Going out for a bite to eat has to be one of the most enjoyable parts of being on holiday, and we're all guilty of splurging a bit too much after a few sangrias.
However, the last thing you want is a nasty shock when the bill arrives, only to learn that one of your dishes has cost you more than the flight to the resort.
Unfortunately, this is the exact scenario that one couple claims to have recently found themselves in, after they accidentally spent $300 (£228) on a fish at an upscale seafood restaurant.
Newly married couple Pinki and Doy had been "so excited" for their vacation in Beaver Creek, a mountainous resort in a picturesque area of Colorado renowned for its world-class ski slopes
The newlyweds, who are from Cleveland, Ohio, had "a wonderful experience" overall, aside from their wince-worthy accidental blow-out, which took place on the final day of their stay.
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Speaking with The Mirror, Pinki recalled: "On the last day of our stay, my husband wished to try out a fish which he'd never before tried in his life. We went out to a restaurant and asked the waiter about the colourful fish that had been put on show behind the glass which instantly made us feel ravenous.
"The waiter brought three fish in a table tray and we chose the orange fish called kinmedai. It comes with sushi and other side dishes as well. We were so excited to choose that fish that we forgot to look at the price tag.
"After finishing our dinner when the bill came we were so shocked to see that the price of the fish was around $300!"
Pinki claims that they dined out at Hooked, an upscale seafood and sushi restaurant that serves a range of fresh dishes, from spicy lobster to crimpster.
According to a restaurant review from critic Heather Hower in EAT magazine, the highly recommended kinmedai - a half-cooked, half raw deep seared snapper dish - isn't always available, and prospective diners should contact Hooked directly for more information.
The Hooked website shows that prospective customers should reach out to the restaurant directly to find out more about the 'whole fish experience' prices. Regular dishes vary cost-wise, from $100.50 (£76.30) for a plate of crab legs, to $30.50 (£23.16) for a good old-fashioned serving of fish and chips.
Pinki was initially enraged by her husband's blunder, admitting: "I blamed him for not looking at the price tag. He said that he overlooked the price and thought that it might be $30.00 something or at least around $100 if not that. However, he told me that if the price concerned me then I should have looked at it too, arguing that I share the blame.
"That was not all. We ordered soup and wine as well, which were reasonably priced. But when you consider adding 25% tip after that. I can’t deny that the fish was very delicious, however, we wouldn’t have opted for that if we had known about it earlier".
The total bill was around $400. Pinki has since described the error as being "the stupidest thing we've ever done in our lives", and confesses that she had been "very annoyed" at her husband at first.
Remembering the scene that unfolded after the bill arrived, the master's degree student said: "My husband just gave me an uncomfortable hint, as if he wanted to admit something that he'd done something wrong. He asked if I could imagine the hefty price of the fish.
"I said jokingly, 'Not more than $100 right?' He said, 'Actually it’s $300, I overlooked the price'."
Pinki was "shocked" by the price and asked her husband if he was joking, as the cost of the fish was more than their one-way plane ticket on holiday.
Her husband explained he hadn't initially realised the cost of the fish, but he argued that as it came with a lot of sides they were simply paying for "eating well".
But this did little to lessen Pinki's "fuming rage" as she claims that she still would never have ordered the fish had she known.
She then encouraged Doy to eat everything on the plate, including the remaining bones, as the meal proved to be "the costliest thing in [her] life" and they had to get their money's worth.
To make matters more frustrating, the kinmedai, despite being very tasty, wasn’t even Pinki's favourite thing on the menu, and she'd only decided to give it a try with her husband as she hadn't wanted to add any more food to the bill.
She continued: "I hail from Assam in the northeast of India where people love fish very much and make various dishes like roasting them inside bamboos wrapped up in banana leaves with green chillies, salt, coriander, lemons, and other stuff placed inside depending on the taste. It tasted exactly like that. I loved the roasted smell and all the side dishes served alongside it.
"It tasted quite delicious but I don’t think it should be worth around $300. $100-$150 could have been better. But it is up to them since I wouldn’t know on what basis they would have set that high price. It may not be a high price for many but for a student like me at least, it is quite a high price".
After a bit of reflection, the couple talked things through in a calmer manner and decided that they were equally responsible for not checking the price of the fish.
They have since been able to share a chuckle at their mistake in retrospect, while their amused friends have also had "a good laugh about it".
Pinki added: "When we look back, we think it's funny and it also makes us realize that we shouldn’t miss the smallest details in life out of excitement. The colour of the fish made us so excited that we were like, 'Okay we choose this one fish for tonight’s happiness'. We have been so cautious about ordering food but that was such a big stupidity by us that we learned an important lesson in life.
"I would definitely go back to the restaurant and order the other fishes that the waiter showed us on the tray table, but only after we have kids and I land into a high-earning job. Then I would be less worried about suddenly spending something which we are not prepared to!"
The Mirror has reached out to Hooked for comment.
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