cover charge

American  

noun

1. a fee, in addition to the cost of food and drink, charged by a restaurant, nightclub, etc., for entertainment.

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cover charge British  

noun

1. a sum of money charged in a restaurant for each individual customer in addition to the cost of food and drink

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Etymology

Origin of cover charge

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Example Sentences

He was looking for something other than just another fancy dinner, and for him, the $47-per-person cover charge was well worth it.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2025

There's a cover charge for show nights, but bowling is reasonable if you have a group, as it's only $35 per lane, per half hour.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2023

It’s essentially a cover charge to get into the same page where you might be able to click a buy button, or you might not.

From The Verge • Nov. 19, 2021

Hours have been extended for the long weekend, and there’s no cover charge.

From Washington Post • Jun. 30, 2021

Friday nights were college nights at Club Victor, which meant no cover charge and a chance to dance to the offerings of a local bandmaster, Vic Meyers.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown