So you think because you see them wipe down booths and tables, that nothing has changed in their cleaning procedures? Have you stopped to think about what you don't see, and the cost of the chemicals they had to switch to meet the disinfection level required during the pandemic? The fact that they have to supply hand sanitizer not only to the staff (staff normally usually just washes their hands on a continual basis) but also to customers in most places. Did you stop and consider that they have to clean menus after EVERY use, or have disposable ones which costs money. Then you have to stop and look at the disposable condiments that the have to throw away, used or not.. Just giving a little insight on just some of the costs you don't see that these restaurants have had to take on due to the pandemic that are for health and sanitation safety beyond the norm. And that is off the top of my head, after being out of the industry for over 5 years, but maintaining a close friendship with my old employer.
Now, I understand your point about raising prices, rather than adding a surcharge. But do you know the cost of printing menus and changing prices.. minimum $1500 buck. And then, if they raised because of the pandemic, and the pandemic ends, customers will most likely expect the prices to be brought back down which is a double edge sword. Adding a surcharge is something that can be removed immediately when the time comes. Not so easy if when it's built into the price.
It actually baffles me how people get upset when they add a surcharge, telling the customer exactly what it is for, but are okay with them just upping the price, with no explanation. That to me is ass backwards. We aren't talking about a surcharge like the cable companies charge above and beyond the contracted cost, which are directly related to the actual cost of the products and services they supply you. Health Insurance for example in this topic, is not a cost of doing business to give you product and services, it's actually a benefit for the employee, and won't effect the product they prepare for you, completely different, It would be a valid argument if they had a "local food charge" on top of the actual menu item, excluding add ons.