I was visiting Lititz and came across this tea house. At first, I was thrilled to find it. I've been enjoying afternoon/high tea for over 40 years at places all over the world, so I immediately put it on my list for my next trip to Litiz.
However, when I looked at the menu, I was surprised to see a $7.95 upcharge for gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan options. In all my years of experiencing tea services, I've never seen an additional fee for dietary restrictions. As a vegetarian, this was especially disappointing.
I live in a large metro area where many restaurants - large and small, accommodate dietary needs without extra charges. While I understand the need to notify the restaurant in advance, adding an upcharge for something so common today feels unnecessary and unwelcoming -- especially at a time when more and more people are reducing or eliminating meat.
Unfortunately, this policy has not only turned me away as a potential customer, but it has also discouraged my friends who often visit Lititz with me. Even though they don't have dietary restrictions themselves, they view the surcharge as unnecessary and punitive, and it left all of us with a negative impression. read more