Restaurant service charges are suddenly everywhere. What gives?

These days, restaurant bills no longer just include an entrée, an appetizer and a few drinks. Restaurants are adding specific charges to cover the growing cost of labor. Yet these charges anger customers and could lure regulators. This package explores this growing trend from the perspective of operators, servers and customers.



A FEW OBSERVATIONS



SOME SERVERS THINK SERVICE FEES LEAD TO LEGAL THEFTREAD MORE
“There are businesses around the country that are doing this and are really putting themselves at risk by not disclosing at all, and just having it come when the check comes.”
-Riley Lagesen. Attorney at Greenberg Traurig


PODCAST: WHY MORE RESTAURANTS ARE ADDING SERVICE FEESLISTEN HERE

FILES FROM THE FIELD

RB’s editors captured photographs revealing the impact and controversy of service charge fees from several restaurants.