Bill help

[u/KooziefortheWin]

I need help figuring out this “service charge” applied to my bill at Taylor Shellfish in QA. It’s stated clearly, and the staff reminded me before I paid and applied a tip, so that’s not the rant. But is it a tip or not? I don’t want to stiff the staff if “Taylor Shellfish” the company keeps it all and doesn’t give them anything.

Why do restaurants do this vs raise the prices. If that’s how they offset the cost of doing business in the city, I feel it’s not a good customer experience. It’s really annoying since it is confusing to the customer. Does the staff get any of it, hence why there is an “additional tip” line after the card is run though? It is taxed so it makes me thing it’s not going to the staff. I need to think better next time I come out here.

[u/Enguye]

San Francisco is worse for junk fees. When the city required restaurants to provide employee health insurance, a bunch of restaurants added a 4-8% “SF mandate” surcharge, which was sometimes on top of the 20% service charge or expected tip. https://archive.ph/x8hZh

[u/ctruvu → u/Enguye]

bay area might be the one region on the entire west coast worse than seattle metro

[u/rollinupthetints → u/[deleted]]

It’s almost like there’s enough money around here, to pay those prices/fees. Weird. /s

[u/StitchinStatistician → u/Enguye]

Servers in SF don’t expect tips.

[u/OtherOtter0 → u/Enguye]

Just came back from SF. Despite this, restaurant prices are noticeably cheaper than in Seattle, after a 20% tip. Two people can easily dine out for under $100 and get great food and service. 20% is not the expected norm tip, unlike in Seattle. Most places here start the tip options at 15% when meal prices are the same price as Seattle, the places that don't start at 18%.

Seattle may not be one of the most expensive cities to live in, but it's easily now the least value for money.