Barbeque Nation Accused Of Illegal Service Charge On Bill, Restaurant Responds

Chain says it currently does not levy any service charge and follows consumer rules

Customers recently alleged that Barbeque Nation was adding an illegal service charge to bills, sparking confusion online. The restaurant chain has now clarified that it does not charge any service fee at present across its outlets.

The issue traces back to a consumer complaint filed in 2025 over an extra ₹335 charge on a bill. Authorities later directed the company to stop levying mandatory service charges after regulatory guidelines were tightened.

However, officials also noted that the charge applied in January 2025 was not illegal at that time, as it was protected under an interim court order. The matter was resolved and the customer received a refund through the grievance process.

Following fresh reports and social media discussions, the restaurant released a public statement saying it complies with all rules and aims to provide a transparent dining experience. It added that guests are not required to pay any service charge now.

The company further stated it honoured refund requests after the judgment and implemented all post-order directions issued by authorities.

Key Takeaways

• Mandatory service charge by restaurants has been restricted under consumer guidelines
• The disputed bill was from 2025 and later refunded
• Barbeque Nation says it no longer adds service charge anywhere in India