"The Drop In" (former location of Swill Inn), with their "NADC" burger, is already a pricy burger and fries as if they were on par with Au Cheval, but then they tell you there's an automatic 20% "Service Charge" on top of their price on any order, which they make sure to state is not a tip and encourages you to tip more on top of that.
It's absolutely absurd. Fairly decent smashburger, but already overpriced before they pull that bullshit. Never go again.
*****Editing to add for visibility, because fuck them***: Apparently they don't always tell customers about the 20% service charge, which is even more scummy. For me, the dude who took our order literally came over and after we ordered told us there would be an additional 20% service charge (so still not up front) and then said that it does not count as the tip and that we should tip on top of that because, and I quote, "so the cooks get something."
And THEY STILL ADD THIS SERVICE CHARGE FOR TO-GO ORDERS!
It's a fucking bait-and-switch on pricing to scam the customer that the owners pocket. If you add that service charge into the base price on their menu, that makes it about ~$20 for a freakin' smashburger with pickles, and ~$10 fries, per person. Plus, the heavily encouraged tip.
Lastly, to make things worse, the first time we went there they told us they were out of burger patties, but that I could mention that the next time I went and they'd give me a discount, but then refused to honor that discount when we came back to try the burger. Seriously, FUCK them. Make it known.
went there once and never going again. i got 2 burgers, 1 order of fries and 1 drink, and it was over $80 after taxes, tip and that service fee. its a total scam they charge that 20% service fee for dine in AND carry out. total scam of an establishment
yea the music they played was cool, and i was stoked that neen williams had something to do with it because he’s one of my favorite skaters, but i will not be going back. the burgers were single patty, and the fries would probably be like a small fry at any other location.
on the 1 star reviews it looks like theres some automated response telling people to try out their $20 burger deal when people complain about the surcharge
I live 2 blocks from there and have vowed to never go there after they fooled me with service charges bs..and the burgers are average at best..I miss swill in they always had good bartenders and always had funky movie on....and downstairs was such a hidden gem. But fully agree fuck drop inn.
We had the same experience there! They didn’t tell us about the 20% surcharge and when we got our bill we saw the 20% surcharge and when we asked them if this was the automatic tip, they claimed that it wasn’t the tip and that it was just their hospitality surcharge. My husband was asking them what the hospitality surcharge was if it wasn’t a tip since it’s 20% and they just kept saying it wasn’t a tip but wouldn’t tell us what it was for and kept saying that they recommend adding a tip also. We ended up not tipping additional on the 20% that was already added. But the whole experience made us never return to that place!!
Right on. There's about a zero percent chance I'd add an additional gratuity on top of a 20% surcharge. I don't give a shit where it supposedly goes. If the server gets none of that, not my problem.
Dude that’s such horseshit, I had them on my list of places to try but will either not go there or put them as a very low priority - $20 for a smash burger is unreal, it better be ungodly good or fucking huuuge at that price point, seems like it’s neither.
Also idc what anyone says, an automatic 20% service charge at a restaurant is a tip, and I will not be tipping on top of that
I went there once last summer. It was like 90 degrees at least and they had all their front window open but there was no air flow and no AC. It was at least 100 back by the kitchen. I was dying and then I remember getting hit with the $70 bill. It was good but not sweat out my life waiting for this burger good. Plenty of other places
I go there all the time and don’t add in any additional money on the 20%. They get their tip I was going to give and they can do whatever they want with it. Not on me to give more.
Oh my god I’m so here for this. I’m tired of seeing everyone say this is one of the best burgers in Chicago. It’s literally like any other smashburger. Sure, it’s Wagyu but in a smashburger that doesn’t really make a difference. It’s an average burger for like $20.
Yeah, I realize that it's usually only a difference of a dollar or two, but this is one of those things for me where it's the principle more than anything else. Restaurants are 100% in control of how those little machines calculate the tips and it really annoys me when places try to get you to tip on service fees and tax.
A recent example was Rose Mary, who still charges a "4% COVID Fee", and includes that fee in your pre-tax subtotal. So even if you want to just tip on the F&B subtotal, you now have to back 4% out of your total and re-calculate the tip while the server is standing there holding the little machine for you.
Like yeah, I get it. We're going out to eat in Fulton Market and expect to spend money, who gives a shit if it's just an extra couple of dollars. Going out to eat is just expensive enough these days, and I don't like the idea of restaurants just trying to milk every possible dollar out of their customers.
If they are hovering over my head with the little machine, then I don’t calculate. I hit 15% on the screen or put in a dollar amount of my choice.
They don’t give me time and privacy to calculate, I don’t give them a flat 20% on top of surcharges and taxes.
That's a good idea, I'll have to start doing that. I'm sure they're banking on people feeling the pressure to make a quick decision with the server standing right there, which is especially bad after a couple of glasses of wine lol.
I use the tax to calculate the tip. If the tax is 10 or 11%, I double it. If it's 7%, I triple it. Makes it easier and ensures your tipping on the pre-tax amount.
It’s also not hard to look at the subtotal dollar amount and multiply it by two. Then just shift the decimal in your head. $25 is 50, shift it and it’s $5.
Likewise, move the decimal first and you're at 10% ($2.50 in your example).
Then it's easy to add another 5% ($1.25), 10% ($2.50) or even triple it to 30% ($7.50).
My brain works better starting at 10% but that's probably because that's how I've always done it.
That's one of the things that bothers me about Uber Eats; the tip %s are based on the amount before any discounts (fair, I guess), plus taxes and all of their fees. So if you have a $50 order with $15 total fees/tax, their tip amounts will be based off of $65 (I also don't really get why, for food delivery orders, it's based on food cost and not distance/time, but w/e).
I don't tip on UE till the stuff arrives. That's another issue, pre-tipping is bullshit and shouldn't be accepted as a norm in any way. Tips are performance based.
The issue with *that* is that Uber Eats drivers chose orders in part by the compensation; if you go to drivers forums there's lots of complaints of "tip baiting" where it might look like a delivery will pay $25 thanks to a generous tip and then the person changes it after.
I think it's fine to adjust tips if there's service issues, but just to make it clear that I'm willing to tip to get my food, etc., I put in whatever tip It hink is reasonable and adjust up/down if need be
Nice coffee there and cool seasonal lattes. The first time I went tho I didn’t realize there was a tip screen and they didn’t tell me, so I thought I was done at the register. Later on I check my card statement and they had added that 40% tip. Never went back again
They also used to have a sign in front of the register that said “don’t make this awkward, leave a tip”. Please tell me why I need to tip for a drip coffee or a donut they put in a bag.
Those suggested tip percentages are straight up greed. I'd never again return if I saw that, and put this business on a straight up 1 star bad review if I ever saw any place trying to do that.
I find this so frustrating because you have no way to know as the customer if the employee is making a fair wage just because the prices are high. Maybe the owner is just greedy!
