FIRST ON RADAR: Resto founded by DTI secretary’s daughter under fire over VAT-exclusive prices

Grapevine Restaurant faces scrutiny over menu prices that exclude the 12% VAT, raising questions about pricing rules and consumer protection.

Grapevine Restaurant is facing scrutiny over menu prices that exclude the 12% VAT, with the issue drawing added attention because its founder is the daughter of DTI Secretary Cristina Roque.

Grapevine’s menu displays prices exclusive of VAT, raising questions over whether the practice complies with laws requiring VAT to be included in displayed prices. The pricing was flagged by a Reddit user on August 12.

“Is this normal? We’re planning to eat here next week, but upon checking the reviews sa TikTok, I noticed na yung prices sa menu are already marked as ‘+VAT’ and may separate 12% VAT charge pa on top of the listed prices,” the user wrote.

The upscale restaurant opened in 2024 and currently has two branches in Quezon City and Baguio City. Tiffany Roque is Grapevine’s founder and creative director. The Roque family is also behind the Kamiseta Group of Companies, which operates the eponymous clothing brand, hotel, and skincare clinic.

Grapevine’s menu was displayed on its Instagram page sometime before the post was uploaded, but is no longer available as of publication. radar Business cannot independently confirm when this change occurred.

The official Grapevine menu as of May 2025 displays prices excluding VAT. Online reviews of the restaurant also indicate that VAT was computed and charged separately from the displayed menu prices.

Relevant laws generally require displayed prices and price tags to already include VAT. While some establishments may opt to display disclaimers advising customers of separate VAT computations, this does not necessarily shield them from misleading consumers.

VAT applies to the sale of goods, properties, services, and imported items within the country. Restaurants are obligated to charge 12% VAT in line with amendments made to the Expanded VAT Law (Republic Act No. 7716).

The Consumer Act (Republic Act No. 7394) requires price tags to display the final price to be paid by consumers. This prohibits retail stores from adding VAT or additional charges upon checkout. While the law does not explicitly mention restaurants, the guiding principle is that consumers must clearly know what they are purchasing and how much they will pay.

The DTI is the main body overseeing consumer complaints, especially regarding pricing and VAT concerns, which may pose a potential conflict of interest in the case of Grapevine.

radar Business has reached out to Grapevine for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of press time.

READ: