Had this happen in a similar circumstance in FRA, where we missed our connection to the last UA flight of the day due to LH ramp staff issues. LH also denied EC261 comp, claiming it was WX and not within their control, but that's another matter altogether.

The hotel they put us up in was fine and "included breakfast," and gave us similar vouchers as J pax who were delayed. But... breakfast was not off the regular menu and in fact could not be taken in the restaurant, but rather a special "delayed pax" breakfast area, and consisted of hard-boiled eggs and small single-serving boxes of cereal. Dinner vouchers, even combined, didn't cover anything on the menu (at least they let us order off the regular menu--though I bet if we'd shown the vouchers first, we'd have gotten a similar story as the OP and been told we could only order the special set meal--we just stuffed them in the bill with enough cash to cover the shortfall and left).

Travel insurance can help in situations like this--I've usually taken the flat rate per diem claim when on a single night delay--if you buy it (I rarely do).