying that I wanted the bread and that he wasn't the owner and just worked there.

So, who is at fault here? Me, the waiter, or both?

The waiter.
He should have mentioned that it was extra.
Sounds like the restaurant has trained him to ask and not say anything. A rather sneaky upsell. I don't mind paying, but most places put out bread as a complement. Pretty close to a ripoff.

I think you should mention the restaurant as a service to the rest of us. No reason not to identify the place.

I think you should mention the restaurant as a service to the rest of us. No reason not to identify the place.

Sure. Royal India. Should have gone to Havana Rumba or Lou Lou Although I have been twice before, once with the same waiter. Although the one time I went I had the buffet so bread was a moot point, and the other time I purposefully tried one type of naan that there definitely was a charge for. My question is why, if he thought I was intentionally paying for naan, didn't ask me what kind I wanted. They have a whole list of types on the menu.

I'd definitely say it was the waiter's fault, but I will say that every indian restaurant I ever went to, excepting buffets, charged for bread...it may be that he assumed that you would know, but he definitely should have mentioned that there was a charge.

I worked at a restaurant that charged for bread (allo spiedo) but it was "high end bread" that came with roasted garlic. Most customers agreed it was totally worth it, and I ALWAYS mentioned the charge.

I'd definitely say it was the waiter's fault, but I will say that every indian restaurant I ever went to, excepting buffets, charged for bread...it may be that he assumed that you would know, but he definitely should have mentioned that there was a charge.

I worked at a restaurant that charged for bread (allo spiedo) but it was "high end bread" that came with roasted garlic. Most customers agreed it was totally worth it, and I ALWAYS mentioned the charge.

I want my Allo Spiedo back!!!! That was great bread!!!

I

I worked at a restaurant that charged for bread (allo spiedo) but it was "high end bread" that came with roasted garlic. Most customers agreed it was totally worth it, and I ALWAYS mentioned the charge.

I would have no problem with charging for the bread as long as you did say it. Let the customer decide.

hmm . . .Indian Restaurants have a bread section on their menus. It's specialty bread, not the complimentary slices in a basket. It's always extra just like if you'd ordered an appetizer.

Bread in Indian restaurants are always extra and so tasty. Now I want some.

Puri...That is worth paying for in my eyes....

I've never encountered free "bread" at an Indian restaurant whether it be in Louisville, Chicago, NYC or London. Given the high cost of bread flours, expect many restaurants to add bread to the starter section of their menus. While in Charlotte, NC last month, we dined at two excellent restaurants downtown, Sonoma and Arpa. Both charged for bread. No freebies!

Sneaky sale, period. You can't expect the general dining public to have the same acumen as lindabenz. The pitch should have been something like, 'For just a couple bucks extra, you can have the artisinal bread that exemplifies Indian cuisine.'

Edited for counterpoint:

Then again, your server may have recognized you from past visits and assumed you already knew about the upcharge for the goodness.

I agree that the way this was handled was inappropriate, and it was a sneaky up-sell. However, we have received 'free' bread with our meals at several different Indian restaurants in town, although we haven't been in a while. It wasn't the good naan, but more of a cracker type of product, and the specialty breads were listed on the menu. However, in contradiction to some comments on this thread, my mom and I went to a new Indian restaurant in Parkersbug, WV 2 weeks ago, and they brought complimentary baskets of naan to the tables without even asking, so it does happen. At least in Wild, Wonderful, West (by God!) Virginia. : o ) Regardless, it seems to me that the server was misleading and unprofessional in the way he handled the entire situation.

Where, where, where in Parkersburg? It is hubby's hometown and he gets crazy cause it does not have a decent coffee shop (he would even do Starbucks!), let alone an Indian restaurant! We go back every June for a family reunion.