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Home › Pay › Nickel-and-dime tactics › Restaurant surcharges
Prices that hide or grow

Surcharges and service fees added to your restaurant bill

More restaurants now add a percentage or flat fee to the check, with names like service charge, kitchen appreciation fee, or credit card surcharge. Some are posted clearly, and some appear only on the receipt. These charges are often legal, but they can be confusing, especially when you are not sure whether the fee replaces a tip or comes on top of it.

Where you’ll see it

Automatic service chargeSome restaurants add a set percentage to every check, not just large groups. It may or may not go to your server, and the menu may or may not explain it.
Kitchen or wellness feesSome restaurants add a small fee said to support kitchen staff, health benefits, or wages. The cause may be real, but it is a cost of running the restaurant added after the menu price.
Credit card surchargesSome restaurants add a percentage when you pay with a credit card. Others offer a cash discount instead. Either way, the price on the menu is not what card users pay.
Large-party gratuityMany restaurants add an automatic tip for groups of six or more. This is common and usually noted on the menu, but it is easy to miss and tip twice.
Split-plate and corkage feesSome restaurants charge to split one dish between two people or to open a bottle you bring. These are usually listed, but are often missed until the check comes.
Fees on takeout and online ordersSome restaurants add service or packaging fees to takeout and online orders, separate from any delivery app fees. The order total ends up higher than the menu prices suggest.

What it really costs them

Restaurants have real costs. Food, rent, wages, and card processing fees all add up, and margins can be thin. Card networks do charge businesses a fee on each card sale. So it is fair to say these costs exist.

The issue is how they are shown. A fee added after the menu price makes the meal look cheaper than it is, and it can be unclear whether a service charge goes to staff. Most other businesses build their costs into prices. When a restaurant does not, you deserve to see the fee before you order, not after you eat.

How to spot it

  • A small note at the bottom of the menu mentions a percentage or fee.
  • The receipt shows a line like service, kitchen, wellness, or surcharge.
  • A sign at the door or register mentions card fees or cash discounts.
  • The tip line still appears even though a service charge was added.
  • The fee is listed as a percentage, so it grows with your bill.

What you can do

  1. Read the menu and signs for fees before you order.
  2. Ask the server whether a service charge goes to staff and whether it replaces the tip.
  3. Check the receipt before tipping so you do not tip twice.
  4. Pay with cash or debit if that avoids a card surcharge.
  5. Ask a manager to remove a fee that was not disclosed before ordering.
  6. Report undisclosed fees to your state attorney general, and dispute a card charge if needed.
Things you can say:
  • “Does this restaurant add any service charges or fees to the bill?”
  • “Does the service charge go to my server, or should I still tip?”
  • “Is there a fee for paying by card?”

Rules and your rights

There is no federal rule specific to restaurant fees, and the FTC's fees rule does not cover restaurants. In California, SB 1524 lets restaurants charge mandatory fees only if clearly displayed wherever prices are shown, such as on the menu. Minnesota's price transparency law requires mandatory restaurant fees other than automatic gratuities to be included in the advertised price. Some states also limit credit card surcharges. Other rules vary by state.

Related common problems

Related guides

Common questions

Is a restaurant service charge the same as a tip?

Not always. A tip is voluntary and generally goes to staff. A service charge is set by the restaurant and may be kept by the business or shared in other ways. Ask your server how the charge is used, and check the receipt before deciding whether to leave more.

Can a restaurant charge extra for paying with a credit card?

In many states, yes, if the surcharge is clearly disclosed. Some states limit or ban credit card surcharges, and card networks have their own rules. If you see a surcharge, you can often avoid it by paying with cash or a debit card. Ask before you pay.

Can I ask to have a restaurant fee removed?

Yes. If a fee was not posted on the menu or explained before you ordered, politely ask a manager to remove it. Many will. If they refuse and you believe the fee was hidden, you can dispute a card charge or report it to your state attorney general.

Had this happen? Sharing what you were charged helps others spot it.

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Sources: California Attorney General: SB 478 Hidden Fees (includes SB 1524 restaurant rules) ↗ · Minnesota Attorney General: Price Transparency Law FAQ ↗ · FTC: What the Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees means for you ↗ · Visa: U.S. Merchant Surcharge Q&A ↗

General consumer information, not legal or financial advice. Practices and prices change; check the business’s current terms. AblePro has no relationship with any company named here.