Healthy living, mandatory service fees and more: What’s up with these surcharges on my restaurant bill?

Anthony Le keeps an eye on tables during his dinner shift as line cook Edgar Cameros peeks looks out from the kichen at Flea Street. Le works front of house as a server and back of house as a pastry chef, which Flea Street encourages with its “Heart of House” approach. Photo by Anna Hoch-Kenney.

A surcharge on a restaurant bill is more than just a number – it’s a reflection of California’s minimum wage, tip distribution laws and even regulations on treatment of animals. Some say a surcharge is a bandage, not necessarily a long-term solution, to help relieve restaurants struggling with high costs. 

As Senate Bill 1524 (which would amend the junk fee ban to exclude restaurants) makes its way toward Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, restaurant owners are stuck in limbo on whether they can continue implementing surcharges next month. And if SB 1524 passes without clear guidelines on how to disclose surcharges “clearly and conspicuously,” restaurants may face even larger problems.

If anything I said confuses you, don’t worry! I’ve explained as much as I could about the surcharge debate within a reasonable length in this week’s food feature. And if you need some lighter reading, I also wrote about the upcoming July 4 chili cook-off in Palo Alto and Sophia Markoulakis has you covered with a story on a new Turkish restaurant.

Stay tasty,
Adrienne

Here’s what you need to know about the potential surcharge ban in the restaurant industry

“I firmly believe that these kinds of policies don’t help us, they don’t help the small businesses, and whether or not the intention is good, I just feel like there’s a lot of damage being done,” said Ted Kim, owner of Steins Beer Garden in Mountain View. “Sometimes I feel like they’re trying to treat a cut on the hand of a terminally ill cancer patient.”

A Turkish restaurant in San Carlos opens, an upcoming Palo Alto chili cook-off and a Campbell oyster bar closes

Joe Hidalgo, left, is throwing the pingpong ball for the game of Beer Pong with his friend Jonathan Iloreta at the Summer Festival and Chili Cook-Off in Mitchell Park, Palo Alto on July 4th, 2023. Photo by Vivian Cromwell.
  • Turkish restaurant Esnaf opened in San Carlos earlier this month in the former Cuisinett location.
  • The city of Palo Alto is hosting its 40th July 4 Chili Cook Off with food trucks, margaritas, games and more.
  • Eat with your eyes at the Palo Alto Art Center’s latest exhibition, “What’s Cookin’?” running now through Aug. 18. 
  • Butter Chicken Social, an Indian fusion concept that opened late last year in Sunnyvale, is switching concepts to Peppermint – Indian Restaurant.
  • Forthright Oyster Bar & Kitchen in Campbell shucked its last oyster on Sunday and is now permanently closed.
  • Love “Back to the Future” and pizza? Linda Mar Shopping Center in Pacifica is hosting a “Movie and Dinner Night” on Saturday. Admission is free and preordered pizzas from Round Table – Linda Mar will be a third of the price.
  • Ale Arsenal in San Carlos is celebrating its 12th anniversary Friday through Sunday with specialty beers.
  • Love berries? You can now handpick organic blackberries, olallieberries and marionberries at Webb Ranch in Portola Valley on Saturdays from 8-11 a.m. 

Dosa at Madras Cafe

If you’ve ever woken up extremely hungry and want something filling and flavorful, I’d suggest trying dosa. This giant crispy crepe can be filled with potatoes and vegetables and served alongside a variety of chutneys. While your parents may have urged you to eat with utensils as a kid, those aren’t needed here. Rip off a piece of crispy crepe while pinching the filling and dunk it into any of the three chutneys before popping the bite-sized piece into your mouth. Depending on which sauce you choose, the bite might be spicy, earthy or sweet.

Madras Cafe is a pay-at-the-counter, no-frills establishment in Sunnyvale that can get pretty packed on weekends. Fun fact: Nearby Butter Chicken Social (now Peppermint) is co-owned by the Madras Cafe owner. 

Madras Cafe, 177 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale; 408-737-2323. Open Tuesday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Oh Baby Sushi's vegan Veggie Tiger roll has tempura pumpkin and asparagus inside and is topped with special sauce and crispy walnut. Photo by Stephanie Gerson.

Vegan variety: 10 Peninsula eateries serving up plant-based fare

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Adrienne Mitchel is the Food Editor at Embarcadero Media. As the Peninsula Foodist, she's always on the hunt for the next food story (and the next bite to eat!). Adrienne received a BFA in Broadcast...