Having a rant, I was out and about on Saturday last weekend. For the past 2 years, I have been stung the 15% holiday surcharge eating out on Saturday Easter weekend, which technically is not a public holiday but food places seems to have blanket the entire weekend as holidays. I ate at a restaurant and got stung at the end. There wasn't any sign out front, just some wording on a piece of masking tape at the till where you pay.
Is this normal? Also, do you know if restaurants actually pay their staff more on the Saturday? Or is the Saturday considered a "special" day like Valentines Day and Mothers Day?
I feel you.
Most of the places I went past / to over the Easter Weekend had prominent signs on their front door, which I appreciated very much. My regular haunts, I had no issues paying a bit more (had my coffee, got some pizza for lunch - they even suggested to go with the online special, which was cheaper - so got more pizza and sides for negligible $ increase over a walk in order).
Some interestingly had no notices at the door and only had a nearly hidden / up side down parchment near the till.
The expectation is that the business lets you know that a XX% surcharge applies BEFORE you place your order, not when you go to pay.
From https://www.accc.gov.au/business/pricing/price-displays