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What can you tell us about these 4.7% CNF fees, that restaurants are adding on our bills?
CNF stands for “concession and franchise fee.” Think of it as a resort fee for bars and restaurants.
One difference is, with resort fees, you ostensibly receive something in return, no matter how dubious. With CNFs, you don’t get anything. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch. The CNF is supposedly related to fees that the casinos collect from the restaurant concessions, a surcharge for a restaurant’s prime location.
Another difference is that in this day and age, you’re mostly adequately warned about resort fees, while restaurants that tack CNFs onto your tab usually mention them in the fine print, right under the warning about eating undercooked food.
These fees have been around Las Vegas for several years; the first time we heard about it was in 2012 at the Sugar Factory at Paris (since closed and reopened at the Miracle Mile Shops and Fashion Show Mall).
From what we’ve heard since, because they’re nothing less than a devious way of tacking an extra 5% or so onto your restaurant or bar bill, if you notice it and make a fuss, it’s often removed, but not always. It seems to us that restaurants that charge the fee are counting on patrons not noticing it and if they do, it’s negotiable.
Does that make it even more insidious? You make the call.
Either way, it’s always wise to read the menu carefully. If you see the intials CNF in the fine print, you might want to ask in advance if it’ll be waived. If not, you can always vote with your feet, loudly, by stomping out and letting everyone in earshot know why.