Restaurant bill advises % added for service -do waiting staff get that ?

[intexasatthe moment]

In such cases does anyone know how that service charge is used ? Would it be divied up between waiting staff or go direct to owners ?

[rendelharris]

Depends entirely on the restaurant, some do share it, some don't. I have even known a place where a friend worked where the staff were instructed to say it was split between them but it actually wasn't. I prefer to ask for the service charge to be removed and leave the equivalent (or more) in cash for the server. The only trouble is that often means the chefs and bottlewashers don't get a cut...another reason I wish the tiresome business of tipping could be done away with, I'd sooner pay 10% extra as part of the meal at a restaurant that advised they paid at least the London living wage and discouraged tips.

[intexasatthe moment]

oh ,good points rendel! Never even considered the chefs and bottlewashers .I think I'll just stop eating out .

[titch juicy]

I don't think chefs and potwashers expect tips. In my tender years I worked in catering quite a lot, front and back of house, and would never have expected tips when back of house.

Perhaps times have changed though.

[rendelharris]

In my very limited experience (two restaurants) many years ago all tips went into a communal jar and then were divvied up equally with the serving and kitchen staff, but I don't know if that's a common practice. It seemed fair to me, after all however charming the server is they're not going to get much of a tip if the meal's lousy.

[Rosetta]

When Noak in Brockley closed down, and then reopened with new branding, they added a service charge to their bills as well as placing a tip jar on the counter. Double bubble!

[Sue]

I usually ask.

Of course you never know if you are getting a truthful answer :(

[Nigello]

I would prefer it if prices were raised by 7-10% and tips were then given voluntarily. Very hard to know definitively where tips go. I'm usually concerned whether the chefs, plongeurs etc are getting a cut. Adding a tip automatically is bad practice because it's a form of social bullying as proprietors know most people won't want to embarrass themselves and their guests by asking for it to be removed (even if a cash tip is then left).

[bobbsy]

there were extensive articles about this earlier in the year, late last year in the papers...

[rendelharris]

Doesn't (or didn't) pay minimum wage and keeps all the service charge while charging ?212 for the set menu...

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/dec/15/michel-roux-jr-restaurant-staff-no-share-service-charge-le-gavroche

[cella]

Oh well - that's another place off the list then. What a shame - he always comes across as decent too.

[alice]

always ask one chain gives50p an hour in lieu of tips.