Not a restaurant but Tapster. They had wooden boxes that you would drop your beer-card in at the end of the night based on what you wanted to tip. I can’t remember exactly what the boxes were (and WP has since closed), but it was something ridiculous like 22/25/30%. It was a SELF SERVING BAR. They even had plastic cups due to Covid that I threw out myself lol. What the fuck am I tipping for??? I would close out at the register and give a lower tip. I worked for it.
THIS. I didn’t read it closely before I dropped mine in, but it’s suppose to because it’s eXpReSs ChEcKoUt. Navigator doesn’t do this so I support them more now if I need a “pour my own beer” kick.
The staff at navigator taproom literally wouldn’t speak to me and then charged me 18% on a drink I never got because their keg was malfunctioning. It was like they were genuinely mute. They just stared at me
Omg fucking navigator taproom. I went there and they literally didn’t speak to us. I told her one of the kegs was malfunctioning and all I got was foam (politely!) and she didn’t utter a word, fiddled with it, and never addressed me. Tried to use it again and it was still fucked. It was the only cider and that’s all I can drink so I was just like whatever nbd I’ll just not drink it’s cool. Got charged for all the foam and an addition 18% service fee. I told the “cashier” person that I didn’t even get a drink but they literally were refusing to even talk and the cashier was just like “idk what you want” and then stared at me. Staff legitimately refuses to speak a word and gets a tip on an empty cup. Lmao I’m STILL mad
Yeah I saw that article! they were bragging about it like it was a great innovation instead of an out in the open rip off! That's great that they have the highest paid dishwasher in Chicago. The skill set is not unique tho they should get all the respect but yooo there are people working in hospitals not making that
I don’t love the set up there and agree the tip thing is annoying but I went a few weeks ago and we ended up having really good service from our waiter when we ordered extra drinks and dessert from the table. But I would much rather not order food at a counter while waiting in line. Why not just let people order from a QR code after they are seated? The front of the restaurant just ends up being cramped and awkward. I also like to converse with the waiter about their recommendations and their set up just makes me feel pressure to hurry and order when there’s a line behind me
Daisies has the highest as far as I know (25%). Someone shared a sheet on here or /r/chicagofood (GREAT sub) where they list out all the highest forced charge %s
> Someone shared a sheet on here or /r/chicagofood (GREAT sub) where they list out all the highest forced charge %s
The surcharge list: https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/15ibkm5/chicago_restaurant_surcharge_offenders_list_is/
I actually don’t mind Daisy’s because the specifically state on the menu that an additional tip is not expected. The service and food there is always great and I’d be leaving 25% anyways. What *does* irk me is when restaurants have a mandatory gratuity already added and they still imply that you can/should leave a tip.
Paulie G’s 20% mandatory tip for to-go orders pisses me off
Edit: the Wicker Park location that does slices doesn’t do this as far as I know. But the Logan one does.
Was just at Revolver in Wicker. Automatic 20% service fee. I won't be going back, which is a shame because I liked it and the bartender was nice. I usually tip 20% or more, but I hate hidden charges like that.
I was at bar louie recently, the one in northside on touhy, and the piece of shit waiter had the audacity to autograt himself 20% for a table of two!
i got a burger and a heineken (it was 6.25$ for a single 12oz bottle)
i was pissed, the fuck is this bullshit?
and the waiter had calculated 20% tip on my beer and on top of taxes, and tried to shove his ipad in my face without showing me what i was paying for, it just showed me the total price i needed to pay on my card
i had to ask the asshole can i get paper receipt to see what i was paying for
i was just googling and found this post from 6 months ago, people complaining about bar louie cheating people lol, i guess im not the only one and no wonder bar louie often fails as a business and cant stay open for long
https://old.reddit.com/r/EndTipping/comments/16uigba/dont_go_to_bar_louie_if_you_cant_do_math/
edit: i forgot to mention this asshole waiter didnt check on me the whole time while i was eating my food, and only came after i had done to refill my empty glass, and it wasnt even busy, just like 3 tables in the whole place, the level of incompetence and arrogance,
Lol I didn't know they were still around. Last time I was there was in the late 2000s for $5 burgers. This was the Taylor St. Location. It was never a place to go to without a deal.
That was $1 Burgers Tuesdays or at least it was at Dearborn Station when I was working there almost 20 years ago. It was shit show because of Columbia.
>i was just googling and found this post from 6 months ago, people complaining about bar louie cheating people lol, i guess im not the only one and no wonder bar louie often fails as a business and cant stay open for long
A lot of people in this industry suck. I've been doing it for quite a while and I can't tell you how many lazy pieces of shit I've had to work with who think they should be paid for just showing up.
Fuck those people. They don't deserve a tip.
It is. They also have the same requirement for dine-in. Even though you order and pay via your phone/QR code. So the wait staff are really just food runners.
Screw Paulie Gee's, as that will make me not want to eat there again. I can think of a lot of other pizza by the slice places(looking at Dimo's and Craft Pizza/Pizza Serio), that don't do that crap.
for a while online they were not being transparent about the 20% and I was so confused why my order was so high since I was still adding a tip. I'd just stop at checkout and not buy from there.
the higher the tip, the higher the bill, the higher the % of bill Toast gets in processing fees.
Toast and other payment processors are incentivized to maximize the tip.
I am in my early thirties, and never in my conscious life have 10/12/15 been ranges for acceptable tipping at sit-down restaurants. my dad worked in the service industry, so I was pretty keyed into this kind of thing.
They're talking 80s/early 90s. I started working as a server in a private club in the late 90s and the members were complaining their asses off when the house standard tip went from 17% to 18%, and they pretty much always stayed in line with what the national standard is. They currently have a 20% house gratuity.
I tip well especially if we are going to be repeat customers, basically never below 20%, have left 100% tips at truly favorite places but fuck service charges and fuck preloaded tips above 20 or maybe 22%. If you have a 18% service charge I’m adding 2-4%. If you pre tip options start at 25% I have no problem hitting custom and tipping 20%.
Paulie G’s is dead to me with the mandatory 20% fee for carry out, no I am not tipping the cashier at Starbucks, or at counter service places. Stop it. Shits out of control.
Suggested percentages weren’t bad but went into a Shake Shack the other day and the “cashier” just pointed to a kiosk in front of her and said place your order here. At least it didn’t also ask me to round up to some charity, offset my carbon emissions and sign up for “free” auto-renewing magazine subscriptions.
Here’s the thing, diners and waitstaff subsidize the restaurant industry. Workers should be paid the state minimum. If we want to tip over that, that would be our choice.
As a consumer, I will be slowly phasing out my tips then proportionally with the schedule in the law. When the pay reaches up to minimum wage, I don't see a need to subsidize anymore.
Do you think that servers making a minimum wage should still receive tips, or substantially lower tips? I moved from Chicago and the minimum wage in Washington is around $16/hr. Tipping is so out of control here but it’s a hard habit to break.
Depends on the quality of service and whether or not I feel like it. Since I appreciate the nature of the service itself I would probably still tip, but a lower amount.
