Going out to eat can be quite an expensive endeavour, but sometimes it's worth the splurge – especially when we're catching up with good friends.

After all, good food and conversation are two of the best things in life! And if we want to enjoy a quality meal at our favourite restaurants, we should be prepared to pay a little extra.

However, there's one thing that diners should watch out for when they're perusing restaurant menus and chalking up their orders, and that's sneaky service charges.

Recently, a group of nine dining in Sydney was left feeling 'furious' after being charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee at popular Italian eatery Bar Totti's in the city’s central business district.

They dined on 13 appetisers, six main dishes, four side dishes, and drinks for a total of $826.75.

The group was shocked to find around a hundred dollars worth of fees they didn’t expect in their bill. Credit: 7News

An anonymous member of the group said they would have had no issue with paying a bit extra for tipping — not until they saw that they were charged for service and $30 for water!

‘It’s outrageous, it’s basically a mandatory tip. And for what? It was the most basic level of service anyway,’ she said.

‘The service charge makes no sense.’

In hindsight, the woman also slammed restaurant staff who brought over the three 1-litre water bottles and said nothing about additional fees.

‘Very sneaky,’ she said.

Bar Totti’s website displays a message before booking that groups of eight or more will incur a 10% service charge — something that didn’t sit well with the group member.

‘I don’t understand what the service charge is for - what they were doing for us that they weren’t already doing for a group of six or seven? Seems excessive,’ she said.

‘We know restaurants have struggled a lot in the last two years with the pandemic… but being charged an exorbitant amount for service and water with no explanation just doesn’t seem fair on customers.’

Merivale, the group behind Bar Totti’s, have not yet commented on the matter.

Over the past months, we’ve featured other stories of restaurants you’d also call sneaky for their unannounced surcharges.

Some restaurants have been criticised for ‘hidden’ surcharges and fees. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Joe L

An Aussie woman was in the same situation as these nine diners last October, having been charged an additional 10% for service (and in a small font!) on her receipt.

Another diner in Brisbane last September was also ‘furious’ over the many fees in fine print they saw on the menu of a restaurant they were eating at.

Perhaps it’s safe to say this is going on a lot more than what the headlines show, right?

So, what exactly do we do to avoid these sneaky little fees, especially at a time when Sunday surcharges are expected to become more common?

Key Takeaways

• A group of diners in Sydney were charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee and $30 for water at a popular Italian restaurant - despite already splurging more than $720 on dinner.
• The friends enjoyed a huge feast at Merivale’s Bar Totti’s in the city's CBD.
• A group member said the hidden service charge 'ruined' their pleasant dining experience.

Well, check the fine print or ask! As in the cases above, some restaurants place the surcharge notices where they’re hard to spot, which can lead to nasty post-meal surprises.

Be sure to take a few more seconds browsing the menu or your bill to be sure how much money you’re forking out and why. (Maybe even bring a magnifying glass just to let the restaurant staff know you’re on to them… kidding!)

And when checking the fine print fails (like in cases where you ask for water only to find out there’s a fee), be sure to ask if the service is free.

So, have you had experiences like this group of diners? Or maybe you have some other tips on how to spot hidden fees at restaurants?

Tell us in the comments section below!

 

[michaelcowan2]

Going out to eat can be quite an expensive endeavour, but sometimes it's worth the splurge – especially when we're catching up with good friends.

After all, good food and conversation are two of the best things in life! And if we want to enjoy a quality meal at our favourite restaurants, we should be prepared to pay a little extra.

However, there's one thing that diners should watch out for when they're perusing restaurant menus and chalking up their orders, and that's sneaky service charges.

Recently, a group of nine dining in Sydney was left feeling 'furious' after being charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee at popular Italian eatery Bar Totti's in the city’s central business district.

They dined on 13 appetisers, six main dishes, four side dishes, and drinks for a total of $826.75.

View attachment 8183

The group was shocked to find around a hundred dollars worth of fees they didn’t expect in their bill. Credit: 7News

An anonymous member of the group said they would have had no issue with paying a bit extra for tipping — not until they saw that they were charged for service and $30 for water!

