cover charge

noun

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

cover charge

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cover charge¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Example Sentences

“Excuse me, you didn’t pay your cover charge,” Westmoreland recalls telling Newbauer.

From Washington Blade

And a smart New York restauranteur recently made a "cover charge" of twenty-five cents for bread and butter and ice-water.

From Project Gutenberg