OT Portland Restaurant Ends Tipping, Adds Service Charge, Raises Wages/Bennies

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ABM

ABM

Happily Married In Music City, USA!
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Interesting.

https://www.businessinsider.com/portland-restaurant-swapped-tipping-for-a-22-service-fee-2022-1

A Portland restaurant eliminated tipping, added a 22% service fee, and raised its lowest wage to $25

The owners of a nationally recognized Russian gourmet restaurant in Portland, Oregon, have ended optional tips on their guest checks in favor of a 22% service charge on all orders.

In a statement on its website explaining the policy, Kachka says "tipping, at its most innocent, creates inequity between 'front-of-house' and 'back-of-house' workers, and at its most sinister, continues a tradition of racism."

The new policy began last week after several months of planning, co-owner and head chef Bonnie Morales told Insider.

The move smooths out the ordinarily variable revenue from traditional tipping, and helps her provide a minimum wage of $25 and health insurance to all employees........(CONTINUED)
 
When tipping I have always based it off the service I received. Bad service, bad tip. Now to just tack on a 22% service charge no matter what. We don't eat out often, and will even less if this becomes the norm. Just raise your prices if you want and pay your help more, but this is a joke.
 
I was in London over Thanksgiving and restaurant service was terrible. They had service charges. I would rather they just hide it in the menu prices like they do in Europe with no expectations to tip.

I usually tip well, but 22% for everyone seems kind of extreme. That's just a start, eventually someone will make it 25% or higher. Everywhere is raising their prices too, restaurant prices have gone up very aggressively the past year. I probably eat out lunch/brunch 7 days week and eat dinner out 4 or 5x a week. And the dining experience with COVID has sucked more. It's not as relaxing and fun to dine out. If it gets more expensive and service doesn't improve (it's been shitty too lately), then a lot of restaurants will die off because it won't be accessible.

Are they doing other surcharges as well, I've seen a lot like Healthcare surcharges, back kitchen gratuity, and other fees.
 
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So, among other factors, this policy levels the playing field for minorities? That's what I'm gathering. Sad, if that's what they've been experiencing.
 
ABM said:
So, among other factors, this policy levels the playing field for minorities? That's what I'm gathering. Sad, if that's what they've been experiencing.
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I don't know if you've been to Kascka, but it's a bunch of white hipsters running it and working there and eating there. I mean it's an awesome spot, but it's definitely a woke vibe in that spot.

It's elevated Russian food presented for yuppie palates, with prices to match. They have vodka and caviar flights for fucks sake.
 
EL PRESIDENTE said:
I don't know if you've been to Kascka, but it's a bunch of white hipsters running it and working there and eating there. I mean it's an awesome spot, but it's definitely a woke vibe in that spot.

It's elevated Russian food presented for yuppie palates, with prices to match. They have vodka and caviar flights for fucks sake.
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Nope, never been there.
 
ABM said:
Nope, never been there.
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I loved it. We got trashed and ate well. Bunch of appetizers to share, and they paired it with various vodkas, some infused, different types and qualities. Wasn't cheap, I think it was about $100 per person after it was all said and done.

Screenshot_20220113-222232_Photos.jpg
 
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I love how it's meant to combat racism, but doing something like this will probably keep more ethnic minorities out of restaurants that do this.

Tipping well is some cracka azz shit.

Why don't they put more minorities in the front of house, then?
 
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ABM said:
So, among other factors, this policy levels the playing field for minorities? That's what I'm gathering. Sad, if that's what they've been experiencing.
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Eh. It's a small part of it. But really, it's just evening up things between front and back of the house.

They really just need to up prices and pay the staff in back better.
 
ABM said:
Interesting.

https://www.businessinsider.com/portland-restaurant-swapped-tipping-for-a-22-service-fee-2022-1

A Portland restaurant eliminated tipping, added a 22% service fee, and raised its lowest wage to $25

The owners of a nationally recognized Russian gourmet restaurant in Portland, Oregon, have ended optional tips on their guest checks in favor of a 22% service charge on all orders.

In a statement on its website explaining the policy, Kachka says "tipping, at its most innocent, creates inequity between 'front-of-house' and 'back-of-house' workers, and at its most sinister, continues a tradition of racism."

The new policy began last week after several months of planning, co-owner and head chef Bonnie Morales told Insider.

The move smooths out the ordinarily variable revenue from traditional tipping, and helps her provide a minimum wage of $25 and health insurance to all employees........(CONTINUED)
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My god, That's Un American,
 
I think another restaurant tried this a few years back and gave up because they couldn't get people to stop tipping on top of this
 
donkiez said:
I think another restaurant tried this a few years back and gave up because they couldn't get people to stop tipping on top of this
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Seems silly. It shouldn't matter if people still want to tip. As long as the back is making a good wage.
 
donkiez said:
I think another restaurant tried this a few years back and gave up because they couldn't get people to stop tipping on top of this
Click to expand...

Why not a bit of both? As an example, reduce the service charge to, say, 12% and the establishment could use those funds to create some type of compensation (front-to-back) equity within. Additionally, if any patron wanted to tip above and beyond the 12% for great service, then have at!
 
ABM said:
Why not a bit of both? As an example, reduce the service charge to, say, 12% and the establishment could use those funds to create some type of compensation (front-to-back) equity within. Additionally, if any patron wanted to tip above and beyond the 12% for great service, then have at!
Click to expand...

I mean on paper it sounds good but tipping is just out of control and ingrained in our society, most people will end up tipping the normal 20%+ on top of the 12% service charge and not even think about it. Look what happens on larger parties with they add the 18% automatically often it's a double tip and people figure their tip with by the total bill not the portion that doesn't have the auto tip.
 
