Renowned comedian Sebastian Maniscalco has unleashed his trademark wit on what he deems as exorbitant fees encountered during a recent dining experience.
Maniscalco took to his social media platforms to vent his frustration over what he termed a “COVID fee” imposed by a restaurant he patronized. The fee, totaling $3, left Maniscalco questioning its justification. “I went to a restaurant last night, and I got the bill and they charged me a COVID fee,” he quipped incredulously. “I asked the guy. I go, ‘What’s the COVID fee?’ He goes, ‘Yeah, well, we gotta wipe down the menus.’ Wipe down the menus? You’re charging $3 to wipe down your own menus? Before COVID, what, you just brought out the menu with spaghetti sauce on it?”
While Maniscalco opted not to disclose the specific restaurant or its location, his commentary underscores a growing sentiment among patrons nationwide.
Many eateries have implemented COVID-related fees during the pandemic to offset additional expenses incurred due to safety measures. These surcharges, aimed at covering costs like personal protective equipment and enhanced sanitization protocols, have become a bone of contention for consumers like Maniscalco.
Yet, even as the pandemic wanes, some establishments persist in levying these fees. Reports suggest that factors like inflation have contributed to this ongoing practice.
In a further jab at the restaurant’s billing practices, Maniscalco revealed being saddled with a credit card surcharge of 3.5% during the same outing. Such charges, commonly justified as covering transaction processing costs, have drawn criticism from consumers who view them as unnecessary add-ons.
“It’s a real bad look as a business. Absorb the fee. It’s called the cost of doing business,” Maniscalco opined, hinting at the title of his upcoming stand-up tour, aptly named “It Ain’t Right.”
Maniscalco’s social media post garnered significant traction, eliciting over 16,000 reactions on Facebook and amassing over 50,000 views across various platforms.
The comedian, renowned for his observational humor, is set to kick off his “It Ain’t Right” comedy tour this July, commencing with a performance in Norfolk, Virginia. With multiple comedy specials under his belt, including two on Netflix, Maniscalco continues to captivate audiences with his unfiltered commentary on modern life.
As the discourse around restaurant fees persists, Maniscalco’s outspoken critique serves as a rallying cry for consumers seeking transparency and fairness in pricing practices.
