A tourist's complaint about being refused an extra plate to share a pizza at a four-star hotel in Munich has ignited a fierce online debate about cultural norms and accusations of racism in Germany.
The Munich Hotel Incident
Sumukh Rao, an editor for BGR who is Indian, took to social media platform X to recount an experience he labelled as "extremely weird and rude." He stated that while staying at a four-star hotel in Munich, he ordered a pizza at the restaurant and asked the waiting staff for an additional plate so it could be shared.
The waiter's response, according to Rao, was a firm "One pizza, one plate." Rao interpreted this as clear prejudice, concluding in his post: "It's evident that they hate anyone who's not white."
A Broader Complaint About German Hospitality
Rao's tweet was a retweet of another post from Shachi Gambhir, who had recently visited Germany. Gambhir declared the country "easily the least friendly" she had ever visited.
She described an atmosphere of hostility, citing people constantly staring with "weird faces" and strangers on trains deliberately blocking seats next to them. "The overall vibe is hostile," she wrote, adding, "Regretting every penny spent here."
Cultural Norm or Poor Service?
The incident prompted a significant backlash online, with many users insisting the waiter's behaviour was rooted in German business culture, not racism. One respondent explained that some German establishments have policies against sharing single portions unless an extra plate charge is paid.
"They don't like portions being shared. Nothing racist there. It's a business thing," one person commented, suggesting that offering to pay for the plate or having a higher bill often resolves the issue.
Rao countered this defence, arguing the logic was flawed. "Then that's just stupid. Who refuses to give an empty plate?" he asked, questioning how one person is expected to finish an entire 12-inch pizza alone.
The debate escalated further when a German user, claiming extensive travel experience in India, retorted by criticising commercial practices there. He alleged that Indian shopkeepers had tried to overcharge him when he was alone, but not when accompanied by locals. "Let's not pretend there aren't plenty of unique 'customs' in India," he added, turning the discussion towards a comparative critique of cultural practices in both countries.
The online exchange highlights the complex intersection of tourism, perceived discrimination, and deep-seated cultural expectations. What one traveller experiences as outright racism, others defend as a standard, if inflexible, local custom, raising questions about hospitality and adaptation in a globalised world.
