It's pretty common where I live in Asia, and they almost always write it on their menu, too. I don't really see it as shenanigans as long as it's communicated in advance. We don't have a tipping culture, though.

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JohnFen 11 hours ago | parent | next [-]

They disclose it in the US as well. It's shenanigans to me because it's sneaky. Rather than being honest an increasing the price of the food, they're using a "service fee" separately to try to trick you into thinking the restaurant is less expensive than it is. I genuinely find it offensive, for pretty much the same reason that I find tipping culture offensive.

	▲	ryandrake 7 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Yea, taken to the extreme, I don't think anyone would think it's fair: Restaurant A's pasta is $14.95, printed clearly on the menu. Restaurant B's pasta is $13, with a 15% service fee written in tiny letters on the menu somewhere. Restaurant C's pasta is $2.99, with a 500% service fee written in tiny letters on the menu somewhere. You're paying the same thing at each restaurant. If you think C is sneaky and unethical (which I hope everyone would), then why is B ok?

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account42 10 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Anything where the sticker price is not the full price you pay is "shenanigans" as far as I'm concerned.