We often spot something on a menu that instantly catches our eye, only to realise it comes with an ingredient we don’t like or prefer to avoid. In such cases, we usually ask the server to leave it out or customise the dish to suit our preferences, and that’s that. But for Indian influencer Vagmita Singh (@thatindianchick_), a simple request to remove cheese from her sandwich at a San Francisco cafe came with an unexpected price tag: an extra ₹72! Naturally, she was left stunned. Here’s what happened.
Vagmita Singh Stunned As US Cafe Charges ₹72 To Remove Cheese
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Vagmita Singh (@thatindianchick_), better known as Jiji, is known for her hilarious rants, no-filter observations and travel experiences that often make us want to pack our bags and explore the world. Well, maybe not this time! In her latest post, she shared a rather unexpected experience at a San Francisco cafe, where she was told she’d be charged an extra 75 cents (about ₹72) to remove cheese from her sandwich.
Starting the video in her usual candid style, Vagmita said, “Bhai, chal kya raha hai America mein? I went to a cafe in San Francisco and I ordered a sandwich, okay? So I asked the waitress, ‘Can you please remove the cheese from the sandwich?’ And she’s like, ‘Yeah, sure, that’ll cost you 75 cents.’”
Pointing out that the charge came to roughly ₹72, the influencer questioned why she was being asked to pay extra for an ingredient she had specifically requested to leave out. “What is next, you charge me 100 rupees to not drink Coke? 50 rupees to not use your bathroom? 160 rupees to not pay by cash?” she sarcastically asked.
Vagmita then said she questioned the waitress about why she was being charged for something she wasn’t even having. According to the influencer, the waitress explained, “Our recipes are fixed and the chef uses extra effort to not put cheese in it. So that’s what the fees is for.”
The explanation clearly left Vagmita baffled, and she ended the video with a reaction that summed up her disbelief perfectly: “Mera sar ghoom raha hai.”
Is It Common To Charge Extra To Make Such Minor Tweaks?
While her comments section was equally baffled, with many people saying they would simply remove the cheese themselves. Some even told her to stop converting US dollars into Indian rupees and enjoy the moment! But the incident did make us wonder: do minor customisations like these usually come with a price tag at restaurants abroad?
Well, while being charged to remove an ingredient may sound unusual, customising food at restaurants abroad isn’t entirely unheard of. In the US, some cafes and restaurants do have fixed recipes and may charge for certain modifications, substitutions or special requests.
That said, an extra charge is more commonly associated with adding or swapping ingredients rather than simply leaving something out. So, while Vagmita Singh’s experience may not be the norm everywhere, it also isn’t completely unheard of, especially at places where customising a dish means altering the way it is prepared.
Also Read: Indian Travellers, Take Note: These Schengen Countries Have Higher Visa Refusals
Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/thatindianchick_ & Canva Pro/abdullahiisse654 (representative image)
FAQs
Why was Vagmita Singh charged ₹72 to remove cheese from her sandwich?
According to Vagmita, the San Francisco cafe told her that its recipes were fixed and the chef needed to put in extra effort to prepare the sandwich without cheese, which is why she was charged 75 cents.
Is it common for cafes in the US to charge for removing ingredients?
It can happen, but it isn’t a universal practice. Restaurants are more commonly known to charge for adding or substituting ingredients, while fees for simply removing an ingredient can vary from one establishment to another.
Who is Vagmita Singh?
Vagmita Singh, popularly known as Jiji, is an Indian influencer known for her humorous rants, travel content and candid observations.
