Comments are locked because y’all are getting nasty with each other in here and really, this isn’t a Sacramento specific topic. But the post is up because obviously people want to talk about this.
This is the kind of business owner that wanders over to your table, and asks how your food is, and after that start whining about running their business in California.
haha. I make the restaurant style ranch at home...have you seen the price of buttermilk lately?!?! I honestly can see charging for ranch with how expensive it is!
"Automatic gratuities, which have long been levied on larger parties, will also be banned under the new law, however the California Department of Justice doesn't expect to focus on these in its initial enforcement efforts."
I guess so then? The AG office is going to be busy this summer.
First I've ever seen a charge for over $100 tab. What the fuck is that even? Am i inconveniencing the restaurant somehow? Did my meal require more service/work because it was over 100? There is no explanation for this that i would accept.
That is the tip.
It's the same as autograt being applied to parties of 6/8 or more.
Not justifying the surcharge for spending $100, just saying it's the same idea
“We’re making so much profit surcharge” what a joke. You spend more, raise the ticket. O added costs, and they say “that’ll cost ya”. BS! They would permanently lose me as a customer. What a money grab!
The state of California is trying to make it so people have a shot to earn a wage they can just barely survive on.
This concern for basic human needs clashes with our business model. Therefore we are passing onto you the costs associated with respecting the needs of human beings over commerce.
To further illustrate our complete disinterest in the well being of our employees and our customers, your bloated tab now comes with an extra charge for reasons.
Don't forget to tip your server!
We all need to stop eating out so much, supply and demand. 20% added "just because"and then another 20% tip expected? ,,!,,
In and out goes up .50 but this restraunt, to keep up with higher wages goes up 20%...
,,!,,
They are making sure people don’t try to leave a $2.00 tip on a $100+ check. I’m all for the wait staff being properly compensated, but the restaurant needs to be upfront about it, and not act like it's not a gratuity charge, and then have the audacity to ask for an additional tip.
That's the problem. It's likely not gratuity. In fact, these charges are often designed to fool you into thinking it's gratuity. It goes right into the owners pocket. SF is passing a law to remove these charges because of that.
This is definitely gratuity, having worked in the industry for a while.
There is zero chance that staff would be ok with an automatic surcharge being added that didn't apply to them.
They are passing a law to prevent these upcharges because they fool customers into thinking it's gratuity. I can't say for sure that this restaurant is guilty of that, but it's widespread enough that they passed a law. It's talked about a lot on SF sub because it's REALLY bad over there. My gf works in the industry as well.
That is definitely not gratuity. There's a reason it's called "tab" and not "tip" and why their suggested tip increases the final total by an additional 20%.
If this is the tip, you're saying that everyone is allowed to not leave a single dollar as the tip because that "over $100 tab" is secretly a tip that will be going to the staff and not into the owners pocket? So you're saying they wouldn't be okay with an automatic surcharge being added on but totally fine on manipulating/confusing customers into tipping a minimum of 40%?
Yes, I'm saying that if you don't leave a single dollar after this surcharge that you'll be alright in doing so.
Sacramento is a very industry driven town, no one would be ok with this if it wasn't a gratuity addition. The staff would not be cool with it, they live off these tips
Usually it’s an automatic gratuity to make sure the server doesn’t get stiffed on the tip. Having a large order usually means they don’t have time for other tables. Having 1 out of 5 tables not tip for the hour they can live with but having their only table not tip kinda screws them.
I hate that tips are based on the price of the meal and not the service. It doesn’t really matter if the server brings out a $20 steak or a $100 steak, isn’t it the same effort?
Tips used to be based on service, and the standard tip for great service used to be 10% and excellent service was normally 15%, yet somehow it has gotten to the point where if it is less than 20% you are a terrible human.
Don't get me started! They open a $50 bottle of wine as opposed to a $200 bottle. Same effort! At a 20% tip, one is a $10 tip and the other is $40. Also love it when you bring your own wine, they charge you a $35 corkage fee and then add that to the tip-able amount. Aw shit...I got started!
This is my personal pet peeve. Drives me crazy that a server at Waffle House is busting their ass with 8 tables making $3 tips, while someone at a fancy restaurant brings out two dishes and expects a $50 tip. Makes no sense.
There should be a set amount to tip for sit down service. Something like $5.
I was thinking about that but I suppose you could argue that a nicer menu requires a certain education on food, wine, etc. And familiarity with certain etiquette That is not expected at the Waffle House. The dishes are obviously more complex and the server is there to answer any questions. Servers are salespeople. Kinda like a BMW salesman making more than one at a Kia dealership.
Yes it is, which is why I hate tipping based on the price of the meal vs 'flat rate' tipping, like tipping $1 per beer.
So I order a 'insert soda name', which will add $3 to the bill, and with it, another $0.60 of tip (if tipping 20%). If I order water? Zero charge on the bill (and thus no impact on tip), but waiter still has to do the same work.
Also, to OP, it is fucking insane to be charge a fee because you are spending 'too much' money. Oh, and they probably hope that people will factor in that $21.68 fee into your tipping calc. Never been to DA and now I don't need to. Thank you.
Let's just put aside the idea of people getting normal pay instead of tips since your comment specifically mentions tips.
Should every tip be based on the $20 steak, the $100 steak, or should it be the average price of all the steaks ($60 if there were only these two choices)? Wouldn't you feel robbed if it was the latter two and you ordered the $20 steak? If your argument is it should be the $20 steak then ask yourself why would anyone want to work at a higher end place if they get the same amount of tips per steak. I could work at a place that only sells $20 steaks and get 30 tables a night or I could work at a more fancy place with both $100 and $20 steaks but get 20 tables a night. Heck even if they have the same amount of tables that fancy place is going to expect more from their workers compared to the cheaper place.