‘It’s outrageous, it’s basically a mandatory tip. And for what? It was the most basic level of service anyway,’ she said.

‘The service charge makes no sense.’

In hindsight, the woman also slammed restaurant staff who brought over the three 1-litre water bottles and said nothing about additional fees.

‘Very sneaky,’ she said.

Bar Totti’s website displays a message before booking that groups of eight or more will incur a 10% service charge — something that didn’t sit well with the group member.

‘I don’t understand what the service charge is for - what they were doing for us that they weren’t already doing for a group of six or seven? Seems excessive,’ she said.

‘We know restaurants have struggled a lot in the last two years with the pandemic… but being charged an exorbitant amount for service and water with no explanation just doesn’t seem fair on customers.’

Merivale, the group behind Bar Totti’s, have not yet commented on the matter.

Over the past months, we’ve featured other stories of restaurants you’d also call sneaky for their unannounced surcharges.

View attachment 8185

Some restaurants have been criticised for ‘hidden’ surcharges and fees. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Joe L

An Aussie woman was in the same situation as these nine diners last October, having been charged an additional 10% for service (and in a small font!) on her receipt.

Another diner in Brisbane last September was also ‘furious’ over the many fees in fine print they saw on the menu of a restaurant they were eating at.

Perhaps it’s safe to say this is going on a lot more than what the headlines show, right?

So, what exactly do we do to avoid these sneaky little fees, especially at a time when Sunday surcharges are expected to become more common?

Key Takeaways

• A group of diners in Sydney were charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee and $30 for water at a popular Italian restaurant - despite already splurging more than $720 on dinner.
• The friends enjoyed a huge feast at Merivale’s Bar Totti’s in the city's CBD.
• A group member said the hidden service charge 'ruined' their pleasant dining experience.

Well, check the fine print or ask! As in the cases above, some restaurants place the surcharge notices where they’re hard to spot, which can lead to nasty post-meal surprises.

Be sure to take a few more seconds browsing the menu or your bill to be sure how much money you’re forking out and why. (Maybe even bring a magnifying glass just to let the restaurant staff know you’re on to them… kidding!)

And when checking the fine print fails (like in cases where you ask for water only to find out there’s a fee), be sure to ask if the service is free.

So, have you had experiences like this group of diners? Or maybe you have some other tips on how to spot hidden fees at restaurants?

Tell us in the comments section below!

I wouldn't go back and let the restaurant know why. I hate surprises -

 

[Ricci]

Who can afford those prices? I would be doing the washing up to pay off my bill as I might have budgeted for the advertised prices but not the extras. Why didn't they book for two tables, halve the booked numbers then ask for the tables to be pushed together!

 

[Peppa]

I would have paid for the food and nothing else

 

[Staffordshire Whippet]

Going out to eat can be quite an expensive endeavour, but sometimes it's worth the splurge – especially when we're catching up with good friends.

After all, good food and conversation are two of the best things in life! And if we want to enjoy a quality meal at our favourite restaurants, we should be prepared to pay a little extra.

However, there's one thing that diners should watch out for when they're perusing restaurant menus and chalking up their orders, and that's sneaky service charges.

Recently, a group of nine dining in Sydney was left feeling 'furious' after being charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee at popular Italian eatery Bar Totti's in the city’s central business district.

They dined on 13 appetisers, six main dishes, four side dishes, and drinks for a total of $826.75.

View attachment 8183

The group was shocked to find around a hundred dollars worth of fees they didn’t expect in their bill. Credit: 7News

An anonymous member of the group said they would have had no issue with paying a bit extra for tipping — not until they saw that they were charged for service and $30 for water!

‘It’s outrageous, it’s basically a mandatory tip. And for what? It was the most basic level of service anyway,’ she said.

‘The service charge makes no sense.’

In hindsight, the woman also slammed restaurant staff who brought over the three 1-litre water bottles and said nothing about additional fees.

