Cancel plans for anniversary dinner in DC due to crime and hidden fees?

[Anonymous]

DC seems like it is apocalyptic wrt to out of control crime all over the city. The last thing I’d want to happen to us for our anniversary dinner coming up is to get carjacked. It seems like chefs are fed up too:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/11/10/restaurants-crime-dc-oakland-chicago/


Last time we went out in DC we were slammed with all sorts of ridiculous service, inflation recovery, and service staff health care fees and were still expected to tip. We almost never encounter the same kind of insane hidden fee structure in the burbs as we do in DC.

Is there really any point anymore of patronizing the city and its businesses when crime is so out of control and even if you make it to the restaurant safely, restauranteurs will mug you anyway with hidden fees when the bill comes. We are on the verge of being completely done with the DC dining scene. Anyone else been canceling their plans for spending their money in the district due to these issues?

[Anonymous]

Please stay outside of our city. Plenty of "safe" spaces for you in the burbs.

[Anonymous]

I do find myself staying in Va more because of crime. I don’t want to walk to my car post-dinner. I only go if I’m ubering which I only do if I’m drinking a lot. I used to go into dc once a month. I’ve only gone twice for dinner this year.

[Anonymous]

This seems like such a troll post. Here you are, ready with a link, and a list of hidden fees?
Which restaurant do you go to that has pandemic-related line-item fees in 2023?

You just want to bash the city. I'm just as allergic to gun violence and crime as you are, but don't cloak your disgust in a pretend anniversary dinner. You don't want to go to DC, don't go. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This seems like such a troll post. Here you are, ready with a link, and a list of hidden fees?
Which restaurant do you go to that has pandemic-related line-item fees in 2023?

You just want to bash the city. I'm just as allergic to gun violence and crime as you are, but don't cloak your disgust in a pretend anniversary dinner. You don't want to go to DC, don't go. Simple.

Where does OP cite pandemic-related fees?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, definitely apocalyptic here! So awful! Like Mad Max up in here. You better stay home, for sure!

[Anonymous]

Jeezus people, get a grip.

[Anonymous]

I'm supposed to go into the city next week. Do Uber drivers still work in DC? They keep getting targeted. I won't drive, will I find a way home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This seems like such a troll post. Here you are, ready with a link, and a list of hidden fees?
Which restaurant do you go to that has pandemic-related line-item fees in 2023?

You just want to bash the city. I'm just as allergic to gun violence and crime as you are, but don't cloak your disgust in a pretend anniversary dinner. You don't want to go to DC, don't go. Simple.

Where does OP cite pandemic-related fees?

Inflation recovery and staff health fees. Just a wild guess. No restaurant I know has such fees, because it invites scrutiny. A savvy restaurant charges for the food, and if they're struggling with inflation or staff health issues, they increase the price of the dishes, they don't tack on a separate fee. During the pandemic, some businesses may have done that because it garnered sympathy. As in, "aw, they're struggling because they care for their staff". Not anymore.

So OP is a troll.

[Anonymous]

Damn. What a troll post. OP must be an owner of a restaurant in Falls Church or Rockville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This seems like such a troll post. Here you are, ready with a link, and a list of hidden fees?
Which restaurant do you go to that has pandemic-related line-item fees in 2023?

You just want to bash the city. I'm just as allergic to gun violence and crime as you are, but don't cloak your disgust in a pretend anniversary dinner. You don't want to go to DC, don't go. Simple.

Where does OP cite pandemic-related fees?

Inflation recovery and staff health fees. Just a wild guess. No restaurant I know has such fees, because it invites scrutiny. A savvy restaurant charges for the food, and if they're struggling with inflation or staff health issues, they increase the price of the dishes, they don't tack on a separate fee. During the pandemic, some businesses may have done that because it garnered sympathy. As in, "aw, they're struggling because they care for their staff". Not anymore.

So OP is a troll.

Neither are pandemic related fees. Clydes is still charge an inflation related fee.

Seems like you’re the troll.

[Anonymous]

I work downtown and most of the restaurants I have been to lately have had added fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work downtown and most of the restaurants I have been to lately have had added fees.

+1 Not sure why people are are so defensive about these fees. There was just a vote cementing the ability to add them.

[Anonymous]

The fees are so annoying. Restaurants should have pricing transparency. No added fees. I went to Perry’s tonight and they added 20 percent service fee which they argued was not a tip.

No. If you add a 20 percent service fee to the posted prices, it is a tip.

Never going back there…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fees are so annoying. Restaurants should have pricing transparency. No added fees. I went to Perry’s tonight and they added 20 percent service fee which they argued was not a tip.

No. If you add a 20 percent service fee to the posted prices, it is a tip.

Never going back there…

Did you tip on top of the fee or hold firm? What did they say the service fee was for if not a tip?