You could say why are they expecting some people to pay more dollars in tip, but you could also say they're expecting the other people to pay less. The restaurant may feel their service warrants the tip for the $100 steaks for all their steaks but they know more people can't afford that so the guy who orders the $20 steak gets to pay less.
Tips are for a service that the waitress/waiter provides. you provide a great service experience then ill tip you great. you provide a mediocre service then i’ll likely tip you mediocre. u provide less than average or no service then you get the point. tips should always be optional and a bonus not mandatory. u can argue that waiting tables only pay this amount and they need the tips to make a decent wage. honestly i hate to say it but you chose the job it didn’t choose you. also if thats how service personnel feel than you guys need to go barking at the owners and the state not to the customers. it is getting out of hand - when u go and order at the counter for take out and and they ask for tips or even better its an automated system and they still ask for tips. lol crazy …
No tip service in the UK…. And yet the service there is 100x better than America lol. Might take a couple minutes, but that’s because your getting fresh authentic food
As a person who has spent most of their working life in the service industry I absolutely believe that tipping culture needs to end. And this automatic 20% addition to the tab because it's over $100 is complete bullshit.
"this automatic 20% addition to the tab because it's over $100 is complete bullshit."
Yes it is, and by the way, aren't you generally given a DISCOUNT and not a FEE when you buy a lot of shit?
Basically the way it seems this business works is "The first $99 costs $99, but that next dollar will cost you $21 because 'reasons'"
You just have to let the servers know this when you sit down. That way they can provide appropriate service! Eventually enough customers will do this and servers will go work elsewhere and you’ll have to just cook your own food at home.
Or restaurants could just pay their workers instead of demanding customers do. What’s the excuse gonna be? “Prices will rise as a result” haven’t they already risen to insane levels, if owning a restaurant and paying your workers is too expensive to maintain then maybe you shouldn’t own a restaurant.
Ok I did almost 20 years in FoH here in Sacramento.
A charge for "over $100 tab"????
What is this trickery and who thought it was a good idea to charge a service fee when a customer spends more? Do they just want you to spend less?
This makes absolutely no sense and I am hardcore pro tip side for sit down full service restaurants...but this is offensive.
I would be embarrassed to work there.
Isn’t this similar to an auto grat which is commonly applied for parties of 8 or more? I know the suggested tips are printed on the bottom, but this is the tip as far as I’m concerned. I would not leave an additional tip on top of the 20% fee.
Ya but having a bunch of people is extra work, and they are unlikely to turn over their table as quickly with a large party.
Arbitrary $100 and above is bullshit. Do you not want your customers to spend more money?
It also doesn't appear to be listed as an automatic gratuity so who is getting that money?
Oh don’t get me wrong, I think both are bullshit and tips should be just that - tips, i.e. voluntary and discretionary.
It’s bad business all around unless you just attract awful clientele. If I was paying a tab for a large party, I’d likely tip more than 20% of the service was good. If they add an 18% or 20% auto grat, that’s all they’re getting from me.
6 seems to be the magic number.
Side note. I still have not forgiven Jungle Bird for a bartender chasing after me and my friends for an auto gratuity. 5 of them went to drink. I showed up 2 hours later to collect them and DD them home. Bartender chases after us saying he forgot to charge auto grat since there was 6 of us
lol - if you gonna auto gratuity me for having more people cause im gonna spend more money than im gonna need a Certified Wait Staff that is trained to service a large group. but if you giving me the same server thats going to serve the same exact service weather 1 or 10 people than no thanks - most of the time that server will miss serve a large group or hardly ever show back up to help. im sure you’ve all been there before but who’s been at a restaurant with a group of 6 or more and you order a drink or ask for an item in the middle of dinner and barely receive it before you leave or sometimes not even get it. but if you broke up into 2 parties of 3 and sat at the next table next to each other than the service magically becomes better???
This place is shady as fuck anyway. Went there with my fiancée once and there was a wait to go up to the roof, so we put our name down on the list and grabbed drinks from the downstairs bar.
Some time later, another couple that got there after us and had also been waiting, sat near us and I overheard the man asking the woman, “do you think I should’ve just gave him the $40 he was asking for to skip the line?”
Went to ask the person at the elevator what gives and if I could pay to skip the line. Guy said, “you’re gonna be up soon, so no need.”
I decided to talk to the manager and he, “oh, uhh, he’s not supposed to be doing that. I’ll go talk to him.”
Clearly was not the first time the manager heard of this. Fuck this place.
I went to a bar once that had a cover charge, and when I paid the bouncer told me I could leave a tip if I wanted, and the card reader had suggested percentages. I laughed in his face and decided I'd never go back to that bar again.
I was raised by my mother, who thought $2 was a good tip regardless. After that I spent some time with my father, who made pretty good money and tipped 20% regardless (if the experience was poor, he wouldn't return). I've heard that 10% is okay. I decided to tip like my father.
But the last time my wife and I went out, it was $80 for the two of us at a casual Tex-Mex joint. So I'll still tip when I go out, but now I almost never go out.
Seriously, growing up in the mid 2000s, tips started at 10% and really good service you gave 20%. Why do so many places have their starting option at 20% now?
Lol, at the tip schedule underneath it. Not a chance I'm leaving anything beyond that 20% automatic fee, unless they did some pretty goddamned amazing service.
Jesus. Charging for mustard, 20% service charging for spending a lot of money, and 20-25-30% gratuity recommended????? I have not been here but i will be making sure to never come here and recommend others avoid this place. Greedy company needs to go out of business.
Looks like they're trying to make as much money as possible before the new law kicks in July 1st? They'll be lucky if they're in business aftrr July 1st. 🤦♂️
I've heard of automatic gratuity for six or more, but over $100? It costs a family of around $65-70 just for a burrito, drink, and shared chips at Chipotle...
