Automatic 20% Service Charge for 3 People Now?

[Anonymous]

haven't ate out a lot but last night at a Mexican place in Arlington they added 20% service change to our table of three. I always thought restaurants do this only to larger groups in the past - 6 people+ I believe. Is it the norm now no matter the size and 20% is the standard? Not that I'd tip differently otherwise but still a surprise.

[Anonymous]

Name the restaurant.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t seen this, but I have no problem with it. I don’t tip less unless the service was horrendous. Was it in Ballston or Clarendon? Maybe they’ve had a lot of people skip out on checks?

[Anonymous]

20% is standard everywhere and is often already added to the bill no matter the party size. If it’s not, the suggested tip typically starts at 18% and ends at 25%. The thing is, this isn’t really a tip anymore based in n service level. Restaurants are acknowledging that they are not really a viable business with their current food prices so they need the extra 25% to pay their employees - it’s just a fee. We have stopped eating out as a result. Not because I’m disgusted with tipping - I agree that those employees should be compensated fairly. But it no longer makes economic sense for us to eat out because of the extra fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Name the restaurant.

El Paso Cafe.

[Anonymous]

Dining out in the US is broken.

[Anonymous]

More and more -laces are doing this now. I find it obnoxious, especially if not noted clearly. I have learned to look for it before adding a tip.

[Anonymous]

Why don't they just raise prices because these fees are not a top right..they do not go to the wait staff?

[Anonymous]

20% service charge plus 20% standard tip is 40% (yes I'm good at math). Ridiculous for 3 people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20% is standard everywhere and is often already added to the bill no matter the party size. If it’s not, the suggested tip typically starts at 18% and ends at 25%. The thing is, this isn’t really a tip anymore based in n service level. Restaurants are acknowledging that they are not really a viable business with their current food prices so they need the extra 25% to pay their employees - it’s just a fee. We have stopped eating out as a result. Not because I’m disgusted with tipping - I agree that those employees should be compensated fairly. But it no longer makes economic sense for us to eat out because of the extra fees.

What? No it is not standard! Some places but not enough to make it SOP.

[Anonymous]

I like it. Saves us money because we might have tipped more, rounded to nearest $5 etc. Lol.

[Anonymous]

Did you people like it more when the servers were paid like indentured servants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20% service charge plus 20% standard tip is 40% (yes I'm good at math). Ridiculous for 3 people.

obviously we didn't leave any tip so still just 20% not sure many people would add another x% tip on top of 20% service change unless service was superior of course.

[Anonymous]

It is obnoxious. But since you said it’s El Paso Cafe, I’d have to give it a pass because their steak fajitas are so good. And the service is usually great. But we rarely eat out anymore because it’s just stupidly expensive.

I wouldn’t have tipped anything extra and I always tip 20% anyway. So it would have been a minor annoyance but a total wash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Name the restaurant.

El Paso Cafe.

I was there last week and I didn’t notice this. I’ll have to check next time we go.