‘Very sneaky,’ she said.

Bar Totti’s website displays a message before booking that groups of eight or more will incur a 10% service charge — something that didn’t sit well with the group member.

‘I don’t understand what the service charge is for - what they were doing for us that they weren’t already doing for a group of six or seven? Seems excessive,’ she said.

‘We know restaurants have struggled a lot in the last two years with the pandemic… but being charged an exorbitant amount for service and water with no explanation just doesn’t seem fair on customers.’

Merivale, the group behind Bar Totti’s, have not yet commented on the matter.

Over the past months, we’ve featured other stories of restaurants you’d also call sneaky for their unannounced surcharges.

View attachment 8185

Some restaurants have been criticised for ‘hidden’ surcharges and fees. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Joe L

An Aussie woman was in the same situation as these nine diners last October, having been charged an additional 10% for service (and in a small font!) on her receipt.

Another diner in Brisbane last September was also ‘furious’ over the many fees in fine print they saw on the menu of a restaurant they were eating at.

Perhaps it’s safe to say this is going on a lot more than what the headlines show, right?

So, what exactly do we do to avoid these sneaky little fees, especially at a time when Sunday surcharges are expected to become more common?

Key Takeaways

• A group of diners in Sydney were charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee and $30 for water at a popular Italian restaurant - despite already splurging more than $720 on dinner.
• The friends enjoyed a huge feast at Merivale’s Bar Totti’s in the city's CBD.
• A group member said the hidden service charge 'ruined' their pleasant dining experience.

Well, check the fine print or ask! As in the cases above, some restaurants place the surcharge notices where they’re hard to spot, which can lead to nasty post-meal surprises.

Be sure to take a few more seconds browsing the menu or your bill to be sure how much money you’re forking out and why. (Maybe even bring a magnifying glass just to let the restaurant staff know you’re on to them… kidding!)

And when checking the fine print fails (like in cases where you ask for water only to find out there’s a fee), be sure to ask if the service is free.

So, have you had experiences like this group of diners? Or maybe you have some other tips on how to spot hidden fees at restaurants?

Tell us in the comments section below!

Vote with your feet. Find a BYO; they live or die on the strength of their food, and are much less likely to pull shenanigans like this.

 

[Bilby]

I am a chef by trade but have not worked in hospitality for the last 18 years. It takes a fair bit of training and experience to become a chef - more than just doing an apprenticeship. Once you have made it as a chef the money is not that good on a pro rata basis.Restaurants are also a very high stress occupation. Not an occupation I would recommend anyone enter into. The entire food business is complex and difficult to understand. This one reason restaurants are the no one business failure.
The service charge could have been because it was a large group. This does create more work for the kitchen than to have the same as many small orders.

 

[TomDevine55]

Going out to eat can be quite an expensive endeavour, but sometimes it's worth the splurge – especially when we're catching up with good friends.

After all, good food and conversation are two of the best things in life! And if we want to enjoy a quality meal at our favourite restaurants, we should be prepared to pay a little extra.

However, there's one thing that diners should watch out for when they're perusing restaurant menus and chalking up their orders, and that's sneaky service charges.

Recently, a group of nine dining in Sydney was left feeling 'furious' after being charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee at popular Italian eatery Bar Totti's in the city’s central business district.

They dined on 13 appetisers, six main dishes, four side dishes, and drinks for a total of $826.75.

View attachment 8183

The group was shocked to find around a hundred dollars worth of fees they didn’t expect in their bill. Credit: 7News

An anonymous member of the group said they would have had no issue with paying a bit extra for tipping — not until they saw that they were charged for service and $30 for water!

‘It’s outrageous, it’s basically a mandatory tip. And for what? It was the most basic level of service anyway,’ she said.

‘The service charge makes no sense.’

In hindsight, the woman also slammed restaurant staff who brought over the three 1-litre water bottles and said nothing about additional fees.

‘Very sneaky,’ she said.

