3 Things You May Be Unknowingly Charged For At Your Favorite Restaurant!

I came across a Wall Street Journal article recently that talked about inflation and how the prices of nearly everything are going up due to inflation. No big surprise to anyone, we have been seeing it with our own eyes as of late. It is especially tough for small businesses right now, specifically restaurants. The pandemic really threw things off course, with supply-chain shortages and staffing issues having been a problem for quite some time now. 

What does this mean for us? Extra charges are what it means, unfortunately. Either my favorite restaurant goes out of business, shuts down, has very limited hours of operation, or I pay extra for certain things. And let me tell you, boy have we paid extra. You might want to keep an eye on your check next time you eat out.

THREE THINGS I WAS CHARGED FOR AT SOME OF MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS:

1. A TO GO CUP! waitstaff was sneaky about it too! When we first ordered our drinks, the waiter asked if we would like our drinks brought out in a 'to-go' cup. Sure! I typically like to take a tea for the road anyway. That will be a .50 cent surcharge, thank you have a nice day! I noticed when we received our check at the end of our meal.

2. CHIPS AND SALSA-we took this one for granted for far too long. We learned the other day not to expect unlimited chips and salsa anymore. Don't be surprised if from now on at your favorite Mexican food restaurant, chips and salsa are no longer free of charge. Who among us hasn't filled up on the chips and salsa before you even get your meal? It is not a bad idea to ask from now on, 'Are these free?'

3.  MANDATORY GRATUITY CHARGE- I mean think about it, these days you can walk into just about any establishment and be prompted to tip the person speaking to you. Most fast-food restaurants ask if you would like to tip the person taking your order. But just know that back in the day you decided whether you wanted to tip your server or not, based on good or bad service. These days, in some cases, the gratuity may just show up on your tickets, like it or not.

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