AZE.US
Some restaurants in Baku are adding service and entertainment fees of up to 30% to customers’ bills, according to a local television report.
In addition to menu prices, diners may be charged a service fee, while restaurants offering live music or a show program can impose a separate entertainment surcharge.
Customers said restaurants in central Baku commonly add a 10% service charge. At venues with musical performances, the total surcharge can rise to between 20% and 30%.
One diner said a 30% music fee was disclosed only after the bill arrived.
Some customers argued that entertainment should already be included in a restaurant’s prices, particularly when guests did not visit specifically to see a performer.
Restaurant representatives said service charges are generally distributed among waiters, bartenders and kitchen staff.
One venue said it charges 10% for service and an additional 5% on evenings with live music, with the extra revenue going to performers.
Restaurants may also agree to pay singers or show organizers a percentage of customers’ bills instead of a fixed fee.
Marketing specialist Samir Mehdiyev said the central issue is whether customers are informed in advance.
Consumers should know the full cost of all goods and services, including service and entertainment charges, before placing an order, he said.
Mehdiyev noted that restaurants may introduce additional fees, but they must be clearly disclosed and should represent only a limited portion of the total bill.
He added that ordinary restaurants should not impose mandatory music fees on customers.
AZE.US