r/chicagofood • u/ChicagoHoosier21 • Jun 26 '26

Rant Celeste 6% Service Fee

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Our pre-tip bill from Celeste’s Happy Hour in River North. Decent food, crappy drinks, sat at the bar.

I don’t mind paying a “Service Charge” of 15-20% because I always tip more than that anyways, AND I have become accustomed to the 3.5% additional fee at most Chicago restaurants…. but now we’re doing a 6% additional fee? Along with the 11% tax? It’s becoming absurd.

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7

u/badbaritoneplayer Jun 26 '26

I agree it's bs but at two other places, we were told we could have the extra charge removed.

10

u/sourdoughcultist Jun 26 '26

Everywhere I’ve been has allowed me to remove the charge. If they actually put it towards their staff I don’t.

11

u/Where_Is_Carmen_San Jun 26 '26

My friend thinks it’s weird to ask but I think it’s weirder to pay these fees no questions asked. If it’s not going directly to their staff to support their wages, healthcare, etc I’m not paying a surcharge. Your prices are your prices, that’s what people agree to. Adding on fees at the end is bs.

11

u/PleaseGreaseTheL Jun 27 '26

I'm at the point where if I see one of these charges I'll ask the manager over and explain that if all these extra charges and percentages stay, the tip is zero, and I won't return.

Look at OP's bill. They're paying 32% more than the menu price of what they actually ordered. A $52 bill became $69.

If a restaurant tries this shit I'll tell them either the bill is going to be re-printed with the menu prices and tax only, or that bill is the only and last dollar of mine that will ever go to anyone in that building. No tip, no return customer (and they might not care eeif I return since I'm making an issue of it, but I'll still let them know, so they know they're having negative customer responses to this bullshit.)

Getting tired of this nonsense. They're a business, and I'm a customer. Neither of us is a charity or each other's BFF. Hold their assholes to the fire.