SCAM ALERT. Let me tell you how this will go:…read more
The Nigerian bartender will befriend you, find out what you like, let you grab a seat, order your cocktail, and then an hour or two into the evening he will approach your table with an unsolicited tray full "samples" in whatever particular genre of spirits or cocktails he has figured out you enjoy. Only, these are not samples. If you go along with it, you will be unceremoniously charged at the end of the night for every item he brings, which you didn't order. If you protest, highlight the fact you never ordered those drinks, or question this con-artist, he will make an overly dramatic display feigning that he was insulted or even emotionally hurt by your accusations, and at the end of the evening you'll STILL be charged for the drinks you never ordered.
This is exactly how it played out for my friend and I. We asked for the manager in order to explain the situation. Then, and this is the amazing part, the bartender who attempted the scam us admitted to overcharging us on purpose! The manager then exclaimed, "I hate drama!" Well, us too. The bartender, upon being caught, then knocked 2 of the drinks we did not order off the tab (still overcharging us 3 rounds) and would go no further, which was the same moment the manager disappeared from view. At one point the classic threat was issued by either the manager or the bartender "we could call the police" to which my friend and I replied "Please do." Both the bartender and manager backed down immediately. They are clearly aware that fraud is being perpetrated at this establishment.
I travel often, having spent much time in the developing world, and have seen just about every scam out there. This one was particularly shocking however, given that we were in the heart of Austria. This is not a swindle I expected to find in a beautiful, well run and organized city such as Vienna. As my work takes me back to Vienna often, I'll be sure to continue seeing the rest of that fine city, though I'll probably skip Albertina Passage. I look forward to filing a police report on this incident in the meantime.