OPINION
Old Pasadena on Labor Day – (Photo by Lapel)
It cannot have escaped notice for most of us that so-called ‘service fees’ have been creeping steadily onto our restaurant checks across Los Angeles County, indeed, across the nation.
By Briony James
Sometimes referred to as “happy and healthy” fees or simply loaded on after the food and drink charges, they are often unknown prior to seating, unmentioned in menus, and come as a nasty surprise to people expecting dinner and drinks charges only. These ‘fees’ can range from 3% to a whopping 20%. Most diners understand why restaurants add a flat 18-20% fee for large parties, but such fees, especially unannounced and undivulged, are sneaky and unfair to consumers.
In Pasadena, according to this spreadsheet (updated frequently) detailing a list of L.A. County establishments charging such fees, we have at least six restaurants which have resorted to this suspect method of paying decent wages and benefits to kitchen staff. It is inexcusable to use such methods to bolster personnel requirements that are solely the responsibility of the establishment, particularly when they are added without explanation or advertisement. This is not going to change the tipping culture of American restaurants, nor is it in any way fair to consumers to foist guilt trips on them. Today, this issue made national news and one can hope that it will be legally addressed.
You can add The George to this list – 25% service charge for “large” party (7) for Sunday brunch! Not disclosed at anytime in writing or verbal. Is this legal?! And on top of that the service was sluggish and inattentive!
It angers me when they sneak that 18% service fee with no explanation. Why don’t they add a percentage to the cost of the food & beverage if they are wanting the public to pay for their employee’s benefits? I refuse to tip when I see this extra 18% service fee.
I agree the tipping rates are becoming ridiculous. Tipping is to ensure performance.
Why doesn’t the USA adopt Europe’s policies regarding tipping? It feels like everybody is expecting to be tipped now and some are not appreciative. On Instacart the other day I tipped a driver 19% and received a picture of her flipping me off, the woman kept calling and texting me while I was in meetings (she had all the delivery information), I felt she didn’t deserve 20%.
Someone puts a service fee on the check and that’s the last time I’m going there.
The other problem that’s happening with restaurants everywhere is that their 3 suggested tipping amounts on the bottom of the check have skyrocketed.