This N.J. restaurant now adds 18% tip to all its bills.

[1srelluc]

MSN

Restaurant trends may come and go, but tipping culture continues remains a controversial topic in the industry.

About 60% of Americans say they tip 15% or less, with only about a quarter leaving a 20% tip or more, and 2% of Americans not leaving any tip at all, according to a 2023 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.

M by Mokafé, a restaurant in Jersey City offering an all-day brunch menu, decided to remove those fluctuating stats from their balance sheet by implementing an automatic 18% gratuity for all parties that dine at the eatery, regardless of size.

Such a practice is typically reserved for larger parties — six or eight or more.

Haneen Salem, the district manager for Mokafé (the coffee chain in New Jersey and New York that owns the restaurant), told NJ Advance Media that they added automatic gratuity a few months after the restaurant’s October opening, as she saw her servers struggling to make ends meet.

“When we first opened ... we had the option for the customer to leave the tip,” Salem said. “But our waiters were sometimes getting a table that would order food for $200 and they wouldn’t even leave $10 as a tip.”

As the auto-tip is unusual, some customers have complained online through reviews, Salem said. One review stated that their table’s food took too long, and wished they could’ve not given any tip at all.


18% of no bill is $0....Just sayin'.

Or you could just pay your employees so they don't depend on tips.

Owner: My employees are struggling to make ends meet. Is this MY fault? NO! It's the customers who are wrong!

 

[pknopp]

What they did was raise their prices 18%. If you feel it's too pricey, eat elsewhere.

 

[petro]

Just raise the damn price and lets get rid of tipping entirely.
I am tired of everyone with their hand out.

Even at the damn gas station they have a tip jar where they fill propane tanks.
Really?
Gimme a break.

 

[rightwinger]

Works for me, I usually tip 20 percent

Save me some money

 

[Seymour Flops]

Just raise the damn price and lets get rid of tipping entirely.
I am tired of everyone with their hand out.

Even at the damn gas station they have a tip jar where they fill propane tanks.
Really?
Gimme a break.

I understand about the gas station. FWIW, gas station attendants used to get tips, usually as a "keep the change" after a fillup. But that was in no way mandatory.

I disagree about getting rid of tips. Get rid of tips and waitresses will have the looks and demeanor of cafeteria ladies in an urban school district. I went to one, and those ladies were not pleasant in any way.

I don't want to pay sit-down restaurant prices to be served by some grumpy grandma, and I sure don't want to pay raised prices for it.

 

[Moonglow]

Works for me, I usually tip 20 percent

Save me some money

Me too.

 

[sparky]

unfuzz me here, i'm under the impression the IRS automatically taxes 15%....?? ~S~

 

[Moonglow]

I understand about the gas station. FWIW, gas station attendants used to get tips, usually as a "keep the change" after a fillup. But that was in no way mandatory.

I disagree about getting rid of tips. Get rid of tips and waitresses will have the looks and demeanor of cafeteria ladies in an urban school district. I went to one, and those ladies were not pleasant in any way.

I don't want to pay sit-down restaurant prices to be served by some grumpy grandma, and I sure don't want to pay raised prices for it.

Back when we pumped their gas, cleasned their windows, checked the oil and tire pressure then the battery water levels.

 

[1srelluc]

What they did was raise their prices 18%. If you feel it's too pricey, eat elsewhere.

Yep, 18% of no bill (for not eating there) is $0.00.

My guess is the owner will soon see how that works.

 

[odanny]

18% surcharge for your meal is less than most people pay, but then again, this area could be less affluent.

When the screen pops up to tip on every bill it starts at 15%, 20%, 25%, and if the service is good, most tips start at 20% and go up. Smaller bills always get 25% from me, and if they are charging 18%, then the server would get less from many customers than those customers might give.

Tipping should always be voluntary, this is a surcharge and I wouldn't pay more for even good service. At least the wait staff know they wlll get something through.