You can have your cake and eat it, but you’ll have to pay for it

Cake bans are on the rise and more Queensland restaurants charging customers huge fees to bring their own cake, with some slugging diners upwards of $5 per person.

More Queensland restaurants have started charging a fee to cut up and plate cake brought in by diners.

While the fee, known as cakeage, varies from business to business, there are a number of Brisbane restaurants charging upwards of $5 per person to celebrate with a cake purchased outside the premises, while others ban it completely.

Two well-known Brisbane restaurants, Bianca and sAme sAme on James Street in Fortitude Valley, are among those who refuse to let customers bring in their own cake.

Bianca spokeswoman, Kate said this was because the restaurant has a variety of in-house cakes on offer.

“Once customers pay for the cake, it can be portioned and served whenever the customer desires,” she said.

sAme sAme spokeswoman, Brooke provided a similar reason for the ban on external cakes.

“If you would like to celebrate with cake, we offer a selection of in-house custom cakes,” she said.

The cheapest cake on Bianca and sAme sAme’s menu was $69.

Agnes, named Brisbane’s top restaurant by Qweekend in 2021, does not allow diners to bring their own cake. Picture: Mark Cranitch

Meanwhile Brisbane restaurants, Libertine, Nagathai, Olive & Angelo have been charging a cakeage fee of $6 per person, regardless of whether the diners were eating cake or not.
Customers are being warned if they don’t provide 48 hours’ notice their request to bring cake may be refused.

University student, Lucy Brown said she didn’t know what cakeage was until she received the receipt at Jimmy’s On the Mall in Brisbane City.

“I took three doughnuts that cost $10 total and they charged the 10 of us girls $5 each,” Ms Brown said.

“The controversial thing was they didn‘t let us know until we got the receipt for cakeage.

“We were like ‘what’s cakeage’ and they had to explain it to us”.

Ms Brown said she found it ridiculous she had to pay $5 per a 4cm bite of a doughnut.

“It‘s because they had to bring out 10 plates out … but we said we could share one plate and cut it up ourselves,” she said

“We should have been told on arrival”.

Lucy Brown, 23, is disappointed in the rising price of cakeage at Brisbane restaurants. Picture: Tara Croser

But not all restaurants are following this cakeage fee trend or external cake ban.
Alfresco manager, Alerti Hajdinaj said restaurants are taking advantage of their customers if they charge more than $3 per head for cake.
“Anything more than two to three dollars is too much and it’s not right,” Mr Hajdinaj said.
“We don’t take advantage of our customers, we know people come to Alfresco for good food and good service.
“We don’t charge a cake fee and we’ve never charged a cake fee”.
Mr Hajdinaj said he understands why some restaurants charge cakeage fees.
“The margins in restaurants are so thin, some run at less than 5 per cent so it’s crucial you get it right so the business can run at a profit and not at a loss,” he said.
“The labour costs money, it cost money to wash the plates, the forks, even the napkins cost money.
“The staff are always so busy so it’s the labour cost as well.
“It all costs money”.
Despite Alfresco having a delicious number of desserts available on their menu, Mr Hajdinaj said customers can bring their own cake and won’t have to pay.
Cake eaters will be provided plates, napkins, spoons, a sparkler and a knife to cut the cake themselves.

RESTAURANTS THAT DON’T ALLOW EXTERNAL CAKES

Bianca – James St, Fortitude Valley

Agnes – 22 Agnes Street, Fortitude Valley

Same Same – James Street, Fortitude Valley

RESTAURANTS THAT CHARGE CAKEAGE FEES

Libertine – No. 5, The Barracks, 61 Petrie Tce – Cakeage fee of $6 per person regardless of whose actually eating cake

Nagathai Brisbane – Eagle St Pier, Brisbane – Cakeage fee of $6.50 per person

Olive & Angelo – 12 Edward St, Brisbane Charge $6 per person regardless of whose actually eating cake

Madame Wu's – 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane City – Cakeage fee of $5 per head
Lennons Restaurant & Bar – Queen St, Brisbane City – Charge a cakeage fee of $5 per person if the booking is for 10 people or less, however will only charge $3 per person if the booking is above 12 people
The Spaghetti House Trattoria- Little Stanley Streets, South Brisbane – Cakeage fee of $2 per person