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w0rdCS t1_j29snw1 wrote

A lot of ignorance in this thread - I've served tables in fine dining in the Boston area for years & the majority of the time the kitchen appreciation fee is well intended. The fact is that tipped FOH staff (servers/bartenders) often make much more than very hard working BOH staff (chefs/cooks/dishwashers) solely because they do so well on tips.

Fees like this help the people who work just as hard if not harder make more money so you can have very tasty food....if an extra few dollars on your bill is really a dealbreaker for you, then you probably should not be eating out.

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Hype_x OP t1_j29zay3 wrote

Why not just include the cost of paying the kitchen staff appropriately in the advertised price of the food.

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w0rdCS t1_j2aei6p wrote

Yes, this is an option that many restaurants choose or consider - the main thought process is that when you raise the price of menu items, the consumer does not understand the reason for it or where that money is going whereas when you do implement a kitchen appreciation fee at least the consumer understands that that portion of their bill is going directly to hardworking individuals instead of in the owner's pocket. On the contrary when I go out to eat, I am happy to see a kitchen appreciation fee rather than $38 entrees instead of $32 entrees because I understand the money is going to a good cause.

I think many people misunderstand how costly it is to run a restaurant - from increased rent to higher costs of the ingredients used to make the dishes you enjoy so much, the current economy makes it very difficult for restaurants to pay well, turn a profit, and ultimately survive. These reasons are why restaurants out of almost all types of businesses have the highest % of failing/closing down after being opened.

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DanieXJ t1_j2a2q4a wrote

But, kitchen staff are staff right? Not tipped staff. Hence they don't get the lower wage to begin with. So, somehow it's my fault that the owner's a miserly asshole now?

Lord, this is why I don't eat out often. I'm more than up for tipping, but every single person these days seems to think they deserve to be tipped, whether they're making 15, 20, or more an hour, whether they're the owner even, or whether they're actually getting the tipped wage (6 whatever it is in the new year).

And, it's even more annoying because I too get paid shit, but it is literally illegal for me to get tipped. So, yeah, fuck the bait and switch taxes. Because that what it is an owner instituted tax.

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w0rdCS t1_j2adhke wrote

No, kitchen staff are not being paid the $2.63/hour that serving staff are, but all included with tips servers/bartenders probably make upwards of $30-50/hr while cooks/dishwashers are making <$20 - so these type of fees are a good way to show appreciation to employees who often come in much earlier, work much later, and inn many cases work much harder for less money.

It is not their fault that you don't get paid well, or that it is illegal for you to be tipped (whatever it is that you do) - so it's pretty petty to hold that against them. There is no bait and switch (when the kitchen appreciation fee is actually being used as intended) the extra money is simply split and paid out to back of house staff in their paychecks.

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DanieXJ t1_j2biaga wrote

2.63.... yeah, considering I just saw a news item saying it's going up to 6.25 or something along those lines in 2023, the rest of your post isn't even worth it to read. But, keep believing that I should be paying, instead of the workers walking away when they’re treated like crap. Or instead of the idiot owners are supposed to do, include the price of the prep in the food.... likes been done for 100 upon 100 of years...l

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w0rdCS t1_j2bptsz wrote

Zero substantive points, minimal literacy, using emotion as an argument - you just don't seem like a very intelligent individual (and are probably a nightmare to serve when you do go out to dinner).

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