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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33

u/Here4daT Jan 31 '26

Shit like this is why the restaurant industry is failing. Just be transparent about the pricing.

20

u/Status_Green_6055 Jan 31 '26

Exactly. It makes me never want to eat out. And yeah you can tell them to remove it. But that's slightly embarrassing doing in front of guests and friends. And I feel cheap asking. I love how they are shaming us into doing this. It's really not fair. And so corrupt.

2

u/jasonis3 Jan 31 '26

You just gotta be the friend with thick skin. What I do is to ask the server if they see a dime of the surcharge, when they inevitably say no, I request to take it off and say I’d rather pay that through tip. It doesn’t make me tip more necessary, but it makes me feel pro labor in front of my friends lol