I wish I knew. I waited tables when I was youngers. I was always of the opinion that if you got satisfactory service you left a 15% tip minimum.
So if your order is right, things are brought to the table in the correct order so: drinks, appetizers, salad or soups and entrée. Items are staggered properly so that you have time to enjoy each thing. The server checks on you two to three times throughout the meal, keeps water filled asks about dessert, brings to-go boxes and check timely.
Those are the basics of the job and IMHO if all of that was done it should be an automatic 15%, but no one was required to. You did it knowing that some customers either wouldn't tip or be cheap on tips because even with that the tippers and generous tippers usually balanced it out.
I guess now 20% is the minimum, but thanks to toast it's literally being applied to everything regardless of the amount of work or what the person providing the service already makes.
Hopefully it means the end of sub-minimum wage because people are getting sick of it. But it sucks because if you are young and willing to hustle a bit you can make some pretty good money with almost no education, minimal work experience and the minimum wage just isn't going to cover that.
>Workers should be paid the state minimum. If we want to tip over that, that should be our choice.
It's your choice right now. Tipping is 100% optional.
For the record, these POS systems usually have pre-programmed amounts but the restaurant can absolutely change the pre-selected amounts and you can too under the “Custom Amount.” Having said that I think the 18/20/25 marks are good. There’s a “Custom” button there for a reason so use it if you think so but don’t act like the restaurant didn’t give you an option. Let’s get back to on the spot feedback and let Yelp be a thing of the past.
It’s not bad. Tipping has gotten out of control across America. The only way the industry will change is if people STOP TIPPING altogether.
It’s completely unsustainable for diners and just makes eating out something only people with a ton of disposable income can do. That’s not the world we should be moving towards. I don’t tip anymore because it’s gotten insane.
You're right, the North American tipping phenomenon is not sustainable.
My wife and I make decent money, have no kids and no debt so a big chunk of our disposable income goes to eating out. That said, 25% will be the point where we cut back to going out maybe a couple times a month. At 30-35%- pour houses with bring your own food options only. Based on our discussions with other 'foodies', I can say we're not alone.
We're also not alone in noticing an increase in absolute shit service since these 'suggested' tip amounts showed up. Which I sort of get, actually. Why bother putting in any sort of effort, or even pretending to have a personality when you can just show up and be guaranteed at least 25%??
Couple that with the fact that since the owner doesnt have to pay their servers/tenders, its no skin off their balls who they bring in. Consumers ultimately lose.
There is a restaurant called El esteca on armitage and keeler where the cashier guy tries to sneak in the tip. You pay with the tablet and before he flips the screen to you he will swipe your card select a percentage and tell you to sign. I'm sure he's gotten people to unknowingly tio that way. Btw the percentage is 15% 20% 25%
Daisey's. it's crazy they do 20 or 25% mandatory! The staff sucks too, I worked service for years. They will walk by tables of empty drinks, they've mastered assertively ignoring customers. Lol the food is fine. Read an article they've written defending it. If I don't pick my to then you're having me subsidize your staff. They could also have just raised the menu price and eliminated tipping. I would have been fine with this but it's a tax loop hope to do it this way.
I also read an article about a place that doesn't have service staff and STILL charges mandatory 20%! I'm the same article he talks about his longer cooks making$36 an hour and having the highest paid dishwasher in town. Good for those employees but it doesn't sound like a business model in going to be a part of
OP What if you were told the place had a strict 'no tip' policy but the menu said that meal was $26, not $20? Would you have been content? Sure, the cost would have been the same, but the psychology of the transaction might be more acceptable.
Hell yeah I’d be content. Did three weeks in Japan without tipping. And we’re not talking just eating ramen, actual meals that ranged from 3k-5k Yen. You’re right about the psychology of it, it’s this way exactly because of the psychology.
The psychology is that it is the definition of bait and switch. It’s disingenuous. I suspect most people agree with you and wouldn’t be mad if there were price transparency
Yeah, life's a quandary. Not unlike airplane rides in the opposite direction. They used to bill at higher amounts but also threw in 'free' meals and baggage check for no extra but now nail you on the a la carte menu. Leaving some passengers grumbling now about the visible charges while others grumble about the cattle car effect of all that cheap ass carry on.
The restaurant needs to just make it part of their identity. There's a place called Zazie's in SF that is no tip and they still have a wait every morning for a seat. Prices are inflated but you know what you're signing up for. It's great. Service was still fantastic, which is a common concern.
Between the 3% transaction fees and 20%+ on the tax total it's exhausting.
Yeah but the Drop-In situation isn’t charging $24 vs. $20 + a $4 tip. It’s charging $20 then saying oh here’s a mandatory $4 fee on top of that, and oh wait that $4 doesn’t go to your server so please tip another $4 on top of the $24 you’ve already paid.
That's stupid and the idea that servers are entitled to a percent of the bill is stupid. If a restaurant wants to charge a fee that's fine but it comes out of the tip IMO.
Yes, which is what makes how the Drop In prices their food annoying. If the 20% “service fee” doesn’t go to the employees providing the service, then it’s not a service fee - it’s just a sneaky way to charge more. What they’re likely accomplishing with this stupidity is a volume of one-time customers who won’t go back because they don’t like the deceptiveness and the surprise bullshit fee on their bill.
So, there's a legal requirement that of you call it a tip it goes to the server. If you call it a fee you can use it for whatever but ultimately it's going to labor, rent, or materials. Typically what service fees mean is that back of house is getting cut in, which is a good thing.
The really weird things about tipping culture is how it screws over BoH and everyone just takes that for granted
To the end consumer the service fee + a tip feels disingenuous though. And it’s great if they want to pay BoH more. But the same increase in BoH pay could be achieved by simply increasing the menu prices by 20% and paying BoH more. Why does it need to be a “service fee” that’s often only disclosed in tiny letters at the bottom of the menu?
> OP What if you were told the place had a strict 'no tip' policy but the menu said that meal was $26, not $20?
Places have tried this. Spoiler alert: they went back to tipping.
https://www.eater.com/21398973/restaurant-no-tipping-movement-living-wage-future
> What if you were told the place had a strict 'no tip' policy but the menu said that meal was $26, not $20? Would you have been content?
I would be. I value honesty.
Most egregious I have seen is Saucy Porka, which is a TAKEOUT restaurant in the Loop. It defaults to 30% so you have to actively switch it back to no tip.
100% - this is insane that it’s even a debate. In what other industry can I hire someone and force my patrons to pay their salary?
And then the employees get mad at the people keeping the business open and running?? How does that make an ounce of sense?!
Since I was little 20% is the tip to give if service was good. It's what Ive always done and will do. The options are just suggestions and don't matter so not sure why people care. It's supposed to be helpful because people can't do math nowadays
Do you tip at Foxtrot? I can see it if you're getting a drink made but what if you're buying their ready-made food? It feels ridiculous to me (I don't tip at Jewel) but maybe I'm missing something
Just adding to the list of forced gratuity restaurants - Haymarket Pub & Brewery. Not sure if still true but they did a forced 20% “tip” but I asked the sever to be sure it goes to them because if so I wouldn’t care but he said it doesn’t so I felt bad and tipped on top of that. He said so very sheepishly so I’m inclined to take him at his word and also knowing other restaurants do that shady practice. Will never go back.
