Pascual in DC

[Anonymous]

Finally was able to book a spot at Pascual to use a gift card I received to go to it. I was a bit taken aback when I read this notice on their site:

"A 22% service charged is added to every check to ensure equity & stability for every non-management member of our team in the kitchen & the dining room."

I don't even know what this means? How does auto fee paying ensure 'equity'? Equity for who? Equity for what? Equity based on?

I have a feeling it is something they are just saying so that they can make it impossible for detractors to lobby complaints against an automatic service change of 22%, which is excess of a 20% tip - the standard for dining.

And can someone clarify, there is NO tip expected on top of this, correct?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t tip a cent extra.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to tip on top of that. The gratuity is included and they distribute it to wait staff, hosts and hostesses, chefs, people who bus the tables, etc. It doesn't bother me at all, I like that it's already figured out and that everyone in the restaurant is included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to tip on top of that. The gratuity is included and they distribute it to wait staff, hosts and hostesses, chefs, people who bus the tables, etc. It doesn't bother me at all, I like that it's already figured out and that everyone in the restaurant is included.

Except 22% is excessive. 20% should be the max.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to tip on top of that. The gratuity is included and they distribute it to wait staff, hosts and hostesses, chefs, people who bus the tables, etc. It doesn't bother me at all, I like that it's already figured out and that everyone in the restaurant is included.

Except 22% is excessive. 20% should be the max.

Did you ask the server how they arrived at 22 percent? In my experience, the places that have implemented this policy are open to questions about it.

[Anonymous]

They have to explain service fees (according to DC law), that is the reason

[Anonymous]

It's letting you know that your 22% is being split equally between the servers, busboys, cooks, dishwashers, etc. instead of just going to the server as is standard.

"Equity" because all team members are presumably making the same wage instead of the usual massive gap between FOH and BOH.

"Stability" because it's the same percentage on every check ensuring a consistent wage instead of having one table tip 20%, one tip 15%, one tip nothing, etc.

And if you can afford to dine at Pascual, you can afford the extra 2%. Quibbling over a few dollars when you're probably paying $100+ for a single meal for a single person is as tacky as it gets, especially when it's specifically going to giving people a living wage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's letting you know that your 22% is being split equally between the servers, busboys, cooks, dishwashers, etc. instead of just going to the server as is standard.

"Equity" because all team members are presumably making the same wage instead of the usual massive gap between FOH and BOH.

"Stability" because it's the same percentage on every check ensuring a consistent wage instead of having one table tip 20%, one tip 15%, one tip nothing, etc.

And if you can afford to dine at Pascual, you can afford the extra 2%. Quibbling over a few dollars when you're probably paying $100+ for a single meal for a single person is as tacky as it gets, especially when it's specifically going to giving people a living wage.

bullsh*t. equity would be Pascual just, you know, paying everyone an additional 20% then working that into their price structure. instead they insert a junk fee, which you have no idea if it’s actually going to the staff.

[Anonymous]

"Welcome to Sephora! I see you have a lipstick for $36. It's a lovely shade. You can find in small print at the bottom of the receipt that we also charge $9 warehouse fee, $2 picking fee, and $7.50 charge for stability and equity of Sephora employees.

But the price we advertise is definitely $36, NOT $54.50, because... that might just make you less likely to buy, right."