Gordon Ramsay - service charge

[shoggoth1]

I didn't want to take the Kobe Beef thread off topic, but looking at the following link from said thread:

IainT said:

Off to Maze Grill on Weds next week... which steak to have is the main question...

http://www.gordonramsay.com/mazegrill/menus/alacar...

A la carte menu said:

A discretionary 12.5% gratuity will be added to your bill.

I seem to recall Gordon Ramsay being someone that previously kicked off about this sort of thing, not the done thing at all as far as he was concerned.

[Trommel]

Los Angeles said:

The decision to tip or not is mine.

Which is why it's discretionary.

[SwanJack]

You don't have to pay it. I recently had very poor service at a restaurant that added a 'discetionary' service charge. I asked them to remove the amount, told them why and they did. A friend of mine, 20 yrs ago, refused to pay a discretionary tip at Aberdeen Angus Steakhouse, just because the automatic charge annoyed him, and was promplty banned from the chain

Edited by SwanJack on Tuesday 11th November 13:28

[tobeee]

Yep, it's a bad thing. They know that most customers will be too embarrassed to challenge it for fear of looking tight in front of their guests.

[shoggoth1]

tobeee said:

Yep, it's a bad thing. They know that most customers will be too embarrassed to challenge it for fear of looking tight in front of their guests.

Exactly. I believe this was Mr Ramsays point at the time, people shouldn't have the perceived embarrassment of asking for it to be removed. As with most things he was quite 'animated' about it at the time.

[SwanJack]

shoggoth1 said:

tobeee said:

Yep, it's a bad thing. They know that most customers will be too embarrassed to challenge it for fear of looking tight in front of their guests.

Exactly. I believe this was Mr Ramsays point at the time, people shouldn't have the perceived embarrassment of asking for it to be removed. As with most things he was quite 'animated' about it at the time.

You can ask for it be removed for a number of reasons. One being you wish to give a different amount, in cash, on the table when you leave. Another could be, and what sometimes happens with my lot, is I pay for the meal and my guests leave the tip on the table, and vice verca. If you don't like something speak up, your guests will understand.

Edited by SwanJack on Tuesday 11th November 16:05

Edited by SwanJack on Tuesday 11th November 16:06

[shirt]

if you don't think its worth it then politely tell the cashier your reason and they will remove it without hesitation.

just make sure you check the bill. was at one of my favourite restaurants not so long back when i discovered the discretionary tip was hidden on the bill so i had been double tipping all this time. that and the fact we had an unusually poor meal and they messed up each course means it'll be a while before we return.

the option on the chip&pin to add a tip annoys me most, i like the money to go to the particular waiter/ress not shared between some mannerless oiks.

[eddo]

We always ask for the service charge to be removed, then we hand our tip to the waitress/ waiter.
Ed

[shoggoth1]

Obviously, if you're not happy/want to leave cash, etc. then get it removed.

It was more Ramsays about face with regard to the subject - I was surprised to see a restaurant of his (or one he puts his name too) operating such a system.