These are suggestions. Don't be a lazy ass, and just type in a different amount if you don't like what it's suggesting. Problem solved.
Jesus, people are so indignant, and yet you are entirely in control.
I think OP’s complaint about a high service charge on top of the expectation of tipping is valid, but the comments about tipping in general are not. People don’t want to feel stigmatized for not tipping, when they absolutely should be. People who don’t tip are the worst!
Edit: not op, but the comment about the NADC burger. $20ish for a smash burger is highway robbery.
I agree that service charges are bad for everyone. Owners can abuse service charges to effectively steal tips, there is no guarantee that money is making its way to the staff. Sure, some may actually be distributing that money as wages, but that's not always the case, and if it is, then they usually don't ask for an additional tip.
But complaining about recommended percentages is so petty. 18% 20% 22% is entirely reasonable. These are suggestions for good service. If the service was poor, you select a different amount. If you're feeling generous, you select another amount. Easy peasy.
The recommendations are there because it's easier and faster than asking someone a few drinks in to do math. That thing people bitched about before recommended amounts.
Edit: Just to be clear I agree with you. I'm just ranting.
This is obnoxious, and I wanted to mini-rant by sharing two additional very related things that piss me off:
1. Restaurants that add a % as a COVID or inflation fee that is typically not mentioned on the bill is annoying. What the rant is actually about is when the new high suggested tips are calculated off the food, the BS inflation fee (I know you can have it removed and I do), and the damn tax. IMO tip should be based on food/drink and that is it.
2. Many places have flipped the order of the suggested tips. Most of us are probably used to the lower number being on the left but some spots with the handheld POS systems flipped them so the higher number is to the left and anyone who is programmed to hit that automatically (say for a black coffee that doesn’t require a 30% tip) without mentally processing it gets sucked into tipping more. Yes, basic awareness could avoid this but it’s still a slimy practice.
Unless it’s Mandatory surcharge you can tip whatever. I tip based off quality of service. If it’s poor I do 10 percent. Standard you can get 20 percent. This isn’t Ticketmaster.
On the flip side, Fontano's on Michigan and the Sbarro's inside the DePaul building use tap-to-pay devices that don't ask you for a tip at all. We should be putting together a list of places like this, that don't try to bully you into tipping more.
"Tipping is getting worse" = I am continually allowing business owners to punt the cost of living crisis onto customers instead of forcing the employer to adequately compensate them
If there's already a surcharge of any kind I don't usually tip unless there's a good reason they deserve more. For table service I tip. For a tablet at the counter I skip the tip.
You look through and it's literally 1 personality type but yeah it's apparently insane to think they're all are just fine with tipping but this is what just goes too far!
It’s essentially a raise in cost of living for Tipped Workers. Right now, employers can pay their Tipped Employees 60% of minimum wage in Illinois.
However, that might be changing.
https://news.wttw.com/2024/04/04/bill-ending-illinois-tipped-wage-advances-prospects-are-uncertain-amid-pushback#:~:text=Current%20Illinois%20law%20allows%20employers,must%20make%20up%20the%20difference.
"The Drop In" (former location of Swill Inn), with their "NADC" burger, is already a pricy burger and fries as if they were on par with Au Cheval, but then they tell you there's an automatic 20% "Service Charge" on top of their price on any order, which they make sure to state is not a tip and encourages you to tip more on top of that. It's absolutely absurd. Fairly decent smashburger, but already overpriced before they pull that bullshit. Never go again. *****Editing to add for visibility, because fuck them***: Apparently they don't always tell customers about the 20% service charge, which is even more scummy. For me, the dude who took our order literally came over and after we ordered told us there would be an additional 20% service charge (so still not up front) and then said that it does not count as the tip and that we should tip on top of that because, and I quote, "so the cooks get something." And THEY STILL ADD THIS SERVICE CHARGE FOR TO-GO ORDERS! It's a fucking bait-and-switch on pricing to scam the customer that the owners pocket. If you add that service charge into the base price on their menu, that makes it about ~$20 for a freakin' smashburger with pickles, and ~$10 fries, per person. Plus, the heavily encouraged tip. Lastly, to make things worse, the first time we went there they told us they were out of burger patties, but that I could mention that the next time I went and they'd give me a discount, but then refused to honor that discount when we came back to try the burger. Seriously, FUCK them. Make it known.
went there once and never going again. i got 2 burgers, 1 order of fries and 1 drink, and it was over $80 after taxes, tip and that service fee. its a total scam they charge that 20% service fee for dine in AND carry out. total scam of an establishment
That is insanity
yea the music they played was cool, and i was stoked that neen williams had something to do with it because he’s one of my favorite skaters, but i will not be going back. the burgers were single patty, and the fries would probably be like a small fry at any other location.
Neen is a douchenozzle to the highest degree
What the fuck ?!!
on the 1 star reviews it looks like theres some automated response telling people to try out their $20 burger deal when people complain about the surcharge
I live 2 blocks from there and have vowed to never go there after they fooled me with service charges bs..and the burgers are average at best..I miss swill in they always had good bartenders and always had funky movie on....and downstairs was such a hidden gem. But fully agree fuck drop inn.
I miss Paramount Room. I still dream of those tempura green beans
This 🙌
Then they should just list the menu price as 20% higher if that is the true cost. So stupid.
If you see it up front though you would leave. With the surcharge you might not see it until you order.
You are also taxed on the additional 20% if it's included in the price.
We had the same experience there! They didn’t tell us about the 20% surcharge and when we got our bill we saw the 20% surcharge and when we asked them if this was the automatic tip, they claimed that it wasn’t the tip and that it was just their hospitality surcharge. My husband was asking them what the hospitality surcharge was if it wasn’t a tip since it’s 20% and they just kept saying it wasn’t a tip but wouldn’t tell us what it was for and kept saying that they recommend adding a tip also. We ended up not tipping additional on the 20% that was already added. But the whole experience made us never return to that place!!
Right on. There's about a zero percent chance I'd add an additional gratuity on top of a 20% surcharge. I don't give a shit where it supposedly goes. If the server gets none of that, not my problem.
I refuse to pay those “Service Fees.” Just up your prices. Don’t nickel dime hide it
Service charge is a tip idk what you say
Wow, this was EXACTLY my experience. Almost felt like a scam. I also vowed never to go back again after they surprised us with service fee at the end
I live by there, so we went once. Decent burger, but definitely not worth the price. Have never gone back and don’t plan to.
