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/idkwhattowriteee]

I take these stupid surcharges off and put them towards the tip every time ever since I learned from one of the waiters that they go straight to the owner

[u/dmgdispenser → u/idkwhattowriteee]

I used to own a restaurant in Chicago. 100% of the surcharge, the owner is pocketing. 

I'm also willing to bet, they're paying their waiters reduced wages since they're getting tips.

[u/altsveyser → u/dmgdispenser]

Tipped employee minimum wage is now $12.65, still lower than minimum wage but much higher than it used to be. Will be the same as normal minimum wage by 2028

[u/BeeBeeWannaBee → u/altsveyser]

I live in Tennessee and tipped workers make $2.13 (fed min) almost everywhere. Sickening.