DC restaurant service fee

[Anonymous]

We are new to DC and trying to understand the service fees .....do we tip on top of that? Seems a bit crazy since we have been to two restaurants lately that had 20 percent service fees and we didn't know what to do. We left an additional tip at the first place because we were caught off guard after living overseas for many years where tipping is not a thing. But at the second place we didn't. Help us adjust to DC life, please! We want to support servers and local restaurants but this seems a bit crazy....

[Anonymous]

Vote with your feet and do not return

[Anonymous]

Tip plus service fee should equal 20% (unless service is bad, then you can reduce as you see fit). Not your problem how the restaurant uses it.

[Anonymous]

You don’t leave a tip in that situation.

[Anonymous]

Nope, they already got my 20% tip in another form.

[Anonymous]

No tip on top of a service fee.

[Anonymous]

No tip and don’t go back. Next time ask before you order and leave if they charge fees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No tip and don’t go back. Next time ask before you order and leave if they charge fees

places in DC have to disclose service fees prior to service

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No tip and don’t go back. Next time ask before you order and leave if they charge fees

Why?

I don’t see what’s wrong with a 20% service fee if it goes to the server.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No tip and don’t go back. Next time ask before you order and leave if they charge fees

Why?

I don’t see what’s wrong with a 20% service fee if it goes to the server.

20% is very high. Only for exceptional service.

[Anonymous]

Pay attention to places that have additional fees. They all have to be disclosed but some are really bad. There’s a crowdsourced spreadsheet I’ll post if I can find it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No tip and don’t go back. Next time ask before you order and leave if they charge fees

Why?

I don’t see what’s wrong with a 20% service fee if it goes to the server.

20% is very high. Only for exceptional service.

lol what? 20% is standard.

[Anonymous]

We don’t tip if there is a service fee.

[Anonymous]

I was at a restaurant this week and they have a 3% service fee on top of the $. So my Tuna was $47 + side + 3% service fee + tip

I do not understand why they just do not jack up the price of everything...
As a way to offset rising costs, we have added a 3% surcharge to all checks. You may request to have this taken off your check should you choose.

[Anonymous]

Agree. No tip on top of service fee unless service is exceptional.