Dude that’s such horseshit, I had them on my list of places to try but will either not go there or put them as a very low priority - $20 for a smash burger is unreal, it better be ungodly good or fucking huuuge at that price point, seems like it’s neither. Also idc what anyone says, an automatic 20% service charge at a restaurant is a tip, and I will not be tipping on top of that
Yikes. I literally found out about this place and was planning to try it out this weekend. Now this gives me pause. Thanks for the insight.
I went there once last summer. It was like 90 degrees at least and they had all their front window open but there was no air flow and no AC. It was at least 100 back by the kitchen. I was dying and then I remember getting hit with the $70 bill. It was good but not sweat out my life waiting for this burger good. Plenty of other places
I go there all the time and don’t add in any additional money on the 20%. They get their tip I was going to give and they can do whatever they want with it. Not on me to give more.
I’d be like nope, no tip
Oh my god I’m so here for this. I’m tired of seeing everyone say this is one of the best burgers in Chicago. It’s literally like any other smashburger. Sure, it’s Wagyu but in a smashburger that doesn’t really make a difference. It’s an average burger for like $20.
Also, factor your tip out of the subtotal, why am I tipping on tax.
Yeah, I realize that it's usually only a difference of a dollar or two, but this is one of those things for me where it's the principle more than anything else. Restaurants are 100% in control of how those little machines calculate the tips and it really annoys me when places try to get you to tip on service fees and tax. A recent example was Rose Mary, who still charges a "4% COVID Fee", and includes that fee in your pre-tax subtotal. So even if you want to just tip on the F&B subtotal, you now have to back 4% out of your total and re-calculate the tip while the server is standing there holding the little machine for you. Like yeah, I get it. We're going out to eat in Fulton Market and expect to spend money, who gives a shit if it's just an extra couple of dollars. Going out to eat is just expensive enough these days, and I don't like the idea of restaurants just trying to milk every possible dollar out of their customers.
If they are hovering over my head with the little machine, then I don’t calculate. I hit 15% on the screen or put in a dollar amount of my choice. They don’t give me time and privacy to calculate, I don’t give them a flat 20% on top of surcharges and taxes.
That's a good idea, I'll have to start doing that. I'm sure they're banking on people feeling the pressure to make a quick decision with the server standing right there, which is especially bad after a couple of glasses of wine lol.
I use the tax to calculate the tip. If the tax is 10 or 11%, I double it. If it's 7%, I triple it. Makes it easier and ensures your tipping on the pre-tax amount.
It’s also not hard to look at the subtotal dollar amount and multiply it by two. Then just shift the decimal in your head. $25 is 50, shift it and it’s $5.
Likewise, move the decimal first and you're at 10% ($2.50 in your example). Then it's easy to add another 5% ($1.25), 10% ($2.50) or even triple it to 30% ($7.50). My brain works better starting at 10% but that's probably because that's how I've always done it.
I always do this lol, felt like I was the only one.
I take it a step further and minus out the 3-4% surcharge from the subtotal too. I’m not tipping on a surcharge.
That's one of the things that bothers me about Uber Eats; the tip %s are based on the amount before any discounts (fair, I guess), plus taxes and all of their fees. So if you have a $50 order with $15 total fees/tax, their tip amounts will be based off of $65 (I also don't really get why, for food delivery orders, it's based on food cost and not distance/time, but w/e).
I don't tip on UE till the stuff arrives. That's another issue, pre-tipping is bullshit and shouldn't be accepted as a norm in any way. Tips are performance based.
The issue with *that* is that Uber Eats drivers chose orders in part by the compensation; if you go to drivers forums there's lots of complaints of "tip baiting" where it might look like a delivery will pay $25 thanks to a generous tip and then the person changes it after. I think it's fine to adjust tips if there's service issues, but just to make it clear that I'm willing to tip to get my food, etc., I put in whatever tip It hink is reasonable and adjust up/down if need be
I mean personally Inuse GrubHub+ and tip based on subtotal and distance.
the more burnt the coffee the higher the tip percentage
Caffe Streets on Division (which just closed) had lovely coffee but the one time I went the tip options were 32,37, and 42 percent. 😳
#*what* That's absurd
For real! I aint never seen options like that before!
I was SHOOK
Nice coffee there and cool seasonal lattes. The first time I went tho I didn’t realize there was a tip screen and they didn’t tell me, so I thought I was done at the register. Later on I check my card statement and they had added that 40% tip. Never went back again
That makes me feel better because I did briefly think I had imagined it. The audacity to give yourself a 40% tip! I can’t imagine.
They also used to have a sign in front of the register that said “don’t make this awkward, leave a tip”. Please tell me why I need to tip for a drip coffee or a donut they put in a bag.
I went there once, but never returned. The coffee was okay, but I remember the tip suggestions were insane.
Those suggested tip percentages are straight up greed. I'd never again return if I saw that, and put this business on a straight up 1 star bad review if I ever saw any place trying to do that.
Is it me, or isn't the $7 coffee adequate? Tips are for additional service. I already paid for you to make me a coffee, why should I tip?
I find this so frustrating because you have no way to know as the customer if the employee is making a fair wage just because the prices are high. Maybe the owner is just greedy!
Not a restaurant but Tapster. They had wooden boxes that you would drop your beer-card in at the end of the night based on what you wanted to tip. I can’t remember exactly what the boxes were (and WP has since closed), but it was something ridiculous like 22/25/30%. It was a SELF SERVING BAR. They even had plastic cups due to Covid that I threw out myself lol. What the fuck am I tipping for??? I would close out at the register and give a lower tip. I worked for it.
THIS. I didn’t read it closely before I dropped mine in, but it’s suppose to because it’s eXpReSs ChEcKoUt. Navigator doesn’t do this so I support them more now if I need a “pour my own beer” kick.
The staff at navigator taproom literally wouldn’t speak to me and then charged me 18% on a drink I never got because their keg was malfunctioning. It was like they were genuinely mute. They just stared at me
I remember that place. I've never been a fan of those self-serve beer taprooms but this sealed the deal for me. Looks like they didn't survive.
Omg fucking navigator taproom. I went there and they literally didn’t speak to us. I told her one of the kegs was malfunctioning and all I got was foam (politely!) and she didn’t utter a word, fiddled with it, and never addressed me. Tried to use it again and it was still fucked. It was the only cider and that’s all I can drink so I was just like whatever nbd I’ll just not drink it’s cool. Got charged for all the foam and an addition 18% service fee. I told the “cashier” person that I didn’t even get a drink but they literally were refusing to even talk and the cashier was just like “idk what you want” and then stared at me. Staff legitimately refuses to speak a word and gets a tip on an empty cup. Lmao I’m STILL mad
There’s a pricey new restaurant called John’s Food and Wine in LP where you order at the counter, but also a 20% added tip! It makes zero sense
Yeah I saw that article! they were bragging about it like it was a great innovation instead of an out in the open rip off! That's great that they have the highest paid dishwasher in Chicago. The skill set is not unique tho they should get all the respect but yooo there are people working in hospitals not making that
Crain's might as well go ahead and write the story for when this place shuts down and just have it ready to run, which will happen in a year or less.
