PrintMandatory Brunch Tip: Way or No Way?
That'll be 18% tip, please. [Photo: Robyn Lee]
Fork in the Road reports that one West Village restaurant, Cornelia Street Cafe, has started charging an 18% gratuity on all brunch checks—not just for larger tables. "For some reason, brunchers feel entitled to under-tip, or to stiff the server altogether," Sarah DiGregorio writes. "So about six months ago, [owner Robin Hirsch] instituted the built-in tip for brunch only."
We don't envy the servers working any Manhattan brunch, and have little doubt that they do occasionally get stiffed. But adding a built-in tip, even on smaller checks, is a pretty bold move. What do you think? Sensible help for the servers? Bad idea for customers? Or does this just show how badly we need an alternative to our gratuity-based system?
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7 Comments:
Great idea - charge a flat 18% and be done with it. The fee just needs to clearly stated upfront. If diners aren't happy or willing to pay, just don't eat there.
eatfood at 2:46PM on 11/02/09
no way - if i get poor service, i should be able to tip lower. i don't think i've ever had service so bad i've not tipped altogether, but i think it can be justified (though very, very rarely).
j at 3:09PM on 11/02/09
totally sensible. good call. anyway, if you really did ever have sub-par service, you could always ask the manager to please remove the service charge.
johannabanana at 3:45PM on 11/02/09
To me that is just part of the brunch price, I don't care what they call it, a "service charge," a "watch your car so it doesn't get stolen" charge, a "it's a sunny day so we decided to charge extra" charge ... at least you don't have to worry about tipping there.
redfish at 4:48PM on 11/02/09
I think it sounds great. Being a brunch server in Manhattan isn't easy! If you don't like it, eat somewhere else! And take your lousy tip with you!
loraxcp at 11:27PM on 11/02/09
i guess the establishment must have thought long and hard about adding on the gratuity -- probably because staff was getting stiffed..... so, it wouldn't bother me.... and like @johannabanana said above, if you have sub-par service, bring it up with the manager....
pooch at 9:04AM on 11/03/09
I don't know about that one. I waitressed for quite a while after I graduated from college (admittedly, not in NYC) and I found that most people were inclined to tip MORE than the 18% gratuity built into a check if you left them to do it themselves. But if you put the 18% in there, that's it - that's automatically your tip, for better or worse.
Shame on those brunchers who weren't leaving tips!
katieelby at 1:02PM on 11/05/09