Business & Tech

Trend of 'No-Tipping' Restaurants Spreading Nationwide

No tipping restaurants are already the norm in other countries, but they're becoming more common in the United States

Do you tip 20 percent or 15 percent? How about zero percent?

No tipping restaurants are already the norm in other countries, but they're becoming more common in the United States.

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A new “no tipping” restaurant is opening in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood this fall. The restaurant, a French BYO named Girard, plans to pay its servers $11 an hour, offer health insurance, sick days and profit sharing, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

What diners save in tips however, they may spend on the cost of the meals. Menu prices would be 10 percent to 30 percent higher at Girard than at similar restaurants, the Inquirer reported.

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The no-tipping movement seems to be gaining traction, especially among high-end establishments that opt for a blanket service surcharge over an optional offering.

Restaurants from coast to coast have banned tipping, including in New York, California and Washington D.C.

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  • Do you have a no-tipping restaurant in your neighborhood? What do you think of the concept?

Some go so far as to give the tips back or donate bills left on the tables to charity. The Public Option Brewery in Washington D.C. pays workers $15 and gives any money left on the tables to charity, according to CBS News.

Scott Rosenberg, who owns a no-tipping restaurant in New York, told Market Watch that eliminating gratuity makes the conclusion of the meal more enjoyable and comfortable for customers, who don’t have to judge the service and do the math based on their satisfaction.

“The meal should be there for you to enjoy without doing this calculus,” Rosenberg said.


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