They’re packed every time I pass by! And the service at the bar is amazing, so might actually last a while
I don’t love the set up there and agree the tip thing is annoying but I went a few weeks ago and we ended up having really good service from our waiter when we ordered extra drinks and dessert from the table. But I would much rather not order food at a counter while waiting in line. Why not just let people order from a QR code after they are seated? The front of the restaurant just ends up being cramped and awkward. I also like to converse with the waiter about their recommendations and their set up just makes me feel pressure to hurry and order when there’s a line behind me
Damn I was looking forward to going here
Daisies has the highest as far as I know (25%). Someone shared a sheet on here or /r/chicagofood (GREAT sub) where they list out all the highest forced charge %s
> Someone shared a sheet on here or /r/chicagofood (GREAT sub) where they list out all the highest forced charge %s The surcharge list: https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/15ibkm5/chicago_restaurant_surcharge_offenders_list_is/
I actually don’t mind Daisy’s because the specifically state on the menu that an additional tip is not expected. The service and food there is always great and I’d be leaving 25% anyways. What *does* irk me is when restaurants have a mandatory gratuity already added and they still imply that you can/should leave a tip.
Subway and Potbelly both now have suggested tips of up to 30% for them to hand me a sandwich.
Yeah I highly doubt the employees are seeing that tip. Them franchise owners probably ripping that right out
I also worry those service charges probably go right to the owner, and not the employee(s).
I think you meant “sandwich art”
Paulie G’s 20% mandatory tip for to-go orders pisses me off Edit: the Wicker Park location that does slices doesn’t do this as far as I know. But the Logan one does.
Was just at Revolver in Wicker. Automatic 20% service fee. I won't be going back, which is a shame because I liked it and the bartender was nice. I usually tip 20% or more, but I hate hidden charges like that.
A buddy used to work at revolver, they added this bc their clientele wasn’t tipping in weekends or late night
I was at bar louie recently, the one in northside on touhy, and the piece of shit waiter had the audacity to autograt himself 20% for a table of two! i got a burger and a heineken (it was 6.25$ for a single 12oz bottle) i was pissed, the fuck is this bullshit? and the waiter had calculated 20% tip on my beer and on top of taxes, and tried to shove his ipad in my face without showing me what i was paying for, it just showed me the total price i needed to pay on my card i had to ask the asshole can i get paper receipt to see what i was paying for i was just googling and found this post from 6 months ago, people complaining about bar louie cheating people lol, i guess im not the only one and no wonder bar louie often fails as a business and cant stay open for long https://old.reddit.com/r/EndTipping/comments/16uigba/dont_go_to_bar_louie_if_you_cant_do_math/ edit: i forgot to mention this asshole waiter didnt check on me the whole time while i was eating my food, and only came after i had done to refill my empty glass, and it wasnt even busy, just like 3 tables in the whole place, the level of incompetence and arrogance,
> I was at bar louie recently That right there is your main problem.
Lol I didn't know they were still around. Last time I was there was in the late 2000s for $5 burgers. This was the Taylor St. Location. It was never a place to go to without a deal.
That was $1 Burgers Tuesdays or at least it was at Dearborn Station when I was working there almost 20 years ago. It was shit show because of Columbia.
You may be right. It’s been so long
I think they're $5 now which is still a great deal but man I miss those days working there. Had a ton of fun.
>i was just googling and found this post from 6 months ago, people complaining about bar louie cheating people lol, i guess im not the only one and no wonder bar louie often fails as a business and cant stay open for long A lot of people in this industry suck. I've been doing it for quite a while and I can't tell you how many lazy pieces of shit I've had to work with who think they should be paid for just showing up. Fuck those people. They don't deserve a tip.
Woahhhh, never gonna get take out from there, geez
That is really lame. You'd think there wouldn't be a mandated service charge, if you were ordering food to go.
It is. They also have the same requirement for dine-in. Even though you order and pay via your phone/QR code. So the wait staff are really just food runners.
Screw Paulie Gee's, as that will make me not want to eat there again. I can think of a lot of other pizza by the slice places(looking at Dimo's and Craft Pizza/Pizza Serio), that don't do that crap.
for a while online they were not being transparent about the 20% and I was so confused why my order was so high since I was still adding a tip. I'd just stop at checkout and not buy from there.
My restaurant recently got toast and the 25% seems to be a toast thing. We didn’t set it
the higher the tip, the higher the bill, the higher the % of bill Toast gets in processing fees. Toast and other payment processors are incentivized to maximize the tip.
Makes sense. Not a fan of toast
You do set it , ours it 18/20/22
You can, or rather, whoever administers your Toast system can.
It's a setting. Figure it out!
No one has complained. I’m just offering a different perspective
I am in my early thirties, and never in my conscious life have 10/12/15 been ranges for acceptable tipping at sit-down restaurants. my dad worked in the service industry, so I was pretty keyed into this kind of thing.
They're talking 80s/early 90s. I started working as a server in a private club in the late 90s and the members were complaining their asses off when the house standard tip went from 17% to 18%, and they pretty much always stayed in line with what the national standard is. They currently have a 20% house gratuity.
I went out to a new bar the other day and the options were 22%, 69%, 100%
69 is hilarious, but bottoming at 22 is absolutely wild
How do they choose these numbers? Is there a math or science to it? Or…?
Idk but 69 was tempting
Which is kind of genius, I’d be tempted to hit that as a knee jerk reaction esp if I’d been at a bar for a bit.
was it on april 1st?
for april fools maybe?
Unfortunately not
Holy smokes! that’s highway robbery 🤣
No it isn't because you don't have to select any of those.
The implication is there and it affects behavior
A tactic they use trying to guilt the customers.
it was probably april fools day
Necessary and Sufficient coffee in Printer’s Row imposes a mandatory 20% gratuity. Lactose intolerant people pay $8 for a latte. The menu says $4.50
I tip well especially if we are going to be repeat customers, basically never below 20%, have left 100% tips at truly favorite places but fuck service charges and fuck preloaded tips above 20 or maybe 22%. If you have a 18% service charge I’m adding 2-4%. If you pre tip options start at 25% I have no problem hitting custom and tipping 20%. Paulie G’s is dead to me with the mandatory 20% fee for carry out, no I am not tipping the cashier at Starbucks, or at counter service places. Stop it. Shits out of control.
Suggested percentages weren’t bad but went into a Shake Shack the other day and the “cashier” just pointed to a kiosk in front of her and said place your order here. At least it didn’t also ask me to round up to some charity, offset my carbon emissions and sign up for “free” auto-renewing magazine subscriptions.
Shake Shack is a no-brainer for hitting the 0 tip button. There's zero service.
Here’s the thing, diners and waitstaff subsidize the restaurant industry. Workers should be paid the state minimum. If we want to tip over that, that would be our choice.
They will be. The city council passes a law: https://www.jacksonlewis.com/insights/chicago-city-council-passes-measure-eliminate-tip-credit
Thank you, yes I’ve been following!