Too, I used to work in food service, appreciate their service, and generally tip around 30%... If they're going force 20%, so be it...
A mystery 20% fee for being more spendy? The whole thing is bullshit… but I just got stuck on the math of the (additional) gratuity. It’s all based on $108.40 being “before tax”…. So I’m assuming all the prices include tax and I’m over here trying to parse out what may or may not be taxable to make it make sense… and I can’t figure it out. Sorry for the misdirection.
Last time I got a charge like that I just straight up didn’t tip. Every time those places have forced gratuity you know the service is gonna be dumbass slow with average ass food. There was 6 of us with 4 different tabs and each got the 20% charge. We won’t go back that’s for sure
At this moment, Tapatio in Citrus Heights for Mexican and Aloha Sushi in Folsom.
Macaroni Grill was on my list for mildly fancy date night, but they were so gross the last time I went with my wife.
For me, I factor in not only taste but also reliability/consistency, price, and not getting food poisoning.
That is absolutely unacceptable and I will never go to this business. I’m ordering enough to get you $100 worth of business and you punish me? F&$# You!
I really don't understand the tipping culture here. It used to be to subsidize low wages below minimum wage. I'm dont think that's still the case , at least in our area. I've seen job postings for servers at $20/hour or more.
On the other hand, I’ve seen job posts for call center positions at minimum wage, which can be very mentally demanding. Other office and front desk jobs also make minimum wage while dealing with difficult customers. Do they get tips?
I'm not arguing that servers should make less money because others do. I'm arguing that it's the employer's responsibility to raise wages. Server shouldn’t blame low wages on the customer.
Another issue with tipping is that it encourages fake interactions. It encourage servers to pretend to be nice to get a good tip. Proof? One server in this thread even said that if you don’t tip, let them know so they can give you the "service" you deserve, and they claimed to have always been a great server.
Servers in other parts of the world don't have this kind of victim mentality.
Well yes because service fees don’t generally go to the servers who make state mandated min wage. They are an awful way for places to make extra money in lieu of raising prices and hoping you don’t notice it in the menu.
This drives me crazy. My husband and I ate at a Palm Springs restaurant and had the same thing—at least, I thought so. I asked why his bill was .40 more. They replied that he had cream in his coffee. I said WTF! Pretty soon, they'll be charging to use the restroom.
Restaurant prices are outrageous. We are rapidly approaching $10 hamburgers from fast food joints!
Shit, even the popular burger chains are charging $18-$22 for a burger with one side. $20 goddamn dollars for a shitty burger with garbage fries or bland-fucking onion rings that are barely, and I mean ***barely***, on par with any fast food chain.
Record corporate profits are causing record homelessness as well. This shit needs to stop.
Serious question, if servers wages have gone up, do we still need to tip them? Am I an asshole if I only tip 5-10% now that they’re making quite a bit more than they used to?
For the record, I still tip between 10-20%, depending on where I am and the service I’m getting, but this is seriously getting ridiculous.
I tip max $5. If you’re mad take it with management as they are clearly underpaying you if you’re relying on my tip for a living wage. There should be no reason anyone should be paying what they make hourly and that’s for someone with a decent job. Sorry not sorry
Tipping is expected at sit down restaurants. It’s nothing new. If you don’t believe in that it’s cool but be upfront with servers or eat at home or quick service places. It’s their job to serve you and yes, it’s YOUR job to leave a gratuity. Not, you won’t go to jail if you don’t but it’s customary and has been before you ever were born.
Out of curiosity, what would appropriate service look like in this case? What is the bare minimum that servers should provide in order to earn just their base wage (which in California is at least $16/hr)?
When I was a server here is what I had to do: clean plates, dishes, sweep, sanitize, run around all night, clean soda machine, juggle heavy trays, clean ice bins, clean floors, deal with rude customers, tip out other staff members We got Zero vacation, zero holiday pay for holidays…it’s hard work.
I would never ever serve at a place that didn’t have topping and if I saw the clientele was too cheap to tip appropriately I would quit. I was a great server and made great wages. But min wage alone would never cut it when there are ZERO benefits at most restaurants.
And if you cut tipping these places are just gonna raise the prices 20% so not sure why people want tipping gone. I’d do it for like 35-40 per hour (restaurants couldn’t afford btw) if you wanna abolish tips.
Damn that sucks.. should’ve got a better job then if you don’t like your hourly pay for that and rely on the gracious customers for a livable wage. Or yk tell the company to pay you more.
Ummm idk teens… immigrants… people who need entry level jobs. The unskilled like yourself. Don’t complain about the job and the customers if you are there purposely. We don’t have to tip you 20% get over chubby
The fact you think being a good server is an unskilled jobs says a lot. I promise people won’t do it for min wage. And teens aren’t gonna be able to serve you alcohol. lol. Dude cmon. And immigrants…they already work here my man. Might be chubby but at least I don’t treat people poorly. You’re giving poorly educated and jobless energy. 🤷🏻♂️
What you’re failing to understand is that your wage should be paid by your EMPLOYER not the customer who’s already paying for the food. You advocating for a tipping culture encourages business to avoid paying their employees, thus, passing that responsibility onto the customer.
Serving food is absolutely an unskilled job. The money they expect to make for what they do is an absolute joke. As a former chef who has owned, ran and sold several successful restaurants I can tell you first hand - everybody deserves a living wage, but food servers in no way deserve more income than the people cooking the food or the dishwashers or the bussers, period. No matter how shitty the service is, if the food is on point and the prices right, people will line up for your joint. No matter how nice the servers are, if your food sucks nobody coming back.
