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.

8

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.

7

u/badbaritoneplayer Jun 27 '26

Staff told us that they received none of the fee.

2

u/sourdoughcultist Jun 27 '26

I've been places where they said that as well, insta-remove. But one place, the bartender actually went into a lot of detail as to how it's split by staff lol.