| Refusing to pay for a meal constitutes a cancellation | | | | enough to eat, you have to say so before eating it. |
| of the selling contract. When you order from the | | | | However, eating it all and then refusing to pay is a |
| menu, you have put in a buying order for that meal. | | | | cheap trick, but it happens. In that case you are still |
| The menu acts as a catalog of goods on offer. All | | | | obliged to pay for what you have drunk and for |
| prices and conditions have to be clearly displayed. If, | | | | whatever was accepted. Diners who refuse to pay |
| for instance, the waiter leaves a white space for a | | | | have to leave names, addresses and numbers with |
| gratuity you should check to see whether you are | | | | the restaurateur. He is entitled to sue you in a civil |
| already paying for service. | | | | suit, but it is not that clear cut. If a table scoffs |
| If you are, you are entitled to scratch out the white | | | | everything and then won't pay, it is theft -- and he |
| space. Usually when the gratuity is part of the cost | | | | can call in the police. |
| you must be made aware of that. Are you tipping | | | | So, when those hoverers bother you by asking if |
| your waitress -- or are you tipping the restaurant? It | | | | everything is all right they are covering their backs. |
| makes a difference. Too often the boss pockets the | | | | As soon as something disturbs you -- yell. The |
| tips - yes they do. Once the food is on the table and | | | | restaurant has a right to make good -- accidents |
| the maitre'd asks: "Is everything all right?" and the | | | | happen. If the second try is as bad as the first, |
| answer is yes, you have accepted the food and are | | | | refuse the food. |
| obliged to pay for it. Should the food not be good | | | | |