What is the "CNF" or service fee added to some Las Vegas restaurant bills?
1 answer
CNF means Concession and Franchise Fee: a 3% to 5% surcharge some Strip restaurants add to cover what the casino charges them to operate there. It is not a tip, and none of it goes to your server.
How to tell the lines apart
- CNF: a surcharge for the restaurant's landlord. Treat it like a tax.
- Service charge or automatic gratuity: a different line, common for larger parties. Automatic gratuity does go to staff, so do not tip twice.
Where you will see it
Mostly in the big resort-operated restaurant groups on the Strip; less often Downtown and rarely off-Strip. The list changes.
Can you get it removed?
Restaurants are supposed to disclose it on the menu or at the entrance. If it appears on the bill with no disclosure anywhere, ask the manager to explain it; many will take it off. If it was disclosed, you can still ask, but expect a no.
The habit that protects you: read the itemized check before you add a tip, tip 15 to 20% on the pre-tax food and drink total, and leave the CNF line out of the math.
The other surcharges you meet on a trip, from parking to ATM fees, are in hidden fees in Las Vegas; tipping by role is in the tipping guide.