VERIFY: Can restaurants add service fees to your bill?

How often do you inspect your receipt at a restaurant before you pay? One person emailed our Verify team saying a local restaurant charged them a service fee that didn't include a tip. They want to know if restaurants can mandate service fees.

Viewer Cyrstal S sent us this email saying:

My friend and I made a reservation at Leah and Louise. Upon being informed of the menu, we were told there was an automatic 40-dollar fee added to our bill to offset the cost of workers' health care and investment options. They went on to say this fee was not inclusive of a tip but added regardless.

The question: Can a restaurant mandate such a fee and charge it regardless of your preference?

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