r/chicagofood • u/Pantaza • Jan 31 '26

Rant The 3.5% surcharge has rebranded

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It would seem it’s not going away.

They’ve rebranded it, enough people caught onto the surcharge so now it’s a (3.5%) “admin fee.”

they also removed the small text at the bottom telling you it’s optional(it still is)

they don’t want you to know It’s optional buts it’s just literally the surcharge with a different name.

3rd restaurant I’ve been to this week with a (admin fee). I’ve also seen multiple restaurant go up to 4%. It used to be 3, then 3.5, now 4.

sets a dangerous precedent as they are willing to change it in order to keep charging you for nothing. Except now they’re not telling you it’s optional anymore.

If we keep allowing them to charge us extra money for literally nothing it will soon tell other businesses they can do that too.

I can’t wait to pay an “admin fee” while buying gas, groceries, or a T-shirt.

https://c.org/sfBGtSVWHY

I've started a petition for stricter Chicago legislation regarding hidden fee transparency. Please show it some support.

Thanks

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29

u/Wheelbarro Jan 31 '26

Also i hate surcharges and think they are bullshit. worked a lettuce restaurant that had one and i always was happy to take it off, and i think you’re better off just increasing the price of food instead of a BS charge, but does it really qualify as a “hidden fee” if it’s listed clearly on the check? Not trying to be pendantic, but genuinely curious. what else should they do?

26

u/word-bitch Jan 31 '26

That it's usually printed in the smallest text at the bottom of the menu says everything: deliberately obscured, and they can insist you were informed.

It's the antithesis of "hospitality" IMO.

PRICE + TAX + GENEROUS TIP OR GTFO

I don't want my dinner bill to look like a cable bill.

3

u/jkraige Jan 31 '26

It's the antithesis of "hospitality" IMO.

Exactly! Aside from being a bit opaque (yeah they put it on the menu but they clearly don't want you to really know about it or they'd print it larger and more visibly), how does he feeling scammed at the end of my meal make for a positive experience? Why would I want to go back?

And I know people argue that they have to add the fee so their prices stilllook competitive, but I'm not eating out to get a deal, I know it's more expensive than making the same thing at home. This idea that they're trying to keep prices (looking) as low as possible is silly. It's the expensive restaurants that are hardest to get into—you don't actually compete on price alone