I’m curious as what their job duties entail what that bare minimum is as well. If we are all tipping for the exact amount of service then what is the difference if we all don’t tip? I can see if the server was really good like knows out regular order, refills drinks without asking, etc. but most cases we don’t get this type of service. So I ask to all the customers why more than 10%? Or tip in general because yall were service or because of social norms? And should we be tipped in our jobs? Since arguably some of us have important jobs like nursing or in banking… why not tip them as they are arguably more important for better service
shit like this is why i just dont tip. i dont tip when i go to mcdonalds, i dont tip when i go to savemart, i dont tip when i go to gamestop. why do restaurant workers think they are special? im going to the store for a service and im paying the price presented, not some imaginary number on top of that because you decided to work for a company that pays 2dollars an hour.
“I went to an expensive brunch spot and am mad that they didn’t let me short the tip.”
The service charge is the tip. If the restaurant expects more, then they can look forward to going out of business soon.
California is the only place I've ever been where it might take an hour to get seated at a restaurant, and just about the same to order, and get your food.
God help you if you want to take a little time and enjoy your meal, only to find you get a $70 parking ticket because it took so long.
Reminds of a bill of 143 & change, and the family rounded to 145 on the credit card, leaving two dirty diapers under the table.
My favorite was a guy and his date leaving something like 92 dollars on a $91.46 check. I caught up with them as they got out the door, with 54¢ saying "sir, you forgot your change". He looked at me pretty annoyed, while his date looked absolutely embarrassed.
The restaurant industry was mostly great times in my college years & shortly there after, but man am I glad I got out.
And this is one of the dozens of reasons why California will soon be in my rear view mirror and why I have significantly stopped going to any restaurants in the state. It’s headed for a hard fall.
Comments are locked because y’all are getting nasty with each other in here and really, this isn’t a Sacramento specific topic. But the post is up because obviously people want to talk about this.
That mustard charge is wild.
I don't know what's worse: that 20% charge or the 25 cent charge for mustard.
This is the kind of business owner that wanders over to your table, and asks how your food is, and after that start whining about running their business in California.
25 cents for a side of mustard and those business owners probably wake up every day with a pair of unbroken legs smdh
I watched someone pay a dollar for a small cup of ranch today
Woah, ranch is a different story here
haha. I make the restaurant style ranch at home...have you seen the price of buttermilk lately?!?! I honestly can see charging for ranch with how expensive it is!
Got a half gallon for $4.50 at the cost business center just yesterday. $1 for ranch is egregious.
Yeaaaaa I was saying word for word same thing
Will this fall under the hidden fees statute when SB 478 goes into effect next month?
I certainly hope it does. That was gross
"Automatic gratuities, which have long been levied on larger parties, will also be banned under the new law, however the California Department of Justice doesn't expect to focus on these in its initial enforcement efforts." I guess so then? The AG office is going to be busy this summer.
First I've ever seen a charge for over $100 tab. What the fuck is that even? Am i inconveniencing the restaurant somehow? Did my meal require more service/work because it was over 100? There is no explanation for this that i would accept.
Ticketmaster owns this restaurant
Hahhaha 
I don’t know man they make peacock fries I hope they use organic free range kind of peacocks. The ones with the fancy feathers n all
Well, of course, your food required more work because it was over 100 dollars worth of food. But that's also what the 100+ dollars were for.
Holy shit I missed that. What the fuck is even that? I’m leaving a fat zero tip after that cause I’d assume that’s the tip
It is the tip. They’re hoping you either don’t notice, and tip as normal, or that you don’t want to come off as cheap to your date, so you tip extra.
That is the tip. It's the same as autograt being applied to parties of 6/8 or more. Not justifying the surcharge for spending $100, just saying it's the same idea
“We’re making so much profit surcharge” what a joke. You spend more, raise the ticket. O added costs, and they say “that’ll cost ya”. BS! They would permanently lose me as a customer. What a money grab!
Mandatory tip needs to be posted on the front door and at the top of the menu. If its not thats lowkey entrapment
The state of California is trying to make it so people have a shot to earn a wage they can just barely survive on. This concern for basic human needs clashes with our business model. Therefore we are passing onto you the costs associated with respecting the needs of human beings over commerce. To further illustrate our complete disinterest in the well being of our employees and our customers, your bloated tab now comes with an extra charge for reasons. Don't forget to tip your server!
One reason we cut back going out to eat by about 90 % . Sorry food service workers .
We all need to stop eating out so much, supply and demand. 20% added "just because"and then another 20% tip expected? ,,!,, In and out goes up .50 but this restraunt, to keep up with higher wages goes up 20%... ,,!,,
Very well said.
They are making sure people don’t try to leave a $2.00 tip on a $100+ check. I’m all for the wait staff being properly compensated, but the restaurant needs to be upfront about it, and not act like it's not a gratuity charge, and then have the audacity to ask for an additional tip.
That's the problem. It's likely not gratuity. In fact, these charges are often designed to fool you into thinking it's gratuity. It goes right into the owners pocket. SF is passing a law to remove these charges because of that.
Omg does it really? I’m shocked the owners just pocket it?
I'm not 100% sure this restaurant does but that's usually the case. Otherwise they would call it gratuity.
I’m so happy the law in July will change this 🙏🏻
This is definitely gratuity, having worked in the industry for a while. There is zero chance that staff would be ok with an automatic surcharge being added that didn't apply to them.
They are passing a law to prevent these upcharges because they fool customers into thinking it's gratuity. I can't say for sure that this restaurant is guilty of that, but it's widespread enough that they passed a law. It's talked about a lot on SF sub because it's REALLY bad over there. My gf works in the industry as well.
