3% fee on DC menus

[Anonymous]

I've been seeing multiple restaurants now adding a 3% fee to the check "so they don't have to increase menu prices" but also saying that you can ask to have it removed if you like...

Really doesn't make sense to me but I am wondering if you ever asked for it to be removed??

I want to ask but I need a little more courage.

[Anonymous]

The extra fees are getting ridiculous. Often on top of increased menu and drink prices, pared-back menus, and tip prompts on top of 22% service fees. It’s really not so fun to eat out in DC anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The extra fees are getting ridiculous. Often on top of increased menu and drink prices, pared-back menus, and tip prompts on top of 22% service fees. It’s really not so fun to eat out in DC anymore.

I guess after tipping for so many years- usually 20 - 25%, the service fee baffles me when I see it coupled with an additional tip line. I know it’s not hard to grasp, but I like the old way.

Eating out everywhere is expensive, but DC is extreme IMHO. Granted my perspective comes from the exurbs, where overhead is lower, but with the exodus of the downtown workforce, increased crime, huge rents, and ever slim margins, the prospects for DC restaurants is not good.

[Anonymous]

Wonder what they’d say if you tip 17% and ask the fee to be removed and given to server …

[Anonymous]

I’ve stopped eating out almost entirely for these kinds of fees (+degraded service + just not great enough food in most cases). The juice is no longer worth the squeeze.

[Anonymous]

I will start tipping 17% if this is the case. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

It's deceptive pricing that attempts to look lower than it is. I would probably pay it once, complain to the manager, and never return to that restaurant again. I would much rather do business with restaurants that are honest with their customers, and there are plenty of those still in existence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will start tipping 17% if this is the case. Ridiculous.

Same. I know it’s not the server’s fault but I’m kind of over caring at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's deceptive pricing that attempts to look lower than it is. I would probably pay it once, complain to the manager, and never return to that restaurant again. I would much rather do business with restaurants that are honest with their customers, and there are plenty of those still in existence.

That's what we do, although we don't complain. Hope the one time con was worth it to them. We won't spend money at places that try and trick us. On the other hand we're going to 2Amy's a lot more than we used to.

[Anonymous]

Initiative 82, overregulation. https://www.washingtonian.com/2023/04/12/the-ultimate-guide-to-restaurant-service-fees/. You don't have to pay it.