What ticks me off about restaurants these days

[darkmanCANADA]

Tried to make a reservation for Catch in the Hyatt downtown for the weekend for 6 people. They out front told me that there will be an additional charge of 18% for parties 6 or more. WTF!!! I can understand for 8 or more but now I'm thinking this is just ridiculous. I would like to experience the food and service first before I tip.

[BaggedGLI]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

Make it for 5 and have 6 people come.

I honestly think it's bad they have to add that at all, no matter the size.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

Well as someone who spent a lot of time working in restaurants as I went to school, I generally tip in that 15-20% range so the amount is probably what the tip would be regardless. That being said the service needs to be worth it, and at place like Catch you would assume it would be so I would not be too bent out of shape personally.

For comparison sake I am going to a restaurant on Friday night, which is a 1 Star Michelin ranked place (138 one stars in the entire UK, 20 three stars) and their service charge is 12.5% for any size party. I have been to this place once before and the service was impeccable, probably had 4 different people paying attention to our table through the whole meal.

[onceover]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

If they're going to charge it regardless why not just build it into their prices?

[RobG]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

It takes the guessing out of tipping, I have had some people see the tip pool and skip their part of the bill. Imagine busting your ass for our crew at moxies and then making $20 for a nights work.

[martin13]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

While I do agree that a tip should be earned and not expected, it's not unusual for restaurants to add a mandatory gratuity to large parties.

[snipa_mini85]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

This is why I would agree with the place where Blair is going to. A 12.5% service charge is reasonable and if the restaurant's service is much better than you can always increase the tip accordingly. If the service is below par, then IMO 12.5% is under the standard 15% enough that I would leave as is. If the service is absolutely terrible then it is time to speak to the manager.

[Danaldson]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

I agree with some of the things said here, but you just gotta get used to it these days. It makes sense

What annoys me is when i go to Subway and it gives the option for a tip on the debt machine lol.

[toplessvw]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

I would not worry about it I have had terrible service from a resteraunt with a policy such as this and told them flat out based on the service I would not pay the charge and the manager took the charge off with out issue. Catch's service has been awsome both times I have been there so rest easy

[MechEngg]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

What annoys me is when i go to Subway and it gives the option for a tip on the debt machine lol.

This.

Fast food with a tip option. No fuking way sir/ma'am did you do enough work serving me to get a tip. You prepared food like you get paid to do, no more, no less (99% of the time). Therefore no tip. You did not come and refill my drink 3 times, nor did you offer up friendly conversation when you brought me the menu/bill/drinks/food. But then again there is always this obligation to tip because the screen is asking you for the tip amount and the woman is sitting there staring at you while you quietly/quickly select the $0.00 option.....

/true story

[Jim]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

I program a lot of the restaurants in town as far as menu and everything in the backend goes. Everyone is used to the 8 and up gratuity, 6 is becoming more common. I had a client ask to do it at 4 people...i told them it was selfish and they would lose business.

[witchcraftz]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

I think the restaurant industry needs to start paying people higher wages, build it into their prices and tips to be something that you get only for exceptional service rather than expected for any level service.

I say this after having done a short stint as a waiter, in my opinion it's a really crappy job, the pay is crap, the hours all over the place, the respect is minimal and if someone gets pissed off they go to the manager and their meal comes out of your pocket! On the flip side if you work at an expensive place, are a woman with big tits, are willing to flaunt your body in super short and tight clothing to sell your service, the tips can be huge. Oh wait, I'm not sure that's a flipside...

Anyway it's a crappy paid job and it's made worse by waiters being crappy to customers. I feel that waiters should get fair salaries and maybe 5% would be covered as tip.

[dwvw]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

Original Joes in the Hat wants 18% on parties of 5 or more!

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

There is no tipping in Australia but there a server can get paid close to $20 per hour, and minimum wage there is nearly $16 per hour.

Tipping is set to be a reward for the quality of service, however it has become basically the majority of how a server makes their living, so the restaurants need to ensure they are not hurting this for their staff, or have to devise a better way to use the system. People also need to remember that in a lot of places the server has to share a portion of their tips with bussers, bartenders and the kitchen.

The policy of tipping is less common here in the UK as tipping is more optional, obviously in a pub you order drinks and food at the bar so you do not tip anyone, some do not even have a jar at the bar if you wanted to tip. Restaurants will sometimes have a service charge, especially fancier places and the cheap places you can do whatever you want and their is no real expectation. Having come from Canada and my wife and I both have been in the service industry at some points in our life we feel weird not tipping, so we still like to give some change if we have. The debit/visa machines even in restaurants do not have the tip function on them always, let alone at fast food places.

[sabbySC]

Re: What ticks me off about restaurants these days

Are prices in Australia higher? In other words with the higher minimum wage, is the cost of living increased so that it all comes out in the wash so to say?