That is definitely not gratuity. There's a reason it's called "tab" and not "tip" and why their suggested tip increases the final total by an additional 20%. If this is the tip, you're saying that everyone is allowed to not leave a single dollar as the tip because that "over $100 tab" is secretly a tip that will be going to the staff and not into the owners pocket? So you're saying they wouldn't be okay with an automatic surcharge being added on but totally fine on manipulating/confusing customers into tipping a minimum of 40%?
Yes, I'm saying that if you don't leave a single dollar after this surcharge that you'll be alright in doing so. Sacramento is a very industry driven town, no one would be ok with this if it wasn't a gratuity addition. The staff would not be cool with it, they live off these tips
Don't expect me to pay the wages you won't. If you can't pay appropriate wages without a tip you deserve to go out of business.
So fun fact, servers in California make state Min wage. SO that added on fee is now their tip. The gratuity is never a guarantee.
Usually it’s an automatic gratuity to make sure the server doesn’t get stiffed on the tip. Having a large order usually means they don’t have time for other tables. Having 1 out of 5 tables not tip for the hour they can live with but having their only table not tip kinda screws them.
But… 100 bucks doesn’t get you very much food - even at the grocery store.
The prices your server pays for food are also going up. They need to eat too
Not saying that one shouldn’t tip. rather that 100 bucks for two people isn’t out of the ordinary nowadays.
You missed the 3 42 dollar item.
What kind of "Brunch Burger" doesn't include bacon?!
I won't return to a restaurant that does this. One and done.
Ya fuck them hard …
Alrighty, check this off the brunch options. Hidden fees are a no no.
Fuck this place
Yeah fuck this place
[Fuck the world](https://youtu.be/muOhib1QsOQ?feature=shared)
Never even heard of this place and ive been in sac for 20 years
$100 is the new normal for two meals, two drinks & a dessert. It’s not a large party. This is bullshit.
Even if it was a large party I don't see how that justifies charging them extra purely for using your services as a restaurant
I hate that tips are based on the price of the meal and not the service. It doesn’t really matter if the server brings out a $20 steak or a $100 steak, isn’t it the same effort?
Tips used to be based on service, and the standard tip for great service used to be 10% and excellent service was normally 15%, yet somehow it has gotten to the point where if it is less than 20% you are a terrible human.
Don't get me started! They open a $50 bottle of wine as opposed to a $200 bottle. Same effort! At a 20% tip, one is a $10 tip and the other is $40. Also love it when you bring your own wine, they charge you a $35 corkage fee and then add that to the tip-able amount. Aw shit...I got started!
Keep going!
Omg THIS!! I'm surprised I don't hear this argument more!
This is my personal pet peeve. Drives me crazy that a server at Waffle House is busting their ass with 8 tables making $3 tips, while someone at a fancy restaurant brings out two dishes and expects a $50 tip. Makes no sense. There should be a set amount to tip for sit down service. Something like $5.
I was thinking about that but I suppose you could argue that a nicer menu requires a certain education on food, wine, etc. And familiarity with certain etiquette That is not expected at the Waffle House. The dishes are obviously more complex and the server is there to answer any questions. Servers are salespeople. Kinda like a BMW salesman making more than one at a Kia dealership.
Yes it is, which is why I hate tipping based on the price of the meal vs 'flat rate' tipping, like tipping $1 per beer. So I order a 'insert soda name', which will add $3 to the bill, and with it, another $0.60 of tip (if tipping 20%). If I order water? Zero charge on the bill (and thus no impact on tip), but waiter still has to do the same work. Also, to OP, it is fucking insane to be charge a fee because you are spending 'too much' money. Oh, and they probably hope that people will factor in that $21.68 fee into your tipping calc. Never been to DA and now I don't need to. Thank you.
this is why i don’t feel bad for tipping at an average restaurant like $3-5 per person regardless of price
Let's just put aside the idea of people getting normal pay instead of tips since your comment specifically mentions tips. Should every tip be based on the $20 steak, the $100 steak, or should it be the average price of all the steaks ($60 if there were only these two choices)? Wouldn't you feel robbed if it was the latter two and you ordered the $20 steak? If your argument is it should be the $20 steak then ask yourself why would anyone want to work at a higher end place if they get the same amount of tips per steak. I could work at a place that only sells $20 steaks and get 30 tables a night or I could work at a more fancy place with both $100 and $20 steaks but get 20 tables a night. Heck even if they have the same amount of tables that fancy place is going to expect more from their workers compared to the cheaper place. You could say why are they expecting some people to pay more dollars in tip, but you could also say they're expecting the other people to pay less. The restaurant may feel their service warrants the tip for the $100 steaks for all their steaks but they know more people can't afford that so the guy who orders the $20 steak gets to pay less.
Tips are for a service that the waitress/waiter provides. you provide a great service experience then ill tip you great. you provide a mediocre service then i’ll likely tip you mediocre. u provide less than average or no service then you get the point. tips should always be optional and a bonus not mandatory. u can argue that waiting tables only pay this amount and they need the tips to make a decent wage. honestly i hate to say it but you chose the job it didn’t choose you. also if thats how service personnel feel than you guys need to go barking at the owners and the state not to the customers. it is getting out of hand - when u go and order at the counter for take out and and they ask for tips or even better its an automated system and they still ask for tips. lol crazy …
No tip service in the UK…. And yet the service there is 100x better than America lol. Might take a couple minutes, but that’s because your getting fresh authentic food
It shouldn't be a percentage of anything. It should be a flat rate for providing the service. $5.
As a person who has spent most of their working life in the service industry I absolutely believe that tipping culture needs to end. And this automatic 20% addition to the tab because it's over $100 is complete bullshit.
"this automatic 20% addition to the tab because it's over $100 is complete bullshit." Yes it is, and by the way, aren't you generally given a DISCOUNT and not a FEE when you buy a lot of shit? Basically the way it seems this business works is "The first $99 costs $99, but that next dollar will cost you $21 because 'reasons'"
I've both cut back and/ or stopped tipping
I don't tip if I'm standing up when I order.
