London is known for its high prices and expensive venues, but one tourist was left particularly shocked.
Amy Hilton, 26, paid £18.50 for a camembert starter at The Devonshire in Balham, London, to share with her friends on February 8.
However, she was baffled when she turned over the wrapper around the popular dish.
The cheesed-off customer discovered it was Cricket St Thomas British camembert, which is available in Tesco for just £2.75.
‘That was the worst starter we have ever had,’ said Amy, from Kent. ‘I would never ever order it again.’
She described: ‘The bread was a cut-up burger bun too, not the sourdough they state in the menu and the chutney was gross.
‘Not another daylight robbery, at least cover it up.’
The cheese has a 3.3 star rating on the Tesco’s site and some reviews even go as far as describing it as a ‘poor product’ and ‘vile’.
Amy pointed the wrapper out to workers at the pub, and she claimed: ‘We mentioned it to the staff but they shrugged their shoulders and kind of laughed.
‘The overall main meals were also cold and had no flavour.’
She shared her disappointment online and uploaded a video of the starter – attracting over one million views and a whopping 16,700 likes.
A spokesperson for the Devonshire pub defended the choice of camembert and explained how the pricing worked.
They stated: ‘Young’s is proud to source British produce, and this camembert comes from a Somerset-based producer that serves a variety of customers, including supermarkets.
‘Retail and hospitality operate under very different models, and pricing reflects those differences, including VAT, preparation, service, and the overall premium pub environment our guests enjoy.
‘We’re committed to delivering a high-quality experience and value all guest feedback.’
Food in London can get even pricier than an £18.50 supermarket camembert, and Otto’s French Restaurant in Bloomsbury sells a burger for £350.
The establishment prides itself on offering ‘classic, elegant, and romantic Gallic fine dining’.
Carmie Sellitto, a TikTok creator turned restaurant critic, tried the £300 burger last year.
Otto’s Le Burger Deluxe is crafted from four prime cuts, topped with a lobster claw and an entire pot of caviar. It also comes with white sauce, egg yolk and potato crisps.
The dish is prepared tableside and is also the main course of the ‘After Death Experience’ menu, which costs £700 per person.