Four Japanese tourists say they were handed the bill for a dinner of steak, fish and water.
ADVERTISEMENTThe mayor of Venice has pledged action after a group of Japanese tourists claimed a restaurant presented them with a bill of €1,100 for four steaks, a plate of fried fish and water.
The four diners, who study in the Italian city of Bologna, complained to police after receiving the bill at the Osteria da Luca restaurant near the famous St Mark’s Square on Friday.
Taking to Twitter, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said authorities would “fully examine this episode” and “check to see if the complaint was made properly.”
He added: "If this disgraceful episode is confirmed, we'll do all we can to punish those responsible. We are for justice—always!"
Residents’ action group Gruppo 25 Aprile has taken up the case, which it says is the latest of its kind.
"We defend local residents and whoever puts the good name of Venice at risk harms all Venetians," they said in a tweet.
On TripAdvisor, the Osteria da Luca has a score of 1.5 stars, with 83 percent of reviewers labelling it “terrible” as of Monday evening.
Attempts by Euronews to reach the restaurant were unsuccessful, but a spokesman reportedly told local journalists he had “no recollection of any problems with Japanese customers”.
The case is just the latest report of tourists being overcharged in restaurants in Venice.
In November, a British tourist complained to the mayor after he and his parents were charged €526 for their lunch.