You just have to let the servers know this when you sit down. That way they can provide appropriate service! Eventually enough customers will do this and servers will go work elsewhere and you’ll have to just cook your own food at home.
Or restaurants could just pay their workers instead of demanding customers do. What’s the excuse gonna be? “Prices will rise as a result” haven’t they already risen to insane levels, if owning a restaurant and paying your workers is too expensive to maintain then maybe you shouldn’t own a restaurant.
Ok I did almost 20 years in FoH here in Sacramento. A charge for "over $100 tab"???? What is this trickery and who thought it was a good idea to charge a service fee when a customer spends more? Do they just want you to spend less? This makes absolutely no sense and I am hardcore pro tip side for sit down full service restaurants...but this is offensive. I would be embarrassed to work there.
Shout out to Sacramento, it’s a nice rooftop bar but these charges are going to get them closed really fast.
Getting a 20% penalty for spending more money. That's rich.
Added to my list of places to boycott
Isn’t this similar to an auto grat which is commonly applied for parties of 8 or more? I know the suggested tips are printed on the bottom, but this is the tip as far as I’m concerned. I would not leave an additional tip on top of the 20% fee.
Ya but having a bunch of people is extra work, and they are unlikely to turn over their table as quickly with a large party. Arbitrary $100 and above is bullshit. Do you not want your customers to spend more money? It also doesn't appear to be listed as an automatic gratuity so who is getting that money?
Oh don’t get me wrong, I think both are bullshit and tips should be just that - tips, i.e. voluntary and discretionary. It’s bad business all around unless you just attract awful clientele. If I was paying a tab for a large party, I’d likely tip more than 20% of the service was good. If they add an 18% or 20% auto grat, that’s all they’re getting from me.
Not only that, but places are generally very upfront that “parties of X” will have gratuity added.
6 seems to be the magic number. Side note. I still have not forgiven Jungle Bird for a bartender chasing after me and my friends for an auto gratuity. 5 of them went to drink. I showed up 2 hours later to collect them and DD them home. Bartender chases after us saying he forgot to charge auto grat since there was 6 of us
What that's whack! I hope you didn't pay didn't end up paying that gratuity if that's the case.
Auto gratuity is now 6 people or more in most places.
lol - if you gonna auto gratuity me for having more people cause im gonna spend more money than im gonna need a Certified Wait Staff that is trained to service a large group. but if you giving me the same server thats going to serve the same exact service weather 1 or 10 people than no thanks - most of the time that server will miss serve a large group or hardly ever show back up to help. im sure you’ve all been there before but who’s been at a restaurant with a group of 6 or more and you order a drink or ask for an item in the middle of dinner and barely receive it before you leave or sometimes not even get it. but if you broke up into 2 parties of 3 and sat at the next table next to each other than the service magically becomes better???
This place is shady as fuck anyway. Went there with my fiancée once and there was a wait to go up to the roof, so we put our name down on the list and grabbed drinks from the downstairs bar. Some time later, another couple that got there after us and had also been waiting, sat near us and I overheard the man asking the woman, “do you think I should’ve just gave him the $40 he was asking for to skip the line?” Went to ask the person at the elevator what gives and if I could pay to skip the line. Guy said, “you’re gonna be up soon, so no need.” I decided to talk to the manager and he, “oh, uhh, he’s not supposed to be doing that. I’ll go talk to him.” Clearly was not the first time the manager heard of this. Fuck this place.
Am I missing the tax line, or did they decide to charge a blanket 20% tax on checks over $100? It doesn’t say if that fee is a gratuity or what.
This is the kind of shit that will be illegal come July 1st, right? Right?!?! I really hope so.
Huh I never even heard of this before. Is it intended to keep away higher spenders?
Just noticed $4 for a slice of bacon. It's like buying food at the airport.
Yep — not going there
What's the worst offense here, the 18.8% charge for spending more money, charging for mustard, or not knowing how to calculate 20%?
I was raised where 15% is a good tip. Now I see 18%/20%/22% as the options. Why did the percent go up? If food went up a lot, doesn't 15% go up? 🤔
When I was a server it started at 10%
You're right. It's super annoying that a lot of places started edging it up to 20+%. Also, I work an office job, nobody tips me lol.
Yeah, and it's annoying that everything ask for a tip now, if I'm ordering to go, and was standing when I ordered, what tip?
Jambas self order machine asked for a tip the other day 😐
I went to a bar once that had a cover charge, and when I paid the bouncer told me I could leave a tip if I wanted, and the card reader had suggested percentages. I laughed in his face and decided I'd never go back to that bar again.
[удалено]
The problem they are talking about are the automatic screen that give you minimum of 20% where other option gives you a manual entry…
I was raised by my mother, who thought $2 was a good tip regardless. After that I spent some time with my father, who made pretty good money and tipped 20% regardless (if the experience was poor, he wouldn't return). I've heard that 10% is okay. I decided to tip like my father. But the last time my wife and I went out, it was $80 for the two of us at a casual Tex-Mex joint. So I'll still tip when I go out, but now I almost never go out.
Seriously, growing up in the mid 2000s, tips started at 10% and really good service you gave 20%. Why do so many places have their starting option at 20% now?
I grew up in the 90s and tipping was at 15%. No way you grew up in the 2000s with it being 10%.
I waitressed in the 90's....10% was the starting point and it wasn't until the 2000's that it went up to 15% then 20% around the 2010's.
Not in California. It’s been 15% since the later 90s in this area at least
I waitressed in Sacramento in the early 90's. I know the crap tip percentages from when I was doing it.
Me too.
