|
||||||||
Restaurant Service Charges - what's the 'done' thing? |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: UK Garage, GoT, Brasil & steak
Posts: 10,505
|
Restaurant Service Charges - what's the 'done' thing?
I know that the restaurant 'service charge' is optional, but is it generally frowned upon not to pay it?
Do you always pay it? |
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Big Smoke
Posts: 2,747
|
My advice, from being a waiter in a number of places over the years (not anymore thankfully) is to not pay it under any circumstances (unles it states on the menu it is shared between the servers), as your waiter will usually receive only a small fraction of it, if any. Some places pay staff below minimum wage and then use it to top-up wages, when the service charge should be on top of what they're being paid.
One place i worked in raked in a fortune in service charges and then paid staff a set hourly rate (above minimum wage, but we would have made a lot a lot more if we could've kept our own tips. ) Waiters will probably not be too keen on you not paying it as they will be questioned by the manager as to why they're removing it and suspect the service isn't up to scratch....my advice is to discreetly give the waiter who served you a cash tip...so they can pocket it....that wat the unscrupulous bosses won't be able to get their greedy paws on it
|
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: UK Garage, GoT, Brasil & steak
Posts: 10,505
|
Thanks for your post. I had always wondered what was actually done with the 'service charge'. I would definitely rather have some control over who my tip goes to, should I decide to leave one.
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Devon
Posts: 48,040
|
Should be discretionary and I really only leave one, 10%, if the service has been very good and as ontheloop says give it directly to the waiter/waitress. I don't like places that include a service charge in the bill so hardly ever patronise them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Swashbuckling on Melee Island.
Posts: 21,624
|
All tips should be discretionary and I don't think any waiting staff should have to share their tips. If I give my waiter a tip it is because I want to thank that person for doing a good job for me. The other waiters/waitresses didn't serve me so they shouldn't get a look in on any tips I give.
|
|
|
|
![]() |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 17:34.


