A woman in Providence, Rhode Island, shared a TikTok video recounting a dining experience where she and her friends ordered a flight of espresso martinis. She stated that the server accidentally spilled one of the drinks, and the group later received a bill for $65 for the four-drink flight. The video, posted by the creator “Cake or Death,” has sparked discussion about cocktail pricing and restaurant service.
The video shows a woman with curly red hair speaking directly to the camera. On-screen text reads, “The great espresso martini debacle.” She explained that she and her friends visited a restaurant they wanted to try and ordered a “martini flight” featuring four different espresso martinis. She noted that the price was not listed on the menu, which she said they should have asked about but did not.
She described how, after the server placed the martini flight on the table, they accidentally knocked it, causing one of the martinis to spill. She expressed that the server did not immediately offer to replace the spilled drink, only bringing napkins. She recounted asking for a replacement later, which the server agreed to get.
The creator detailed the cost breakdown and expressed disbelief at the final charge
The woman said the replacement martini arrived, and they shared the drinks. She emphasized that the four espresso martinis were not full-sized, estimating them to be about two-thirds or three-quarters of a standard pour, served in small glasses. She also mentioned that the dinner itself was not great, with a poor “vibe” and disappointing food.
The core of her complaint emerged when the check arrived. She revealed the “martini flight” cost $65, which she found to be an exorbitant price. She calculated this as $16.25 per drink and pointed out that, according to the restaurant’s menu, ordering four regular martinis would have been cheaper. She concluded the video with a statement of disbelief, saying, “I don’t get it. $65. No.”
The video’s caption adds another detail about the experience, stating, “And they weren’t even best martinis we’ve ever had.” The video includes hashtags such as #espressomartini, #martiniflight, #cocktails, and #RestaurantReview.
Online comments reflect a mix of reactions to the price and the service
The video has generated a variety of comments from viewers. One user, identifying as a bartender, wrote, “While I agree $65 is on the high end. I do agree with flights being more than individual cocktails. Tbh they’re a pain and time consuming. And you’re paying for the novelty of getting a flight.”
Another commenter offered a comparison from a different city, stating, “4 espresso martinis at 2 of my bar jobs in Rochester NY would be $80.” A third viewer shared a contrasting experience, writing, “That is insane. I got this Girl Scout cookie themed espresso martini flight in Raleigh NC last year and it was $26 and delicious. I would never anticipate any flight of drinks being more than $40, it’s crazy they don’t include that price on the menu.” The shock at a restaurant’s final bill for a specific menu item is a common TikTok complaint, like when a woman said The Cheesecake Factory charged more for a cake that was missing a big chunk.
Some commenters focused on the service aspect. One person wrote, “First of all she should’ve offered to replace the martini she spilled. You should never have to have asked. Secondly, her obvious lack of experience makes me think that maybe she rang you up for four of those instead of one.” Another simply stated, “Stop it right now! That’s an insane price for 4 mini martinis. You’re not wrong.”