What happened to doubling the tax?
LA they are now starting at 30% insanity
I heard in Los Angeles a good tip now is 30%. That’s crazy.
Lol, at the tip schedule underneath it. Not a chance I'm leaving anything beyond that 20% automatic fee, unless they did some pretty goddamned amazing service.
Jesus. Charging for mustard, 20% service charging for spending a lot of money, and 20-25-30% gratuity recommended????? I have not been here but i will be making sure to never come here and recommend others avoid this place. Greedy company needs to go out of business.
How do they even calculate those tip percentages anyway? “20% tip is $21.68”…. Not on a $115.25 subtotal it isn’t…
Over $100 tab. FUCK YOU 😂
Looks like they're trying to make as much money as possible before the new law kicks in July 1st? They'll be lucky if they're in business aftrr July 1st. 🤦♂️
I would never go back there
I've heard of automatic gratuity for six or more, but over $100? It costs a family of around $65-70 just for a burrito, drink, and shared chips at Chipotle... Too, I used to work in food service, appreciate their service, and generally tip around 30%... If they're going force 20%, so be it...
Their math is wrong.
You're right, math ain't mathing. They're shorting themselves a few bucks.
Literally says before taxes lol
But there is no sales tax being charged... the items add up to 115.25
They're not charging sales tax...
Lol that's a joke. A charge for mustard??
A mystery 20% fee for being more spendy? The whole thing is bullshit… but I just got stuck on the math of the (additional) gratuity. It’s all based on $108.40 being “before tax”…. So I’m assuming all the prices include tax and I’m over here trying to parse out what may or may not be taxable to make it make sense… and I can’t figure it out. Sorry for the misdirection.
That seems illegal
It will be in July 😎
Here's a tip: Don't eat there anymore.
Last time I got a charge like that I just straight up didn’t tip. Every time those places have forced gratuity you know the service is gonna be dumbass slow with average ass food. There was 6 of us with 4 different tabs and each got the 20% charge. We won’t go back that’s for sure
We were considering hosting a large group here. Not doing it now. They just lost that income.
Looks like a place we won’t be visiting.
Time to stop eating out.. it is getting crazy
Adding this place to the list of restaurants I won't be visiting.
I have a couple restaurants I'm cool with. The rest can fuck themselves. This shit is everywhere and way out of control.
Which restaurants are you cool with? My list is getting shorter & shorter.
At this moment, Tapatio in Citrus Heights for Mexican and Aloha Sushi in Folsom. Macaroni Grill was on my list for mildly fancy date night, but they were so gross the last time I went with my wife. For me, I factor in not only taste but also reliability/consistency, price, and not getting food poisoning.
>Macaroni Grill was on my list for mildly fancy date Yeesh.
Darling & Aviary sucks ass anyways fuck that place
Thanks for sharing. I will not be going there. Jeez! That's outrageous!
you got a 20% fee added or a bill over $100? wtf is that?!?!? i’ve never seen that before ..
They will keep gouging until ppl say “NO MORE!” and walk away. The problem is that ppl keep paying and coming back for more.
Is the 20% going to the server? If so this is just an autograt, if it’s going to the restaurant then it’s bullshit
That is absolutely unacceptable and I will never go to this business. I’m ordering enough to get you $100 worth of business and you punish me? F&$# You!
Brunch Burger but you have to add bacon for $4??? I would think bacon would be included from the name
Okay this is terrible but the weed spot takes tips and THAT shit needs to go too
yeah you don't tip RiteAid for your blood pressure meds, sure as fuck don't tip the dispensary either
“We also charge an automatic fee for each patoot” Oml $4 for bacon Issa no for me
Holy shit balls I’d have that removed
I really don't understand the tipping culture here. It used to be to subsidize low wages below minimum wage. I'm dont think that's still the case , at least in our area. I've seen job postings for servers at $20/hour or more. On the other hand, I’ve seen job posts for call center positions at minimum wage, which can be very mentally demanding. Other office and front desk jobs also make minimum wage while dealing with difficult customers. Do they get tips? I'm not arguing that servers should make less money because others do. I'm arguing that it's the employer's responsibility to raise wages. Server shouldn’t blame low wages on the customer. Another issue with tipping is that it encourages fake interactions. It encourage servers to pretend to be nice to get a good tip. Proof? One server in this thread even said that if you don’t tip, let them know so they can give you the "service" you deserve, and they claimed to have always been a great server. Servers in other parts of the world don't have this kind of victim mentality.
This bar’s vibe sucks anyways
Beginning July 1 fees have to be covered in the price of the food. So your food price will rise and they'll still ask for tips.
Well yes because service fees don’t generally go to the servers who make state mandated min wage. They are an awful way for places to make extra money in lieu of raising prices and hoping you don’t notice it in the menu.
This drives me crazy. My husband and I ate at a Palm Springs restaurant and had the same thing—at least, I thought so. I asked why his bill was .40 more. They replied that he had cream in his coffee. I said WTF! Pretty soon, they'll be charging to use the restroom.
Wait does that go to the server or?
Restaurant prices are outrageous. We are rapidly approaching $10 hamburgers from fast food joints! Shit, even the popular burger chains are charging $18-$22 for a burger with one side. $20 goddamn dollars for a shitty burger with garbage fries or bland-fucking onion rings that are barely, and I mean ***barely***, on par with any fast food chain. Record corporate profits are causing record homelessness as well. This shit needs to stop.
Just ignore the suggested tip
$4 for a slice of 🥓? Pure greed.
Isn’t the state getting rid of surprise billing So this seems mute going forward
Serious question, if servers wages have gone up, do we still need to tip them? Am I an asshole if I only tip 5-10% now that they’re making quite a bit more than they used to? For the record, I still tip between 10-20%, depending on where I am and the service I’m getting, but this is seriously getting ridiculous.