Bar Totti’s website displays a message before booking that groups of eight or more will incur a 10% service charge — something that didn’t sit well with the group member.

‘I don’t understand what the service charge is for - what they were doing for us that they weren’t already doing for a group of six or seven? Seems excessive,’ she said.

‘We know restaurants have struggled a lot in the last two years with the pandemic… but being charged an exorbitant amount for service and water with no explanation just doesn’t seem fair on customers.’

Merivale, the group behind Bar Totti’s, have not yet commented on the matter.

Over the past months, we’ve featured other stories of restaurants you’d also call sneaky for their unannounced surcharges.

View attachment 8185

Some restaurants have been criticised for ‘hidden’ surcharges and fees. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Joe L

An Aussie woman was in the same situation as these nine diners last October, having been charged an additional 10% for service (and in a small font!) on her receipt.

Another diner in Brisbane last September was also ‘furious’ over the many fees in fine print they saw on the menu of a restaurant they were eating at.

Perhaps it’s safe to say this is going on a lot more than what the headlines show, right?

So, what exactly do we do to avoid these sneaky little fees, especially at a time when Sunday surcharges are expected to become more common?

Key Takeaways

• A group of diners in Sydney were charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee and $30 for water at a popular Italian restaurant - despite already splurging more than $720 on dinner.
• The friends enjoyed a huge feast at Merivale’s Bar Totti’s in the city's CBD.
• A group member said the hidden service charge 'ruined' their pleasant dining experience.

Well, check the fine print or ask! As in the cases above, some restaurants place the surcharge notices where they’re hard to spot, which can lead to nasty post-meal surprises.

Be sure to take a few more seconds browsing the menu or your bill to be sure how much money you’re forking out and why. (Maybe even bring a magnifying glass just to let the restaurant staff know you’re on to them… kidding!)

And when checking the fine print fails (like in cases where you ask for water only to find out there’s a fee), be sure to ask if the service is free.

So, have you had experiences like this group of diners? Or maybe you have some other tips on how to spot hidden fees at restaurants?

Tell us in the comments section below!

I would just refuse to pay as this is not part of the service in Australia and then take them to court for deceptive practices. I would also take cash and not use a credit card so you dont get scammed with that surcharge either.

 

[TomDevine55]

I wouldn't go back and let the restaurant know why. I hate surprises -

It wasn't a surprise for them they knew what they were doing in ripping people off. If it doesnt state there is a surcharge up front and how much it is, then there is no legal requirement for you to pay.

 

[Macarj]

I am a chef by trade but have not worked in hospitality for the last 18 years. It takes a fair bit of training and experience to become a chef - more than just doing an apprenticeship. Oncce you have made it as a chef the money is not that good on a pro rata basis.Restaurants are also a very high stress occupation. Not an occupation I would recommend anyone enter into. The entire food business is complex and difficult to understand. This one reason restaurants are the no one business failure.
The service charge could have been because it was a large group. This does create more work for the kitchen than to have the same as many small orders.

That's fine but they should be upfront about the charge and also suppose those 9 customers decide not to dine that's a lot of lost revenue

 

[Macarj]

It always amazes me when restaurants complain about the amount of customers I would have thought that's what they would want big groups bring in big money they shouldn't be scaring them off by overcharging they might not come back

 

[Bernice S]

Going out to eat can be quite an expensive endeavour, but sometimes it's worth the splurge – especially when we're catching up with good friends.

After all, good food and conversation are two of the best things in life! And if we want to enjoy a quality meal at our favourite restaurants, we should be prepared to pay a little extra.

However, there's one thing that diners should watch out for when they're perusing restaurant menus and chalking up their orders, and that's sneaky service charges.

Recently, a group of nine dining in Sydney was left feeling 'furious' after being charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee at popular Italian eatery Bar Totti's in the city’s central business district.

They dined on 13 appetisers, six main dishes, four side dishes, and drinks for a total of $826.75.

View attachment 8183

The group was shocked to find around a hundred dollars worth of fees they didn’t expect in their bill. Credit: 7News

An anonymous member of the group said they would have had no issue with paying a bit extra for tipping — not until they saw that they were charged for service and $30 for water!

