California says restaurants must bake all of their add-on fees into menu prices.
Their menus will be required to list comprehensive prices for each item, with all mandatory charges baked into one figure.
Only fees that are entirely optional — like leaving a tip for staff — can be left out of the posted price.
If a business violates the mandate, the law allows a consumer to seek "actual damages of at least $1,000."
Under the new guidelines, Thomas' organization said in an email to NPR, restaurants will be forced to impose "significant menu price increases."
And if customers eat out less, it warns, "Not only will restaurants struggle, but workers will lose hours and jobs.".
Thomas says she has always advocated for restaurants to be clear about any additional fees they charge. »