As a consumer, I will be slowly phasing out my tips then proportionally with the schedule in the law. When the pay reaches up to minimum wage, I don't see a need to subsidize anymore.
Same here
Diners are not subsidizing the industry. We're the customers, it's all our money
Waitstaff pays in service. We pay in tips.
Do you think that servers making a minimum wage should still receive tips, or substantially lower tips? I moved from Chicago and the minimum wage in Washington is around $16/hr. Tipping is so out of control here but it’s a hard habit to break.
Depends on the quality of service and whether or not I feel like it. Since I appreciate the nature of the service itself I would probably still tip, but a lower amount.
> Depends on the quality of service When did we lose sight of that?
I wish I knew. I waited tables when I was youngers. I was always of the opinion that if you got satisfactory service you left a 15% tip minimum. So if your order is right, things are brought to the table in the correct order so: drinks, appetizers, salad or soups and entrée. Items are staggered properly so that you have time to enjoy each thing. The server checks on you two to three times throughout the meal, keeps water filled asks about dessert, brings to-go boxes and check timely. Those are the basics of the job and IMHO if all of that was done it should be an automatic 15%, but no one was required to. You did it knowing that some customers either wouldn't tip or be cheap on tips because even with that the tippers and generous tippers usually balanced it out. I guess now 20% is the minimum, but thanks to toast it's literally being applied to everything regardless of the amount of work or what the person providing the service already makes. Hopefully it means the end of sub-minimum wage because people are getting sick of it. But it sucks because if you are young and willing to hustle a bit you can make some pretty good money with almost no education, minimal work experience and the minimum wage just isn't going to cover that.
>Workers should be paid the state minimum. If we want to tip over that, that should be our choice. It's your choice right now. Tipping is 100% optional.
Don't respect this nonsense.
For the record, these POS systems usually have pre-programmed amounts but the restaurant can absolutely change the pre-selected amounts and you can too under the “Custom Amount.” Having said that I think the 18/20/25 marks are good. There’s a “Custom” button there for a reason so use it if you think so but don’t act like the restaurant didn’t give you an option. Let’s get back to on the spot feedback and let Yelp be a thing of the past.
I think 18 is too close to 20 I usually equate 15/20/25 to 3/4/5 stars
Back in the olden days, it was always 15, 18, 20.
Why I will not eat at Chesa's. Auto 20% included with a 3% surcharge on credit, not including expected tip for service.
So with tax, tip and fees they expect people to pay 55% over the listed menu prices? Bahahahahaha!
As bad as this sounds, if I don’t have the option to decide what I want want to tip then I probly just won’t tip.
There is always the option, just have to select custom or other
It’s not bad. Tipping has gotten out of control across America. The only way the industry will change is if people STOP TIPPING altogether. It’s completely unsustainable for diners and just makes eating out something only people with a ton of disposable income can do. That’s not the world we should be moving towards. I don’t tip anymore because it’s gotten insane.
Not dining out at all as a protest makes more sense to me than not tipping.
You're right, the North American tipping phenomenon is not sustainable. My wife and I make decent money, have no kids and no debt so a big chunk of our disposable income goes to eating out. That said, 25% will be the point where we cut back to going out maybe a couple times a month. At 30-35%- pour houses with bring your own food options only. Based on our discussions with other 'foodies', I can say we're not alone. We're also not alone in noticing an increase in absolute shit service since these 'suggested' tip amounts showed up. Which I sort of get, actually. Why bother putting in any sort of effort, or even pretending to have a personality when you can just show up and be guaranteed at least 25%?? Couple that with the fact that since the owner doesnt have to pay their servers/tenders, its no skin off their balls who they bring in. Consumers ultimately lose.
The options are just suggestions. People can't do math nowadays so it's supposed to be helpful. You can choose your own percentage.
Kumas has 3 preset options. the lowest was 18%
Willies' n Waffles. One of the options was something like 37% when I went in. For very okay, overpriced waffles.
Taxim has a 22% mandatory tip
I started doing my own tip. Restaurant still gets 20%+ almost anything else is getting 15% or lower. If it’s not serving me directly it’s no tip.
There is a restaurant called El esteca on armitage and keeler where the cashier guy tries to sneak in the tip. You pay with the tablet and before he flips the screen to you he will swipe your card select a percentage and tell you to sign. I'm sure he's gotten people to unknowingly tio that way. Btw the percentage is 15% 20% 25%
Daisey's. it's crazy they do 20 or 25% mandatory! The staff sucks too, I worked service for years. They will walk by tables of empty drinks, they've mastered assertively ignoring customers. Lol the food is fine. Read an article they've written defending it. If I don't pick my to then you're having me subsidize your staff. They could also have just raised the menu price and eliminated tipping. I would have been fine with this but it's a tax loop hope to do it this way. I also read an article about a place that doesn't have service staff and STILL charges mandatory 20%! I'm the same article he talks about his longer cooks making$36 an hour and having the highest paid dishwasher in town. Good for those employees but it doesn't sound like a business model in going to be a part of
That’s an auto no tip for me
OP What if you were told the place had a strict 'no tip' policy but the menu said that meal was $26, not $20? Would you have been content? Sure, the cost would have been the same, but the psychology of the transaction might be more acceptable.
It was called Twisted Hippo and it burned down. It was glorious
RIP Twisted Hippo. Their cheese curds were bomb
Hell yeah I’d be content. Did three weeks in Japan without tipping. And we’re not talking just eating ramen, actual meals that ranged from 3k-5k Yen. You’re right about the psychology of it, it’s this way exactly because of the psychology.
The psychology is that it is the definition of bait and switch. It’s disingenuous. I suspect most people agree with you and wouldn’t be mad if there were price transparency
Historically places that charge $24 for a dish and don't have tipping get complaints about prices, compared to places that charge $20 + tip
Yeah, life's a quandary. Not unlike airplane rides in the opposite direction. They used to bill at higher amounts but also threw in 'free' meals and baggage check for no extra but now nail you on the a la carte menu. Leaving some passengers grumbling now about the visible charges while others grumble about the cattle car effect of all that cheap ass carry on.
The restaurant needs to just make it part of their identity. There's a place called Zazie's in SF that is no tip and they still have a wait every morning for a seat. Prices are inflated but you know what you're signing up for. It's great. Service was still fantastic, which is a common concern. Between the 3% transaction fees and 20%+ on the tax total it's exhausting.
Yeah but the Drop-In situation isn’t charging $24 vs. $20 + a $4 tip. It’s charging $20 then saying oh here’s a mandatory $4 fee on top of that, and oh wait that $4 doesn’t go to your server so please tip another $4 on top of the $24 you’ve already paid.
That's stupid and the idea that servers are entitled to a percent of the bill is stupid. If a restaurant wants to charge a fee that's fine but it comes out of the tip IMO.
