Tipping point (restaurant charges automatic "service fee" to all customers)

Chicago Tribune - Yahoo ^ | August 26, 2005 | Stevenson Swanson

[EveningStar]

Waiter, there's a service charge on my soup.

Customers at a high-end Manhattan restaurant soon will notice an extra expense when they get their bill, and not only for their soup course.

Beginning Thursday, chef Thomas Keller will charge customers a 20 percent service fee at Per Se, his year-old outpost in the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle, where the views of Central Park are nearly as breathtaking as the prices.

[CanisMajor2002]

WTH?

Why not just raise prices?

[theDentist]

And if the service that day is bad, can customers just lope the 20% off?

[reagan_fanatic]

Hmmm, let's see - reduce the tip by 20%...there, that evens it out.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Tips are now an entitlement and not a reflection of the quality of service provided.

[Conservative Canuck]

This is the European (socialist get paid whether you do a good job or not) way, so is there any suprise the New York elite are promoting it?

Some restaurants charge a flat 20% for large parties which is fair enough, I suppose, as long as they're up front about it. If they sneak it in, that's another thing, though.

[EveningStar]

general interest ping

[Michael.SF.]

He does the same thing at the French Laundry in Yountville.

My wife and I dined there several years ago, it was an indulgence that we felt was a must try experience. The food was absolutely delicious, but was absolutely way over priced.

If you are curious, try it once, your curiosity will be satisfied. I would not go back, as I felt that Mr. Keller's pride in his food and the pains he goes to was over reflected in his pricing.

[steveegg]

20%? Highway robbery, if you ask me.

[atomicpossum]

We'll see how long it lasts. Longer than Hawaii's oil caps?

[upchuck]

See Chef Keller.
See Chef Keller's foot.
See Chef Keller shoot himself there. :)

FWIW, if the service is good, I usually tip 20-25%.

But, if the establishment insists on ramming a "service charge" (usually 15%) down my throat, I don't tip more than what I have to.

And it REALLY pisses me off when the service is abysmal and they stick the service charge on the bill. I pay, have to. But I never go back.

[Clemenza]

They have been doing this in Miami for years. Simply reflects the fact that wealthy Eurotrash like to eat in certain places.

[Michael.SF.]

Hmmm, let's see - reduce the tip by 20%...there, that evens it out.

There is no tip. There is a service fee of 20%, which is part of the bill. All you pay is the total bill.

[varyouga]

Also, as in socialism, the waiters won't care about their job since they are getting 20% anyway. You will definitely see service go downhill in these places.

[durasell]

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!

[stuartcr]

That's the way it's done in Japan, actually almost the whole world, except here.

[Michael.SF.]

But I never go back.

Do you ever tell them why you never go back?

If more customer's do tell of their displeasure, it may be corrected. But by not telling them, it will not be.

[chudogg]

Why does some dumb college broad deserve 20% of every bill?

[reagan_fanatic]

There is no tip. There is a service fee of 20%, which is part of the bill. All you pay is the total bill.

So, the 'tip' is mandatory, huh?

[EveningStar]

Yes. Mandatory.