Making a meal over restaurant bills

Restaurateur Peter Ilic attracted attention from around the world to his Little Bay eaterie in Farringdon, London, by inviting diners to pay as much or as little as they thought the food was worth during February. The initiative certainly proved successful. More than 10,000 diners visited the venue last month, where drinks were excluded from the “pay what you like” deal.

While Mr Ilic gave diners the freedom to pay what they thought their meals were worth, what choices do they have if the quality of the meal doesn’t justify a hefty bill at the end?

Silverman Sherliker employment law partner, Nick Lakeland says: “When you order a meal, you are entering into a contract in the same way as when you buy something in a shop.

“If you’re given a bill for £100 a head, and the veal has been described as the best on earth and it tastes like it was bought at the cheapest supermarket, theoretically you are within your rights not to leave the full amount.

“You need to make it plain that by withholding some of the money, you are not committing an act of theft, explaining that you are disputing the value of the food because you don’t consider it up to the standard that was promised by the menu.

“You could leave your name and address and proof of ID and explain to the restaurateur that if he disagrees with the value you’ve placed on the meal, he can sue you for the difference through the small claims court. If he did sue, and it came to court, the district judge would have to make a decision on which one of you he or she believes.”