‘It’s outrageous, it’s basically a mandatory tip. And for what? It was the most basic level of service anyway,’ she said.

‘The service charge makes no sense.’

In hindsight, the woman also slammed restaurant staff who brought over the three 1-litre water bottles and said nothing about additional fees.

‘Very sneaky,’ she said.

Bar Totti’s website displays a message before booking that groups of eight or more will incur a 10% service charge — something that didn’t sit well with the group member.

‘I don’t understand what the service charge is for - what they were doing for us that they weren’t already doing for a group of six or seven? Seems excessive,’ she said.

‘We know restaurants have struggled a lot in the last two years with the pandemic… but being charged an exorbitant amount for service and water with no explanation just doesn’t seem fair on customers.’

Merivale, the group behind Bar Totti’s, have not yet commented on the matter.

Over the past months, we’ve featured other stories of restaurants you’d also call sneaky for their unannounced surcharges.

View attachment 8185

Some restaurants have been criticised for ‘hidden’ surcharges and fees. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Joe L

An Aussie woman was in the same situation as these nine diners last October, having been charged an additional 10% for service (and in a small font!) on her receipt.

Another diner in Brisbane last September was also ‘furious’ over the many fees in fine print they saw on the menu of a restaurant they were eating at.

Perhaps it’s safe to say this is going on a lot more than what the headlines show, right?

So, what exactly do we do to avoid these sneaky little fees, especially at a time when Sunday surcharges are expected to become more common?

Key Takeaways

• A group of diners in Sydney were charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee and $30 for water at a popular Italian restaurant - despite already splurging more than $720 on dinner.
• The friends enjoyed a huge feast at Merivale’s Bar Totti’s in the city's CBD.
• A group member said the hidden service charge 'ruined' their pleasant dining experience.

Well, check the fine print or ask! As in the cases above, some restaurants place the surcharge notices where they’re hard to spot, which can lead to nasty post-meal surprises.

Be sure to take a few more seconds browsing the menu or your bill to be sure how much money you’re forking out and why. (Maybe even bring a magnifying glass just to let the restaurant staff know you’re on to them… kidding!)

And when checking the fine print fails (like in cases where you ask for water only to find out there’s a fee), be sure to ask if the service is free.

So, have you had experiences like this group of diners? Or maybe you have some other tips on how to spot hidden fees at restaurants?

Tell us in the comments section below!

Wow what a ripoff. Expensive lesson to learn. Would be the last time I would ever go there and I would make sure that everyone at the table told all of their friends about this place. Hope the food and water was good.

 

[Singomate]

A rip off pure and simple, I bet he would first to put his handout for Government assistance, during pandemic. He is lucky to get a big booking., as for it being more difficult in the Kitchen bloody rubbish.

 

[TomDevine55]

That's fine but they should be upfront about the charge and also suppose those 9 customers decide not to dine that's a lot of lost revenue

That is no excuse, what if there were 9 extra customers at different tables. Is that too much work. Its purely a rip off and I for one wouldnt pay unless the deceitful restuarants told you there would be a surcharge and what it would be. Thats then gives you the choice of going to a restuarant that doesnt rip people off. Take cash and pay for what you consumed not extra for them serving you. I saw by the exhorbinate prices the service was already built in, good try though.

 

[possum12]

Going out to eat can be quite an expensive endeavour, but sometimes it's worth the splurge – especially when we're catching up with good friends.

After all, good food and conversation are two of the best things in life! And if we want to enjoy a quality meal at our favourite restaurants, we should be prepared to pay a little extra.

However, there's one thing that diners should watch out for when they're perusing restaurant menus and chalking up their orders, and that's sneaky service charges.

Recently, a group of nine dining in Sydney was left feeling 'furious' after being charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee at popular Italian eatery Bar Totti's in the city’s central business district.

They dined on 13 appetisers, six main dishes, four side dishes, and drinks for a total of $826.75.

