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

[Anonymous]

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

DP. We do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our fee is 3.5 percent added this summer. Only one customer has complained about it to me, and then took it out of my tip. Very impressive math skills. It was the exact amount. That part is not a big deal though.
I wish they hadn't wasted my time. Sat there forever , then waving me down as if I wasn't busy enough.
Why not ask about all the fees before deciding to sit down.

Why not accurately price your food and drink.

[Anonymous]

We’ll take your reservations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP maybe a troll, be we were HUGE fans of the Wharf, but the constant weed smell and the recent armed robbery definitely dissuades from as night time visits.

We stopped going because it reeks.

[Anonymous]

I’m so confused. Is this a movie plot?

[Anonymous]

Crime is everywhere. But, I refuse to go to a restaurant that adds fees and still expects tips. Increase your prices instead of playing games. We stopped going to several restaurants because of it.

[Anonymous]

Not sure why people are getting bent out of shape at the fees and charges being added to bills. Just remove that amount from the tip line and get to your net 15-20% or whatever you tip normally. I have done this constantly and no restaurant has given me an issue.

As for crime, that's life in the big city. I think we've been spoiled over the years in DC. You all live there in the 90s? I was a student then and most of the city was no-man's land back then. Now, you can go throughout the city to enjoy fine dining. Yes, there is crime and yes, it appears to ahve gone up, but relatively speaking, it's still very safe.

[Anonymous]

Whispers not all Virginians are like this…..but I understand if you don’t believe me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our fee is 3.5 percent added this summer. Only one customer has complained about it to me, and then took it out of my tip. Very impressive math skills. It was the exact amount. That part is not a big deal though.
I wish they hadn't wasted my time. Sat there forever , then waving me down as if I wasn't busy enough.
Why not ask about all the fees before deciding to sit down.

And, what's wrong with that? You should disclose all extra fees when someone sits down. Or, raise your prices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why people are getting bent out of shape at the fees and charges being added to bills. Just remove that amount from the tip line and get to your net 15-20% or whatever you tip normally. I have done this constantly and no restaurant has given me an issue.

As for crime, that's life in the big city. I think we've been spoiled over the years in DC. You all live there in the 90s? I was a student then and most of the city was no-man's land back then. Now, you can go throughout the city to enjoy fine dining. Yes, there is crime and yes, it appears to ahve gone up, but relatively speaking, it's still very safe.

Because often they are not disclosed or very very fine print on the menu in a place you wouldn't look. So it can almost double your bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why people are getting bent out of shape at the fees and charges being added to bills. Just remove that amount from the tip line and get to your net 15-20% or whatever you tip normally. I have done this constantly and no restaurant has given me an issue.

As for crime, that's life in the big city. I think we've been spoiled over the years in DC. You all live there in the 90s? I was a student then and most of the city was no-man's land back then. Now, you can go throughout the city to enjoy fine dining. Yes, there is crime and yes, it appears to ahve gone up, but relatively speaking, it's still very safe.

Because often they are not disclosed or very very fine print on the menu in a place you wouldn't look. So it can almost double your bill.

Eh, I suppose. If they're not disclosing it, I put that more on the consumer for not being more cognizant of the changing tides in the restaurant business.

The fees/charges are ALWAYS listed on your bill when it arrives. Even if you don't look at the bill and give them your card, you will still see the line items before you sign. Diner has ample opportunity to offset the fee/charge with less tip. jmo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Crime isn’t a problem in DC now? There are so many residents now getting fed up. If residents are fed up, why should one visit and patronize the city with their money? It’s clearly no longer safe. Add in hidden fees everywhere they want to sock you with, and the calculus for deciding whether to go or not increasingly tips in the favor of no mas.

I don't think anyone is asking you to come to the city, are they? I don't think anyone is asking me to come eat at True Foods in Tyson's Corner so don't announce that that scene isn't my cup of tea.

Crime is worse at Tysons. I wouldn't go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw that article too. I feel bad for the restaurant owner, staff and residents of the neighborhood. The likelihood of OP being targeted going to a restaurant is very unlikely. I live in DC (though a safer part) and travel a lot and have a higher risk tolerance l guess.

Regarding fees, are you hearing they’re worse in DC than close in MD and VA? I had not heard that.

Why? They intentionally opened a restaurant/chose to work in a high crime neighborhood. Shaw wasn’t safe 8 years either. Businesses investing in these neighborhoods know that and assume the risk.

I guess you didn’t read the article. It talks about how the neighborhood was
experiencing a revitalization 8 years ago.

“I am in the line of fire, and people are waiting for me to be a casualty. And one day, somebody from my restaurant — a guest or a staff member or myself — is going to get injured or worse because this is the wrong location,” Maupillier told The Washington Post. “Because the police and the city have created a worse crime zone than it was eight years ago.”
Then the chef paused. “I’m sorry,” he added, “but I’m mad.”

……also l have a heart

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw that article too. I feel bad for the restaurant owner, staff and residents of the neighborhood. The likelihood of OP being targeted going to a restaurant is very unlikely. I live in DC (though a safer part) and travel a lot and have a higher risk tolerance l guess.

Regarding fees, are you hearing they’re worse in DC than close in MD and VA? I had not heard that.

Why? They intentionally opened a restaurant/chose to work in a high crime neighborhood. Shaw wasn’t safe 8 years either. Businesses investing in these neighborhoods know that and assume the risk.

I guess you didn’t read the article. It talks about how the neighborhood was
experiencing a revitalization 8 years ago.

“I am in the line of fire, and people are waiting for me to be a casualty. And one day, somebody from my restaurant — a guest or a staff member or myself — is going to get injured or worse because this is the wrong location,” Maupillier told The Washington Post. “Because the police and the city have created a worse crime zone than it was eight years ago.”
Then the chef paused. “I’m sorry,” he added, “but I’m mad.”

……also l have a heart

Do you not understand what “revitalization” means? It doesn’t mean no crime. Developers tried to make Shaw happen but the crime life is too compelling. Shaw has never been a “safe” neighborhood.

And GTFO with that snot attitude. How do you think I knew about the reference to 8 years ago without reading the artice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw that article too. I feel bad for the restaurant owner, staff and residents of the neighborhood. The likelihood of OP being targeted going to a restaurant is very unlikely. I live in DC (though a safer part) and travel a lot and have a higher risk tolerance l guess.

Regarding fees, are you hearing they’re worse in DC than close in MD and VA? I had not heard that.

Because DC passed salary laws for restaurant workers. The restaurants are now trying to pass the cost off to dinners with all sorts of hidden fees you can't see until the end. And staff still expect tips now in top of it. No way in hell I'm dropping and extra 40% on top of a bill. It makes for a very uncomfortable situation due to all of the hidden fees and expectations for ridiculous tipping.

I think the service fee for wages is to meet DC 82- phaseout on tip to reach targeted minimum wage. If the 20% goes to all employees it's not paying for the fine service done by front of the house staff. Like a wait staff person posted some will tip less-in that case it was 3.5%. So why don't the restaurants raise the menu prices? If people on a budget scan the menu it can be really awkward ... the whole thing could be 23.5% more before gratuity.