There's obviously a reason they do this. When famous or powerful people visit your restaurant and leave happy, they may mention it on social media or in an interview. They may recommend the restaurant to other famous and powerful people. They may rent the whole place out for a private party. It's a form of marketing that's comparitively cheap. It's why actors get tons of free stuff from clothes, to makeup, to scented candles. It's not a ripoff as far as the other customers are concerned as long as they get what they're paying for. It has nothing to do with them. Celebrities can often buy a coach seat on the plane and get moved into first class for free simply because they're famous. This stuff happens everywhere and not just at fancy restaurants. In some places, it's the cops who eat free, or veterans, or the owner's ex-wife. It's great when a business strives to treat everyone as a VIP but it's not usually how it works. If Beyonce mentions your restaurant on social media, your tables will be booked for eternity. It's worth it to risk a few freebies. It only takes one big boost to more than compensate for the effort and expense.