View attachment 8183

The group was shocked to find around a hundred dollars worth of fees they didn’t expect in their bill. Credit: 7News

An anonymous member of the group said they would have had no issue with paying a bit extra for tipping — not until they saw that they were charged for service and $30 for water!

‘It’s outrageous, it’s basically a mandatory tip. And for what? It was the most basic level of service anyway,’ she said.

‘The service charge makes no sense.’

In hindsight, the woman also slammed restaurant staff who brought over the three 1-litre water bottles and said nothing about additional fees.

‘Very sneaky,’ she said.

Bar Totti’s website displays a message before booking that groups of eight or more will incur a 10% service charge — something that didn’t sit well with the group member.

‘I don’t understand what the service charge is for - what they were doing for us that they weren’t already doing for a group of six or seven? Seems excessive,’ she said.

‘We know restaurants have struggled a lot in the last two years with the pandemic… but being charged an exorbitant amount for service and water with no explanation just doesn’t seem fair on customers.’

Merivale, the group behind Bar Totti’s, have not yet commented on the matter.

Over the past months, we’ve featured other stories of restaurants you’d also call sneaky for their unannounced surcharges.

View attachment 8185

Some restaurants have been criticised for ‘hidden’ surcharges and fees. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Joe L

An Aussie woman was in the same situation as these nine diners last October, having been charged an additional 10% for service (and in a small font!) on her receipt.

Another diner in Brisbane last September was also ‘furious’ over the many fees in fine print they saw on the menu of a restaurant they were eating at.

Perhaps it’s safe to say this is going on a lot more than what the headlines show, right?

So, what exactly do we do to avoid these sneaky little fees, especially at a time when Sunday surcharges are expected to become more common?

Key Takeaways

• A group of diners in Sydney were charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee and $30 for water at a popular Italian restaurant - despite already splurging more than $720 on dinner.
• The friends enjoyed a huge feast at Merivale’s Bar Totti’s in the city's CBD.
• A group member said the hidden service charge 'ruined' their pleasant dining experience.

Well, check the fine print or ask! As in the cases above, some restaurants place the surcharge notices where they’re hard to spot, which can lead to nasty post-meal surprises.

Be sure to take a few more seconds browsing the menu or your bill to be sure how much money you’re forking out and why. (Maybe even bring a magnifying glass just to let the restaurant staff know you’re on to them… kidding!)

And when checking the fine print fails (like in cases where you ask for water only to find out there’s a fee), be sure to ask if the service is free.

So, have you had experiences like this group of diners? Or maybe you have some other tips on how to spot hidden fees at restaurants?

Tell us in the comments section below!

Unbelievable

 

[Maurie7]

I am a chef by trade but have not worked in hospitality for the last 18 years. It takes a fair bit of training and experience to become a chef - more than just doing an apprenticeship. Oncce you have made it as a chef the money is not that good on a pro rata basis.Restaurants are also a very high stress occupation. Not an occupation I would recommend anyone enter into. The entire food business is complex and difficult to understand. This one reason restaurants are the no one business failure.
The service charge could have been because it was a large group. This does create more work for the kitchen than to have the same as many small orders.

Crap, if a restaurant is full whether it's one large group or all little groups it's still the same amount of diners. All surcharges should be up front and up to the customer to accept or not, $10 for a litre of water is a bit rich.

 

[Buddinggems]

And the prices on that bill already look pretty hefty! Restaurant prices are really through the roof since covid

 

[Ben]

Going out to eat can be quite an expensive endeavour, but sometimes it's worth the splurge – especially when we're catching up with good friends.

After all, good food and conversation are two of the best things in life! And if we want to enjoy a quality meal at our favourite restaurants, we should be prepared to pay a little extra.

However, there's one thing that diners should watch out for when they're perusing restaurant menus and chalking up their orders, and that's sneaky service charges.

Recently, a group of nine dining in Sydney was left feeling 'furious' after being charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee at popular Italian eatery Bar Totti's in the city’s central business district.

