Hungarian tourists asked to leave Krk restaurant after ordering only dessert

According to N1, which cited an account given by the mother of one of the tourists to Daily News Hungary, the four young men had waited between 10 and 15 minutes for a table at a busy restaurant. When a waiter came to take their order, each of the four reportedly ordered a portion of pancakes priced at €7, bringing their total bill to €28. The tourists said the waiter reacted angrily, questioning why they wanted to order only dessert during the busy evening period.

With other customers reportedly waiting outside for tables, they were then asked to leave and make the table available. The account has since prompted a divided reaction online. Some users criticised the restaurant’s response, arguing that customers should be free to choose what they order and that €28 was still a legitimate bill.

Others defended the restaurant, saying that a table for four during the busiest part of the evening represents a significant opportunity for a restaurant and that ordering only dessert may not be considered reasonable during peak service. Similar policies or practices have been reported in popular tourist destinations elsewhere in Europe, including Italy and Spain, where some restaurants restrict large tables from being occupied for only drinks or desserts during busy periods. What do Croatian rules say?

N1 contacted the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) representative in Hungary about the incident. HTZ senior representative Mira Horváth said there is no rule in Croatian legislation requiring restaurant customers to spend a minimum amount.

Restaurants are, however, required to clearly display their prices and the conditions under which services are provided, and to adhere to them. HTZ also stressed that its role is to promote Croatian tourism rather than handle individual guest complaints.

Tourists who believe rules have been breached can contact the State Inspectorate or submit a complaint directly to the restaurant. HTZ expressed regret over the reported unpleasant experience and said it hoped the case was an isolated incident.

The incident comes amid continued online discussion about prices, food and service on the Croatian Adriatic, with some foreign visitors raising concerns about the cost of dining in destinations such as Split, Dubrovnik and Hvar.