Giraffe Restaurant Service Charge

sinizterguy

Danceswithhorses wrote: »

I once went to a particular Mexican restaurant in Manhattan.
My meal and service was poor, so i only left a small tip, and i was subsequently blocked from leaving by the waiter at the exit door.
In order not to cause a scene, i paid a little extra just to get out of the place, but am still peeved by it 15 years later lol.
In my eyes, poor meal/service=poor tip, great meal/service=large tip.
Unfortunately, in my experience, in the US, large tips are expected irrespective.

That is awful.

I would have gone for the create a scene option in that case.

How much I tip is my prerogative - not the serving staff's birthright.

Ianwzzz

wiogs wrote: »

"I posted this post to get other members views as it is very unusual to have a service charge added these days especially at lunch time."

What makes you think it is unusual?

I recall reading a thread on tripadvisor stating how much more common it is but perhaps that was in a certain part of the country.

I just ask for service charges to be removed.

The reason I think it is unusual is I eat out at lunchtime at least twice a week at many different restaurants and pubs and can honestly say I can't think of any other place that has a service charge on the bill.

firefly5

I've noticed a lot more restaurants adding service charges on to the bill recently, I prefer to leave a discretionary tip based on how good the service is.

dottydizzle

Eating out in London, it's unusual if they don't add the service charge.
If the service has been fine/good then I don't mind and it can actually be helpful so you don't have to say 'oh add on an extra xxx' when you pay by card cos I find that a bit sort of insulting to them (as if I am being sooo generous by leaving them an extra £2 or whatever) or the alternative, having to have change in your wallet which I don't usually have.
If the service is bad I do ask them to take it off which is also awkward and can really annoy them in some places.
I have had the manager come over and say 'you haven't paid enough' when I have left off the 'optional' service charge. Not a nice experience and doesn't make you want to return to the restaurant.
I think it has really grown in London because it has been adopted from America. IMO restaurants should pay their staff enough that they aren't dependent on tips but that is a dream world. In Japan tipping is seen as an insult!

NVRAM

firefly5 wrote: »

I've noticed a lot more restaurants adding service charges on to the bill recently, I prefer to leave a discretionary tip based on how good the service is.

Definatley!

I tip what I feel is fair, if this means no tip then thats fine by me.
If a place automatically adds a 10% charge then it gets removed, so they get annoyed when I ask for it to be removed? So?

They are there paid, do you tip your bus driver? Do you tip that person in the callcentre who just helped you fix your BB? Do you tip the chap at the checkout in the supermarket?

We were in Fat Buddha in Newcastle for a sisters Birthday and the "tip" was tipping (excuse the pun) £30...

This is after they dropped 2 starters at our feet and got the drinks wrong twice. They looked somewhat peeved when we didn't pay the "tip" I think automatically adding this is insulting tbh, besides I wonder how much of it actually goes to the person that served you.

Mr_Singleton

Can I point out that the reason that service charges are "optional" is that 99.9% of people are too embarrassed to ask for it to be removed. Its also worth noting that a "non-optional" service charge attracts a VAT charge of 20% where as the "optional" service charge is zero rated.

I'll be honest and say I always ask for the service charge to be removed as it's nothing more than a scam to hide a 15% price hike that and why does a £25 main cost twice as much to serve as a £12.50 one? I also never tip.... I don't tip the person in the supermarket who packs my bags so why does a food server demand one? and also surely 'good service" should be expected as standard.

To those that say it only hurts the poor waiter/ress I'd say rubbish charge a fair price up front and pay your staff a proper wage.

Was on the island off Toronto recently and had a burger and a drink which came to $14? Gave the waiter a $20 bill he sincerely asked if I wanted my change! That's whats going to happen in the UK of we keep trying to ape north america.

DTDfanBoy

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Can I point out that the reason that service charges are "optional" is that 99.9% of people are too embarrassed to ask for it to be removed. Its also worth noting that a "non-optional" service charge attracts a VAT charge of 20% where as the "optional" service charge is zero rated.

I also always request that the service charged be removed from my bill regardless of the level of service received.

I expect reasonable service in restaurant, I also expect restaurants to incorporate their operating expenses into their menu pricing.

When I tip I do so as a recognition of excellent service, IMHO those that receive tips are more likely to continue to provide excellent service.

I also try to tip directly and in cash as there's a better chance that those actually performing the service get the money, in many cases a large percentage of the automatically added " service charge " stays in the hands of the Restaurants owner.

If everyone always paid a 10% service charge there is no real incentive for staff to improve their service.

kwmlondon

lionelator wrote: »

You tried to twist your way out of this later in the thread, but ending a friendship on the spot cos of a tip? Holding yourself back from a view of people who don't tip unless it's absolutely dire, and saying you have a low opinion of these people?
Wow. Just wow.

Hard experience, mate. I've rarely been let down by friends but I know the kind of people I get on with and the kind I don't and I'd not spend time with someone who refused to pay the service charge as a matter of course. I'd be totally behind someone who refused to pay because they had bad service (I've done this) but apart from that, no.

And to be honest, they'd not want to be friends with me anyway - we'd be better not spending any time together.

There are other things that can alienate me from someone in a second (and you MUST have some yourself) but I won't mention them as I'd start another fracas.

I'm not saying that someone is BAD because they disagree with me or even wrong, just that we are not going to be friends.

brightonman123

The whole thing re s/charges needs clarifying.


How can a percentage be added, when server takes same effort to bring a cup of tea (for example), as a steak?


And do kitchen staff see any of this?


You go to a restaurant to be served food, and for someone else to do washing up etc.


This sneaky add on should be banned, and full asking price clearly displayed, up front. Maybe a minimum spend, for larger groups?


Tips need to be entirely optional, and unsolicited (I HATE the 'I am Sam, your server for the evening' type approach, with countless 'are you ok sir/madam?' interuptions, while eating!).

DSmiffy

dottydizzle wrote: »

Eating out in London, it's unusual if they don't add the service charge.
If the service has been fine/good then I don't mind and it can actually be helpful so you don't have to say 'oh add on an extra xxx' when you pay by card cos I find that a bit sort of insulting to them (as if I am being sooo generous by leaving them an extra £2 or whatever) or the alternative, having to have change in your wallet which I don't usually have.
If the service is bad I do ask them to take it off which is also awkward and can really annoy them in some places.
I have had the manager come over and say 'you haven't paid enough' when I have left off the 'optional' service charge. Not a nice experience and doesn't make you want to return to the restaurant.
I think it has really grown in London because it has been adopted from America. IMO restaurants should pay their staff enough that they aren't dependent on tips but that is a dream world. In Japan tipping is seen as an insult!

Another point to note, is we are all very British and say thank you and sorry all the time, for example when someone comes to take your payment in a restaurant. Apparently you shouldn't do it in Krakow, Poland. When they take the money and you say thankyou, it's a sign you want them to keep the change, regardless of how much change it is. I had to stop myself from doing it