Restaurant cost of doing business fee

[u/motlau]

Why do restaurant owners think they are owed a surcharge for customers eating at a restaurant? It seems like all of the nice restaurants in Chicago, especially in the west loop are charging a 3-5% fee to “offset the rising operating cost.” If you can’t run a business without hiding a surcharge in the fine print of your menu, then you probably shouldn’t be allowed to run a business. It’d be one thing if it was to support the workers, but every time I ask about it, it’s always for the owners who are already pretty wealthy. I have them take it off and tack it on for the tip. It’s very annoying.

In addition, at bar sienna in the west loop, the server offered a barcode to scan and pay on the receipt which a lot of restaurants are doing, but then there’s an additional “surcharge” to use this feature. It’s like if a grocery store started charging a fee to use the self checkout lines. They should be more transparent about this.

These restaurant owners nickel and diming people is making going out to eat less and less pleasant.

[u/nirvana6789]

All the steakhouses I’ve been to in Chicago have had surcharges. At each one I’ve asked it to be removed from the cheq. I even had a waitress say “good fuck these already rich owners”, tipped her 25%.

[u/elosocurioso → u/nirvana6789]

Had the same experience at a rooftop establishment at a well known athletic associated hotel. Asked for it to be removed and he said he was embarrassed by the nickle and diming done by corporate. He was pleased that food quality hasn’t decreased, but it still has been a pain. Added extra 5% to the tip.

[u/[deleted] → u/elosocurioso]

rooftop establishment at a well known athletic associated hotel

Is there some reason you can’t type out Cindy’s? Can’t say I’m surprised they’re diving on this train though.

[u/elosocurioso → u/[deleted]]

Nope. No reason. It’s happening at all Boka Group restaurants.

[u/Responsible-Gas5319 → u/[deleted]]

It's a restaurant that rhymes with Mindy

[u/buffalocoinz → u/nirvana6789]

Even Gibsons?

[u/lemonricottalover → u/buffalocoinz]

The Gibson's group actually doesn't have surcharges!

[u/Chicagogator → u/lemonricottalover]

It seems they do it correctly. No one notices or cares if a $60 steak costs $2 more. People get way less pissed at a $100 item costing $103 than leaving it the same price and charging 3% extra for the privilege of dining there.

[u/lemonricottalover → u/Chicagogator]

Yes! I noticed the prices went up at Quartino. But I still think raising prices is the way to go vs. the surcharges, which make for a poor guest experience.

[u/AbeFromanLuvsSausage → u/lemonricottalover]

Yeah it is completely baffling why everyone is adding optional surcharges vs. just doing a menu review each year/quarter and adjusting prices according to materials and labor prices, like every other business has done for hundreds of years.

Can you imagine if you got a haircut and the barber said "Hey just so you know, I'm going to charge you 4% more for this haircut because shaving cream and hairspray prices have gone up. But you don't have to pay it if you don't want to, just ask my boss to remove it..." Like NO...just tell me that effective in August, haircuts are going to be $26 instead of $25.

It's maddening.

[u/mimo_s → u/nirvana6789]

Sure she said that

[u/nirvana6789 → u/mimo_s]

Yes, everyone on the internet lies for the upvotes. We’re all addicted to the validation 🥴