Should Lubbock Servers Be Required To Disclose “Junk Fees” When Taking Orders?

A post in a Lubbock restaurant group recently got quite a bit of attention. I'm not embedding it in this article because it got weirdly heated, and there is some language in the comments.

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I have mixed feelings on this one, and perhaps we can navigate the incident together. If you do look at the post, just let me say that I really like that restaurant, and please don't let this deter you from trying it. If you've already been, you know how excellent the food is.

"Adult" Charge On Local Restaurant Bill

An adult with a smaller appetite asked their server if they were allowed to order off the kid's menu and was told that they could. However, when they got the bill, there was a $1.99 upcharge for being an adult. This person's friend posted the receipt to a Lubbock restaurant group, and it got quite a bit of attention.

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Let me say that I absolutely agree that the server should have disclosed the upcharge, even if the amount is fairly low, and even if it was printed somewhere on the menu. And if they accidentally fail to mention it, they should not key it in and explain that there may be an upcharge next time.

But Is This A "Junk Fee"?

Many of the comments on the post discussed what are known as "junk fees" at restaurants- that is, fees for using a credit card, "operational" fees (whatever that means), or any number of undisclosed fees, like for live music or large party fees.

I'm not sure the "adult" fee would have been a junk fee if it had been disclosed. Many restaurants offer kids' plates at a loss as a way to entice parents to bring their families. Some operate at an actual loss of food cost, but most just lose out on the potential profit from an adult entree.

It can be a loss for the server, too, as most people tip as a percentage, and obviously the ticket will be half the amount but with the same level of service. Also, if the restaurant is busy, the party ordering the kid's plate could be taking up a table that could be used by people who are ready to spend.

What's The Solution?

Clearly, any fee should be disclosed on the menu, and if asked, a server should let the party know about the fee. However, as a grown adult with an adventurous palate, I'm never going to opt for a kid's quesadilla when I can love myself and get fajitas. To-go boxes exist to solve this issue, too.