The bill came out to $300 at the restaurant. In addition, they charged me a service charge of 15% and told me that the tip is not included, and that the service charge is not a tip. I paid them an additional 15% tip.
Did they fool me? Or is there a difference between service charge and tip?
2006-08-27 11:31:33 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Dining Out ➔ United States ➔ New York City
I have never had a "service charge " at a restaurant, me thinks you got took. (cksq)
2006-08-27 11:36:27 · answer #1 · answered by CKRT SQRL 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some elegant restaurants charge a fee per person on top of everything, like a cover. But that's rare, and they usually let you know before or when they are sitting you down.
Now, if they charged you 15% service and that's what they put on the check that means TIP. Then IF YOU WANT you can add 5% more, if the service was great.
Usually in a very nice restaurant you leave a 20% tip/service so, I guess you shouldn't had paid more than 5% sorry.
I travel a lot and some nice hotels charged you 15% service with room service or in their restaurants, we sometimes get charged 20%! even when the service sucked! sucks hu?
Yeah, sometimes for groups they charged 15% service fee in advanced because they are afraid of not getting a fair tip, obviously they are using more staff and there is more work to deal with in the kitchen so on... they just want to make sure they get some money for everybody in the restaurant for attending a big table.
2006-08-27 11:48:06 · answer #2 · answered by lisirm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A service charge is usually assessed when the party is large, and the restaurant sets the fee (usually around 15% of the total bill).
A tip is something you give when you feel you've been given good service. The better the service the better the tip.
Usually when I'm in a group where our check has a service charge, we don't typically leave a tip, but that may be a regional behavior as well. i'll be curious to see other replies.
2006-08-27 11:39:57 · answer #3 · answered by princessmeltdown 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A service charge goes to the house.
A tip goes to the wait staff.
If there is a corkage fee on wine you brought into the establishment, the house gets the money. The wait-person gets a small % if any.
If the restaurant charged you a 15% service which was not including the tip, I suggest you talk to the manager and or stop going to that restaurant. Sounds a little suspicous to me. I do believe you got taken. The management doesn't take kindly to this behavior and may be a little surprised to find this out. I've seen this happen during "Prom season".
2006-08-27 17:04:17 · answer #4 · answered by Richard J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some restaurants will add a service charge of 15% - 18% to the bill if it's a large party. This to me, would be considered the tip or gratuity and I wouldn't leave any additional tip.
2006-08-27 12:28:20 · answer #5 · answered by Island Girl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You were conned into leaving an additional $45 tip - the tip was included in the service charge.
You can check with NYC law in case you have a grievance.
Many places now include the service charge due to inconsiderate tipping by customers. You could try to rectify this error with the restaurant's management....
2006-08-30 08:46:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the US a 14-20% service charge is for a group of 8 or more. This is to ensure they get a tip from you. In Europe the fee is charged for everyone, but the Europeans don't tip! Sounds like you got treated like a tourist.
2006-08-27 14:01:55 · answer #7 · answered by rolandmcduk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Service charge goes to the restaurant. And all the service charges collected during the day will be distributed to the staff.
Therefore how much a staff gets depends how many staff there are and how much the restaurant earns
Tip is 100% to the waiter ...
2006-08-28 08:02:50 · answer #8 · answered by thirsty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Essentially they are the same thing,although a service charge may be split with the manager or kept by the owner!
a tip is directly given to the server.service charge normally though goes to the server just like a tip and you do not have to pay it if you do not want to.It is to make sure that the waiter gets tipped, normally by large parties 6 or 8 or more.
So you tipped twice. I would let them know and not return to that restaurant..You most likely got scammed by the server.
2006-08-27 23:31:26 · answer #9 · answered by palbevman 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A service charge is just that - a charge for service. A tip is what you leave for the quality of service you received.
2006-08-28 08:55:57 · answer #10 · answered by sandra d 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never heard of such a thing - service charge and a tip? .
Did you book a separate area of the establishment?
Did you bring your own cake or bottle?
They sometimes charge a fee for these.
Most menus would state "gratuities included" for parties over a certain amount of people at the table.
2006-08-28 04:55:27 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