- A pizzeria in the Austrian district of Grieskirchen charges eleven euros extra for a robber’s plate.
- The amount corresponds to the price of the cheapest pizza on the menu and is causing controversy in the region.
- According to the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the regulation is legally flawless.
The menu a pizzeria in the Austrian district of Grieskirchen caused heated discussions. “Today” reader Simon and his wife wanted to order their two children a pizza to share – but they did the robber plate costs eleven euros. “That’s really exaggerated, an impudence!” said Simon to the newspaper.
An empty plate costs as much as the cheapest pizza
“It’s basically a good company,” says the father of the family. The Italian restaurant, which is often fully booked, offers a simple pizza from eleven euros, the most expensive costs just under 20 euros.
In the menu, the restaurant operators ask their guests to order one pizza each. This will be charged per person. So if the meal is shared, you pay an additional eleven euros for the empty plate.
“Everything that’s on the card applies.”
The surcharge causes Simon displeasure: “That’s the price of the cheapest pizza,” he says. “It was clear to us that we ordered a second one.” There is also a heated discussion in the area about the paid robber plate, says Simon.
What do you think of the paid robber plate?
Legally speaking, the operator is not violating any regulations. “We have an obligation to display prices in Austria. “Everything that’s on the card applies,” the Austrian Chamber of Commerce told “Today.”
Top chef defends surcharge
However, it is not uncommon for an extra charge to be charged for sharing food: in a restaurant on Lake Wörthersee in Austria eight euros for the extra plate demanded. Also one Tavern in Lucerne requires an additional charge of ten francs for an additional cover.
The Austrian celebrity boss Toni Mörwald said in the “Today” talk: “This is the same discussion as about tap water. We are service providers and this is charged for.” Restaurateurs are “not a supermarket where only products are sold,” says Mörwald, defending the bill from the restaurant on Lake Wörthersee. “We have to provide the space, wash the dishes, and the service also has to be paid for.”
After all, you don’t ask the dentist or lawyer whether the bill is fair. “Our service has value, and that has to be appreciated.” In his restaurant, however, nothing is charged for an extra empty plate, says the top chef.
Alessia Rambaldi (ram) has been working for 20 minutes since 2024. After an internship in the Bern department, she moved to the news desk in May 2025.
