There's nothing like a little live entertainment to spice up a meal, although in this case, four diners at a Shenzhen restaurant could have done without.

All reportedly lost their appetite after a large rat clambered down the wall and jumped onto their table, briefly splashing into their hot pot before making its escape.

The incident occurred around dinner time, April 3, at a mall restaurant in Bao'an District. A man surnamed Lin and three friends were the first to spot the rodent, alerting the rest of the restaurant with their screams.

According to Lin, the restaurant manager offered to replace their broth but otherwise refused responsibility for the rodent, claiming that it had come from outside the restaurant. He also insisted that the party pay the full price for their meal, RMB307.

A disgruntled Lin reported the incident to city inspectors, who came to check on the restaurant in question. They found no pests, but did report a broken fridge and open can of sauce covered in mold.

One inspector told reporters that the restaurant's rating would be bumped down to a C, and that inspectors would follow up on the issues that had been uncovered. They also made sure that restaurant staff returned the sum Lin's party had paid.

Though they got their money back, the four diners will doubtless be double-checking their restaurant choices in the future. Netizens too chimed in with shock and dismay, with one Weibo user commenting, "I'm feeling as weak-hearted as a rat."

Another user chose to focus on the oddity of the incident: "What's wrong with this rat? Suicidally jumping into the hot pot like that."

See the pot-hopping pest for yourself below (VPN off):

https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=x0026i85nvv&width=500&height=375&auto=0

[Image via TVS News]

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