A food influencer based in Los Angeles has started a major debate online after revealing that she was nearly charged Rs 10,600 ($110) as a “cake cutting fee” at an upscale restaurant.
The controversy began
after the influencer dined at Poza, a rooftop restaurant located inside the luxury L’Ermitage Beverly Hills hotel. According to reports, she had brought her own cake to celebrate a special occasion and requested the restaurant staff to slice and serve it to the group.
The final bill reportedly included a $10 per person fee for the service, amounting to a total of $110. A screenshot of the receipt soon spread widely online after being shared by the account Wall Street Apes, which wrote, “A hotel restaurant in Beverly Hills charges $110 to cut a cake, Yes, this is real, I researched and found the location is Poza, it’s a rooftop restaurant L’Ermitage Beverly Hills.
Here’s the recipe for proof. The $110 really is just to cut the cake. A friend brought the cake for her and they just asked the restaurant to cut it. Prices in Los Angeles are out of control but this is just being ridiculous.”
The viral post triggered strong reactions from social media users, with many shocked at the additional fee. One user wrote, “$110 just to cut a cake is honestly wild 😭 I understand upscale restaurants have service fees and policies, but at some point it starts feeling completely disconnected from reality.”
Another commented, “Luxury hotels often charge “cake cutting” fees as part of service and outside-food policies, but $110 is definitely the kind of number that makes people do a double take.”
However, several users defended the restaurant and argued that such policies are common in fine dining establishments. “Imagine being entitled enough to think you can bring an outside cake into a establishment, have the staff cut and serve it for you, and then be shocked there’s a fee for it,” one person wrote.
Another user added, “I suspect that “cake cutting” also included plates, forks, and handing them out to guests, as well as storing the cake until it was time to serve. Yes, all that costs money. What else can you expect from a hotel restaurant in Beverly Hills??? Cry me a river…”
Some compared the fee to corkage charges imposed when customers bring their own wine to restaurants. One comment read, “no different than paying for “opening a bottle of wine etc..” (cork fee) you are paying to UTILIZE their facilities and staff while bringing your own food or beverage. SO it actually makes sense. go to the park and cut your own cake and provide your own plates and utensils and clean your own mess if you want to save money. No business should have to provide all of this For FREE. so entitled.”
Another user remarked, “You can purchase desserts FROM THE RESTAURANT and not bring outside food in. Your extra hour of table service for an outside cake means you cant seat a paying guest. Most people stop drinking or switch to coffee. There once was a time it was RUDE to bring food to a restaurant.”
A hotel restaurant in Beverly Hills charges $110 to cut a cake
Yes, this is real
I researched and found the location is Poza, it’s a rooftop restaurant L’Ermitage Beverly Hills
Here’s the recipe for proof. The $110 really is just to cut the cake. A friend brought the cake for… pic.twitter.com/DRhlO00vBT
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) May 18, 2026
Others, however, continued to criticise the pricing. One user blamed the city’s rising costs, writing, “The cost of living in a liberal hellhole. You had dinner in a restaurant there and expected a discount. Open a Learing Center. You would be able to afford it.😂😂😂😂”
Following the backlash, Poza responded publicly on Instagram and apologised for not properly informing the guest about the charge beforehand. The restaurant stated, “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.”
The restaurant also offered to refund the amount and invited the influencer to return for what it described as a “proper experience.” Additionally, Poza announced that it had reduced its cake-cutting fee to $5 per person. The establishment clarified that the charge was meant to cover staff service, including cutting, plating and serving the dessert.
