Can a restaurant add a service charge without telling me?

Q: Ten of us went out for a meal at a local restaurant and had a lovely evening until the bill arrived. The restaurant had added a 10% service charge, which nobody had mentioned when we booked or ordered. I checked the menu again and couldn’t see it listed anywhere. We were happy to pay for our food, but this unexpected extra left a bad taste. Can a restaurant just add a service charge without telling us?

Sandra, Wexford 

A surprise charge can ruin a good night out. Restaurants can apply a service charge, but it must be clearly displayed with their prices, so you know what to expect before ordering.

Under the Retail Prices (Food in Catering Establishments) Display Order, 1984, restaurants and cafés must display a price list immediately outside or inside each entrance. Prices, including any service charge, cover charge or minimum charge, must also be displayed. Prices may be shown on menus or a clear display such as a blackboard. You should not have to wait for the bill to discover the full cost of your meal.

Having a table of ten does not change those obligations. As you could not see the charge on the menu, raise this with the owner or manager. Explain that the extra 10% came as a surprise and ask where it was displayed. Also check the price list at the entrance.

If you are unhappy with their response, put your complaint in writing. Include your booking details, a copy of the bill and any photographs of the menu or displayed prices, if you have them. Say how you would like the matter resolved, for example, by asking for a refund of the service charge if you have already paid it.

Hopefully, a quick conversation with the restaurant will clear things up. You can also bring the issue to the CCPC’s attention. While the CCPC cannot intervene in an individual dispute, reports from consumers help the CCPC to spot recurring problems and potential breaches of consumer law. 

This originally appeared in the Sunday Independent on 20 September 2026: Your questions answered: ‘Can a restaurant add a service charge without notifying customers first?’ | Irish Independent