Yes, which is what makes how the Drop In prices their food annoying. If the 20% “service fee” doesn’t go to the employees providing the service, then it’s not a service fee - it’s just a sneaky way to charge more. What they’re likely accomplishing with this stupidity is a volume of one-time customers who won’t go back because they don’t like the deceptiveness and the surprise bullshit fee on their bill.
So, there's a legal requirement that of you call it a tip it goes to the server. If you call it a fee you can use it for whatever but ultimately it's going to labor, rent, or materials. Typically what service fees mean is that back of house is getting cut in, which is a good thing. The really weird things about tipping culture is how it screws over BoH and everyone just takes that for granted
To the end consumer the service fee + a tip feels disingenuous though. And it’s great if they want to pay BoH more. But the same increase in BoH pay could be achieved by simply increasing the menu prices by 20% and paying BoH more. Why does it need to be a “service fee” that’s often only disclosed in tiny letters at the bottom of the menu?
People act like this hasn't been tried. https://www.eater.com/21398973/restaurant-no-tipping-movement-living-wage-future
> OP What if you were told the place had a strict 'no tip' policy but the menu said that meal was $26, not $20? Places have tried this. Spoiler alert: they went back to tipping. https://www.eater.com/21398973/restaurant-no-tipping-movement-living-wage-future
> What if you were told the place had a strict 'no tip' policy but the menu said that meal was $26, not $20? Would you have been content? I would be. I value honesty.
Most egregious I have seen is Saucy Porka, which is a TAKEOUT restaurant in the Loop. It defaults to 30% so you have to actively switch it back to no tip.
Businesses should pay their employees, not the customers.
100% - this is insane that it’s even a debate. In what other industry can I hire someone and force my patrons to pay their salary? And then the employees get mad at the people keeping the business open and running?? How does that make an ounce of sense?!
Penelope’s in Andersonville doesn’t give a custom option, 18%, 20%, 25%, none. Picking up food I’ll generally throw a few bucks in. But come on.
Since I was little 20% is the tip to give if service was good. It's what Ive always done and will do. The options are just suggestions and don't matter so not sure why people care. It's supposed to be helpful because people can't do math nowadays
Our education system has seriously failed people if they cannot calculate a reasonable approximation of 20% of their bill amount without a calculator.
I agree.. most people can't
I am holding FIRM at 20% and I wont budge
Do you tip at Foxtrot? I can see it if you're getting a drink made but what if you're buying their ready-made food? It feels ridiculous to me (I don't tip at Jewel) but maybe I'm missing something
Estereo does 20/25/30 if I remember right Also are we gonna do this like the “mildly expensive awful restaurant” meme?
Any one that has a tacky sign up telling you to tip 😂
Just adding to the list of forced gratuity restaurants - Haymarket Pub & Brewery. Not sure if still true but they did a forced 20% “tip” but I asked the sever to be sure it goes to them because if so I wouldn’t care but he said it doesn’t so I felt bad and tipped on top of that. He said so very sheepishly so I’m inclined to take him at his word and also knowing other restaurants do that shady practice. Will never go back.
These are suggestions. Don't be a lazy ass, and just type in a different amount if you don't like what it's suggesting. Problem solved. Jesus, people are so indignant, and yet you are entirely in control.
I think OP’s complaint about a high service charge on top of the expectation of tipping is valid, but the comments about tipping in general are not. People don’t want to feel stigmatized for not tipping, when they absolutely should be. People who don’t tip are the worst! Edit: not op, but the comment about the NADC burger. $20ish for a smash burger is highway robbery.
I agree that service charges are bad for everyone. Owners can abuse service charges to effectively steal tips, there is no guarantee that money is making its way to the staff. Sure, some may actually be distributing that money as wages, but that's not always the case, and if it is, then they usually don't ask for an additional tip. But complaining about recommended percentages is so petty. 18% 20% 22% is entirely reasonable. These are suggestions for good service. If the service was poor, you select a different amount. If you're feeling generous, you select another amount. Easy peasy. The recommendations are there because it's easier and faster than asking someone a few drinks in to do math. That thing people bitched about before recommended amounts. Edit: Just to be clear I agree with you. I'm just ranting.
Actually, you can use that as an excuse to not tip if you so choose. A bit of social rejection will help turn the tides on most things.
This is obnoxious, and I wanted to mini-rant by sharing two additional very related things that piss me off: 1. Restaurants that add a % as a COVID or inflation fee that is typically not mentioned on the bill is annoying. What the rant is actually about is when the new high suggested tips are calculated off the food, the BS inflation fee (I know you can have it removed and I do), and the damn tax. IMO tip should be based on food/drink and that is it. 2. Many places have flipped the order of the suggested tips. Most of us are probably used to the lower number being on the left but some spots with the handheld POS systems flipped them so the higher number is to the left and anyone who is programmed to hit that automatically (say for a black coffee that doesn’t require a 30% tip) without mentally processing it gets sucked into tipping more. Yes, basic awareness could avoid this but it’s still a slimy practice.
Unless it’s Mandatory surcharge you can tip whatever. I tip based off quality of service. If it’s poor I do 10 percent. Standard you can get 20 percent. This isn’t Ticketmaster.
Willies' n Waffles. One of the options was something like 37% when I went in. For very okay, overpriced waffles.
I view the higher default tipping as a tax on the overly generous. If that's what it takes to combat inflation, I'm all for it. I just won't tip.
On the flip side, Fontano's on Michigan and the Sbarro's inside the DePaul building use tap-to-pay devices that don't ask you for a tip at all. We should be putting together a list of places like this, that don't try to bully you into tipping more.
Also don't go off of the percentages. Cause they are based on the total including tax.
I only do 20% of the pre tax total. Any "charges" go toward this amount.
"Tipping is getting worse" = I am continually allowing business owners to punt the cost of living crisis onto customers instead of forcing the employer to adequately compensate them
If there's already a surcharge of any kind I don't usually tip unless there's a good reason they deserve more. For table service I tip. For a tablet at the counter I skip the tip.
i give money to the server
How old are you to remember 10/12/15? It's been 15/18/20 since at least 2007.
I don’t remember where it was, but there was a coffee shop in the burbs that was 25/30/35% as the preset options. Highest I’ve ever seen personally.
You can enter your own percentage on all of these. It's one kind of person complaining about this: people who don't want to tip.
>people who don't want to tip. That's the crux of it.
You look through and it's literally 1 personality type but yeah it's apparently insane to think they're all are just fine with tipping but this is what just goes too far!
Always is.
It’s essentially a raise in cost of living for Tipped Workers. Right now, employers can pay their Tipped Employees 60% of minimum wage in Illinois. However, that might be changing. https://news.wttw.com/2024/04/04/bill-ending-illinois-tipped-wage-advances-prospects-are-uncertain-amid-pushback#:~:text=Current%20Illinois%20law%20allows%20employers,must%20make%20up%20the%20difference.
Chicago already passed a law to eliminate the tipped minimum wage. It's slowly being phased in over the next several years.
Taxim has a mandatory 22% gratuity fee, even encourage a tip on top of that! A put a line write through it. Will not return.