Diner claims Victorian publican took back part of meal after price row

In a scene that could have made Fawlty Towers, a Victorian man claims a publican took away $5 worth of his dinner when he queried the price.

After Matt Ingram questioned a price discrepancy on the pasta dinner he was eating at the Golden Square Hotel in Bendigo, publican Ashely McKenzie allegedly grabbed the plate and the last mouthfuls of the meal.

Ingram went to his local pub on Wednesday evening and ordered the pasta of the day, chicken fettucine, priced at $18.

After he ate the dinner he counted his change and noticed he had been charged $23.

He queried the price difference with McKenzie who insisted the price was $23.

According to Ingram, the publican said “Does that look like an $18 pasta to you? What do you want me to do about it?”

An argument began and Ingram declared he wanted the $5 difference, but McKenzie insisted if he wanted a refund he would have to "take it off my plate".

"He said ‘I’m going to have to take the difference off your plate’," Mr Ingram told the Herald-Sun.

After putting his cutlery down and with a quarter of the meal remaining, the diner told McKenzie he could take it.

Right on cue, the publican whisked the plate away and refunded Ingram the disputed $5.

Posting to his Facebook page after the event, Ingram declared the meal was delicious.

"On a positive note the meal itself was great. I just wish I got to eat it all. "