If you’re eating out in London, especially in any of the central, touristy areas, you have to expect it won’t come cheap.
Food and alcohol in the capital can be very expensive indeed, and that’s before you consider adding a tip to the bill.
Of course, many restaurants take the liberty of adding a tip for you: a serving charge, or ‘gratuity’ of 12.5%.
These added charges are rarely mandatory, but their automatic addition does mean you have to take on the awkward conversation of asking for it to be removed if you aren’t keen on paying it.
It’s a testy subject in and of itself, but it seems some restaurants are taking things a step further by increasing the percentage added as a serving charge.
One Reddit user shared a bill from L’Escargot in London, with a 15% ‘discretionary service charge’ added to the bottom.
The receipt shows a three-course meal with a glass of wine coming to £51, with £7.65 added on.
“London restaurant service charge inches up,” the user captioned the photo, which they admittedly posted on Reddit in 2023, and the comments soon poured in.
“Crazy high,” added another Redditor, while another said: “Make this s**t illegal. Either state prices up front of f**k off.”
“Honestly 10% for a friendly table service? Fine,” noted another, before continuing: “12.5% for a dining experience, proper attire for a posh evening, wine suggestion, coat hanging? Hmm ok.
“15%? No. Unless there’s a cook doing tricks Benihana style.”
If you’re not familiar, at a Benihana chain you’re treated to a personal chef who slices and dices their way through your Japanese meal before your eyes.
Others advised having the service charge removed if you aren’t happy to pay it.
“I don’t really mind tipping around 10%, assuming it goes to the staff, but an upfront minimum tip of 15% seems a bit over the top. Sure, you can ask for it to be removed, but who wants to be that guy?”
Adding to the awkwardness, a 2021 government report covered by The Straits Times found that a significant proportion of British restaurants “that add a discretionary service charge onto customer’s bills are keeping part or all of these service charges, instead of passing them onto staff”.
A quarter of UK consumers left a tip in the last year despite receiving bad service amid widespread confusion over the practice, a survey reported last month suggests.
The poll for Which? found many consumers tip out of politeness or obligation, with 26% saying they had done so despite having a poor experience.
Of those, 25% said they would have felt embarrassed not to have left a tip and 39% felt it was expected.
Which? retail editor Reena Sewraz said: “Tipping can be a great way to reward good service, but our survey reveals widespread differences in tipping etiquette – with workers in some sectors unlikely to see a tip at all.
“You should never feel obligated to leave a tip, but if you wish to, tipping in cash can ensure it gets into the pocket of the person who served you, if that’s what you want, rather than ending up in a pool."
FOODbible has contacted L’Escargot for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Alla Tsyganova/Getty ImagesTopics: Restaurants and bars
Rachael Davis