They dined on 13 appetisers, six main dishes, four side dishes, and drinks for a total of $826.75.

View attachment 8183

The group was shocked to find around a hundred dollars worth of fees they didn’t expect in their bill. Credit: 7News

An anonymous member of the group said they would have had no issue with paying a bit extra for tipping — not until they saw that they were charged for service and $30 for water!

‘It’s outrageous, it’s basically a mandatory tip. And for what? It was the most basic level of service anyway,’ she said.

‘The service charge makes no sense.’

In hindsight, the woman also slammed restaurant staff who brought over the three 1-litre water bottles and said nothing about additional fees.

‘Very sneaky,’ she said.

Bar Totti’s website displays a message before booking that groups of eight or more will incur a 10% service charge — something that didn’t sit well with the group member.

‘I don’t understand what the service charge is for - what they were doing for us that they weren’t already doing for a group of six or seven? Seems excessive,’ she said.

‘We know restaurants have struggled a lot in the last two years with the pandemic… but being charged an exorbitant amount for service and water with no explanation just doesn’t seem fair on customers.’

Merivale, the group behind Bar Totti’s, have not yet commented on the matter.

Over the past months, we’ve featured other stories of restaurants you’d also call sneaky for their unannounced surcharges.

View attachment 8185

Some restaurants have been criticised for ‘hidden’ surcharges and fees. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Joe L

An Aussie woman was in the same situation as these nine diners last October, having been charged an additional 10% for service (and in a small font!) on her receipt.

Another diner in Brisbane last September was also ‘furious’ over the many fees in fine print they saw on the menu of a restaurant they were eating at.

Perhaps it’s safe to say this is going on a lot more than what the headlines show, right?

So, what exactly do we do to avoid these sneaky little fees, especially at a time when Sunday surcharges are expected to become more common?

Key Takeaways

• A group of diners in Sydney were charged almost $75 for a 'mandatory' service fee and $30 for water at a popular Italian restaurant - despite already splurging more than $720 on dinner.
• The friends enjoyed a huge feast at Merivale’s Bar Totti’s in the city's CBD.
• A group member said the hidden service charge 'ruined' their pleasant dining experience.

Well, check the fine print or ask! As in the cases above, some restaurants place the surcharge notices where they’re hard to spot, which can lead to nasty post-meal surprises.

Be sure to take a few more seconds browsing the menu or your bill to be sure how much money you’re forking out and why. (Maybe even bring a magnifying glass just to let the restaurant staff know you’re on to them… kidding!)

And when checking the fine print fails (like in cases where you ask for water only to find out there’s a fee), be sure to ask if the service is free.

So, have you had experiences like this group of diners? Or maybe you have some other tips on how to spot hidden fees at restaurants?

Tell us in the comments section below!

Water should be free it comes out of the tap 100 %profet.any charge in fine print does not have to be paid.All prices have to be in the same print

 

[Jarred Santos]

I am a chef by trade but have not worked in hospitality for the last 18 years. It takes a fair bit of training and experience to become a chef - more than just doing an apprenticeship. Oncce you have made it as a chef the money is not that good on a pro rata basis.Restaurants are also a very high stress occupation. Not an occupation I would recommend anyone enter into. The entire food business is complex and difficult to understand. This one reason restaurants are the no one business failure.
The service charge could have been because it was a large group. This does create more work for the kitchen than to have the same as many small orders.

Thanks for this insight, @Bilby! (And of course, everyone! We love when you share your thoughts.)

 

[Bilby]

A rip off pure and simple, I bet he would first to put his handout for Government assistance, during pandemic. He is lucky to get a big booking., as for it being more difficult in the Kitchen bloody rubbish.

Just to expound. When you are cooking for a table of 10 it is more work than the same orders for 5 tables of 2. When cooking for a table of 10 it is a juggling act. If you start cooking everything at once the items that take the shortest time to cook ,will be overcooked when served up. Anyone can be an armchair critic, but it is another thing to come up with the goods yourself.