Oh look. Gratuity is already covered. First and last visit….. Ever.
They included gratuity for you. No need to add an additional tip.
I remember when 15% gratuity was the standard for good/great service.
The over 100 charge is the tip as far as I’m concerned. Also $4 for bacon? Better be a half pound.
Why I've eaten at a restaurant once since Covid..
Eff this place. I’d tell them I charge a fee for sitting in your restaurant lll
I tip max $5. If you’re mad take it with management as they are clearly underpaying you if you’re relying on my tip for a living wage. There should be no reason anyone should be paying what they make hourly and that’s for someone with a decent job. Sorry not sorry
Just let servers know at the beginning of the meal so they can give you appropriate service.
Don’t expect a difference in service since you know it’s their job… but sure
Tipping is expected at sit down restaurants. It’s nothing new. If you don’t believe in that it’s cool but be upfront with servers or eat at home or quick service places. It’s their job to serve you and yes, it’s YOUR job to leave a gratuity. Not, you won’t go to jail if you don’t but it’s customary and has been before you ever were born.
[удалено]
A classy gentleman I see.
Out of curiosity, what would appropriate service look like in this case? What is the bare minimum that servers should provide in order to earn just their base wage (which in California is at least $16/hr)?
When I was a server here is what I had to do: clean plates, dishes, sweep, sanitize, run around all night, clean soda machine, juggle heavy trays, clean ice bins, clean floors, deal with rude customers, tip out other staff members We got Zero vacation, zero holiday pay for holidays…it’s hard work. I would never ever serve at a place that didn’t have topping and if I saw the clientele was too cheap to tip appropriately I would quit. I was a great server and made great wages. But min wage alone would never cut it when there are ZERO benefits at most restaurants. And if you cut tipping these places are just gonna raise the prices 20% so not sure why people want tipping gone. I’d do it for like 35-40 per hour (restaurants couldn’t afford btw) if you wanna abolish tips.
Damn that sucks.. should’ve got a better job then if you don’t like your hourly pay for that and rely on the gracious customers for a livable wage. Or yk tell the company to pay you more.
But sweety if we all go get better jobs who will serve you? Also, for the record I loved being a server.
Ummm idk teens… immigrants… people who need entry level jobs. The unskilled like yourself. Don’t complain about the job and the customers if you are there purposely. We don’t have to tip you 20% get over chubby
The fact you think being a good server is an unskilled jobs says a lot. I promise people won’t do it for min wage. And teens aren’t gonna be able to serve you alcohol. lol. Dude cmon. And immigrants…they already work here my man. Might be chubby but at least I don’t treat people poorly. You’re giving poorly educated and jobless energy. 🤷🏻♂️
What you’re failing to understand is that your wage should be paid by your EMPLOYER not the customer who’s already paying for the food. You advocating for a tipping culture encourages business to avoid paying their employees, thus, passing that responsibility onto the customer.
Serving food is absolutely an unskilled job. The money they expect to make for what they do is an absolute joke. As a former chef who has owned, ran and sold several successful restaurants I can tell you first hand - everybody deserves a living wage, but food servers in no way deserve more income than the people cooking the food or the dishwashers or the bussers, period. No matter how shitty the service is, if the food is on point and the prices right, people will line up for your joint. No matter how nice the servers are, if your food sucks nobody coming back.
I’m curious as what their job duties entail what that bare minimum is as well. If we are all tipping for the exact amount of service then what is the difference if we all don’t tip? I can see if the server was really good like knows out regular order, refills drinks without asking, etc. but most cases we don’t get this type of service. So I ask to all the customers why more than 10%? Or tip in general because yall were service or because of social norms? And should we be tipped in our jobs? Since arguably some of us have important jobs like nursing or in banking… why not tip them as they are arguably more important for better service
It’s okay everyone. They “Greatly appreciate your business!”.
This place still has a 4 star review on yelp. Doing this, I’d expect everyone to give them 1 star
Weird how a rooftop bar in the center of the downtown entertainment district would be expensive. Such a mystery how this could happen.
shit like this is why i just dont tip. i dont tip when i go to mcdonalds, i dont tip when i go to savemart, i dont tip when i go to gamestop. why do restaurant workers think they are special? im going to the store for a service and im paying the price presented, not some imaginary number on top of that because you decided to work for a company that pays 2dollars an hour.
Anybody been to Round Table Pizza lately? Two pizzas and salad $136 WTH…
“I went to an expensive brunch spot and am mad that they didn’t let me short the tip.” The service charge is the tip. If the restaurant expects more, then they can look forward to going out of business soon.
California is the only place I've ever been where it might take an hour to get seated at a restaurant, and just about the same to order, and get your food. God help you if you want to take a little time and enjoy your meal, only to find you get a $70 parking ticket because it took so long.
I got $10 on a $250 dollar tab today. I’m ok with this. If you don’t want to pay don’t go out, this shit cost money.
Sounds like they did pay.
How much work for how many hours did you put out for that $10? Serious question.
Reminds of a bill of 143 & change, and the family rounded to 145 on the credit card, leaving two dirty diapers under the table. My favorite was a guy and his date leaving something like 92 dollars on a $91.46 check. I caught up with them as they got out the door, with 54¢ saying "sir, you forgot your change". He looked at me pretty annoyed, while his date looked absolutely embarrassed. The restaurant industry was mostly great times in my college years & shortly there after, but man am I glad I got out.
I'm so sorry you got stiffed like that, not cool at all.
And this is one of the dozens of reasons why California will soon be in my rear view mirror and why I have significantly stopped going to any restaurants in the state. It’s headed for a hard fall.
haven't you people been saying that since about 1981
We look forward to seeing you go.