My favorite system was Colombia's. They add a 10% tip to all restaurants but clearly state on the bill that this is an optional fee. There is no other option for adding tips to the bill and servers just assume the 10% is theirs unless otherwise directed by you. We tested this once with exceptionally bad service and didn't have to pay the 10%.

Edit, servers are also paid a normal wage there
 
donkiez said:
I mean on paper it sounds good but tipping is just out of control and ingrained in our society, most people will end up tipping the normal 20%+ on top of the 12% service charge and not even think about it. Look what happens on larger parties with they add the 18% automatically often it's a double tip and people figure their tip with by the total bill not the portion that doesn't have the auto tip.
Click to expand...
Not to mention the entitlement from the servers. I don't mind tipping and I usually tip anywhere between 15-25% depending on the service. But, you have servers posting on social media calling people out for tipping amounts they feel weren't good enough. Servers can make a lot of money for barely doing much work. I've worked in a restaurant when I was younger in positions other than a Server. Servers were some of the laziest people working there.
 
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donkiez said:
My favorite system was Colombia's. They add a 10% tip to all restaurants but clearly state on the bill that this is an optional fee. There is no other option for adding tips to the bill and servers just assume the 10% is theirs unless otherwise directed by you. We tested this once with exceptionally bad service and didn't have to pay the 10%.

Edit, servers are also paid a normal wage there
Click to expand...

What is Columbia's?
 
SlyPokerCat said:
Not to mention the entitlement from the servers. I don't mind tipping and I usually tip anywhere between 15-25% depending on the service. But, you have servers posting on social media calling people out for tipping amounts they feel weren't good enough. Servers can make a lot of money for barely doing much work. I've worked in a restaurant when I was younger in positions other than a Server. Servers were some of the laziest people working there.
Click to expand...

There's a kid in my real estate group who left a very top-dollar steakhouse (Jeff Ruby's) to get into real estate. He wasn't a server there, but some type of table assistant to a few servers. I asked him why he didn't continue to work up to be a server. He replied that, sure, you can make six figures there, but the overall working atmosphere was a joke. He said most of his coworkers tip money went up their collective noses, etc. He just wanted out of the entire thing. Glad to have him onboard with us. He's doing a credible job and will do fine overall.
 
ABM said:
What is Columbia's?
Click to expand...

What is Colombia's what? Wage? Not sure, piss poor compared to ours but for them it works. When traveling you gotta break out of the what it costs compared to home mindset
 
SlyPokerCat said:
Not to mention the entitlement from the servers. I don't mind tipping and I usually tip anywhere between 15-25% depending on the service. But, you have servers posting on social media calling people out for tipping amounts they feel weren't good enough. Servers can make a lot of money for barely doing much work. I've worked in a restaurant when I was younger in positions other than a Server. Servers were some of the laziest people working there.
Click to expand...

It goes both ways. Entitled customers like to hold the tip over the servers head like a carrot for a donkey, it can be very demeaning and then they feel like they did them a favor with their 15%. The whole system is fucked, but I usually tip close to 30% because I won't take my feelings on the system out on someone trying to scrape by
 
donkiez said:
It goes both ways. Entitled customers like to hold the tip over the servers head like a carrot for a donkey, it can be very demeaning and then they feel like they did them a favor with their 15%. The whole system is fucked, but I usually tip close to 30% because I won't take my feelings on the system out on someone trying to scrape by
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You have to deal with entitled customers everywhere. Yes, they are the worst. But, I know people that have college degrees that get professional jobs and also have people yelling at them calling them pieces of shit and what not for 40k/year. A part time server can make 40k/year at the right restaurant. Shit. I was at the doctors yesterday and the amount of Karen's yelling at receptionists and medical assistants was eye opening. People are assholes everywhere.
 
SlyPokerCat said:
You have to deal with entitled customers everywhere. Yes, they are the worst. But, I know people that have college degrees that get professional jobs and also have people yelling at them calling them pieces of shit and what not for 40k/year. A part time server can make 40k/year at the right restaurant. Shit. I was at the doctors yesterday and the amount of Karen's yelling at receptionists and medical assistants was eye opening. People are assholes everywhere.
Click to expand...

So to sum thing up, people are entitled assholes. I'm so glad to be checked out of those systems and retired now. I bartended for years in my youth and loved/hated it
 
SlyPokerCat said:
You have to deal with entitled customers everywhere. Yes, they are the worst. But, I know people that have college degrees that get professional jobs and also have people yelling at them calling them pieces of shit and what not for 40k/year. A part time server can make 40k/year at the right restaurant. Shit. I was at the doctors yesterday and the amount of Karen's yelling at receptionists and medical assistants was eye opening. People are assholes everywhere.
Click to expand...
I hate customer service.
 
donkiez said:
What is Colombia's what? Wage? Not sure, piss poor compared to ours but for them it works. When traveling you gotta break out of the what it costs compared to home mindset
Click to expand...

I just looked it up, close to $180 USD a month.
 
donkiez said:
So to sum thing up, people are entitled assholes. I'm so glad to be checked out of those systems and retired now. I bartended for years in my youth and loved/hated it
Click to expand...
Yep. The pandemic made it worse, imo. People don't know how to treat other people anymore.
 
donkiez said:
Im in Mexico right now and seriously might move here at least part time. It feels like how the US used to be. Life is so laid back here and people know how to live and treat each other
Click to expand...
Where at in Mexico?
 
I don't mind tipping, but I hate how it seems to be spreading outside of what was once the norm of tipping your server.

Why the hell is there a tip request when I pick up takeout? I feel pressured to put something.
 
Natebishop3 said:
I don't mind tipping, but I hate how it seems to be spreading outside of what was once the norm of tipping your server.

Why the hell is there a tip request when I pick up takeout? I feel pressured to put something.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Just pay your employees better. Raise prices if you have to.
 
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