Beverly Hills Rooftop Restaurant Just Hit a Couple With a $110 Bill for Cutting Their Own Cake and the Internet Can’t Decide Who’s the Villain
Not what they ordered.
The internet is once again divided over a luxury dining fee, this time after a TikToker shared a receipt from Poza, a rooftop restaurant at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, showing an $110 cake-cutting charge. The receipt, posted on X, sparked a wave of reactions, with some defending the practice as standard for high-end venues and others calling the fee outrageous.
According to The Daily Dot, Poza is known for its lavish offerings, including Hennessy VSOP pours, Dom Pérignon floats, and cocktails made with añejo tequila and aged rum. The menu’s opulence sets the stage for the kind of experience where extra fees might not come as a surprise, but $110 just to slice a cake still managed to raise eyebrows. The charge, which works out to $10 per person for a group of 11, was enough to make even seasoned diners do a double take.
One commenter dismissed the outrage as performative, writing, “You’re in Beverly Hills. Stop complaining so you can make yourself look good on social media. You want cheap cake, go to Ralph’s and buy a whole cake for 20 bucks.” Another took a more measured approach, acknowledging that luxury hotels often charge cake-cutting fees but adding, “but $110 is definitely the kind of number that makes people do a double take.”
Reactions to the receipt were all over the map
A third commenter drew a comparison to corkage fees, arguing that the charge was fair given the context. “You are paying to utilize their facilities and staff while bringing your own food or beverage. Go to the park, cut your own cake, provide your own plates and utensils, and clean your own mess if you want to save money.”
Others, however, weren’t convinced. One user called the fee “wild,” writing, “$110 just to cut a cake is honestly wild. I understand upscale restaurants have service fees, but at some point it starts feeling completely disconnected from reality.”
Hospitality experts say these kinds of fees are common at elite venues, typically ranging from $10 to $50. They cover lost dessert revenue, labor, supplies, and liability, ensuring fairness between customers who order in-house desserts and those who bring their own. Poza’s $110 fee, however, sits well above that upper limit, making it a standout even in a world where luxury dining often comes with luxury prices.
The controversy isn’t just about the fee but the transparency
The original post didn’t clarify whether the group was aware of the charge before it appeared on their bill, and that detail remains unverified. Unexpected fees at hotels and hotel restaurants have long been a sore spot for diners, with complaints popping up across online forums.
One user shared a story about a $25 amenity charge that appeared on their checkout bill at a mid-tier hotel, covering pool and gym facilities they never used. The charge wasn’t disclosed until checkout, and when the guest questioned it, the staff removed it without hesitation.
Poza and L’Ermitage Beverly Hills hadn’t publicly addressed the post at the time of writing, but the restaurant did eventually respond to the backlash. According to the NY Post, in a follow-up statement on Instagram, Poza apologized for the lack of communication.
It said, “We are so sorry you were not properly informed of our cake cutting fee. Please know that is not reflective of our standard and you should have been notified of the fee once you brought the cake. As you weren’t informed, we’d be happy to refund the fee and invite you and a friend back to Poza to have a proper experience.”
The restaurant also announced it had lowered the cake-cutting fee to $5 per person, a move that might help soften the blow for future diners. The adjustment brings Poza more in line with industry standards, though it’s still on the higher end compared to some other upscale venues.
The debate highlights a broader tension in luxury dining
On one side, you have diners who expect transparency and fairness, especially when dropping four figures on a meal. On the other, there are those who argue that high-end restaurants operate by different rules, and if you’re bringing your own cake to a place that serves Dom Pérignon, you should expect to pay for the privilege.
One person wrote, “This shows how cheap you are, you brought 11 guests, you brought your own cake because you want to feed 11 people dessert and not pay for dessert, you interrupted the kitchen staff busiest time of the night, to cut your cake, and you’re also gonna use forks and plates to eat your cake and then they have to wash your dishes and clean your mess, absolutely you pay $10 per person.”
Another added, “This is totally normal. $10 per person is cheaper than what most nice restaurants charge per person.”
Others saw the fee as a symptom of a larger problem
One user wrote, “That is insaneee. In my experience, if there is a cake cutting fee, it’s ALWAYS been disclosed by the staff.” The lack of upfront communication seems to be the real sticking point for many, turning what might have been a minor annoyance into a full-blown social media firestorm.
The incident also raises questions about the role of influencers in shaping public perception of dining experiences. The post went viral, but it’s unclear whether the fee was a one-off miscommunication or a standard practice at Poza. The restaurant’s eventual response suggests it was the former, but the damage was already done.
(Featured image: Sydney Sang on Pexels)
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