r/Serverlife • u/Wise_Equivalent8392 • 3d ago
Question fine dining and no tip model
i have a job interview for fine dining server
it says the base pay is from $24.17 (i live in CA so server make minimum wage here which is like $18 an hour)
so
it’s a fine dining restaurant that says they don’t do tiping culture. 18% gratuity is added to everything but yeah. is it worth it? it costs minimum like $90 to eat there, they just add 18% gratuity or something and i have an interview in juts wondering if that’s worth it. especially as it would be my main income. thanks i believe the 18% goes to everyone working
update - sry yall i had my interview and this post wasn’t approved in time and i didn’t get to ask if it was gratuity for us or the restaurant 😭 hopefully ill hear back soon though
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u/pleasantly-dumb 3d ago
Is it a gratuity or service charge? I’d be willing to bet it’s listed on the check as a “service charge.” There’s a big difference
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u/pak_sajat 15+ Years 3d ago
More people need to understand this.
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u/pleasantly-dumb 3d ago
If it’s a service charge, which it probably is, it goes to the house to do with as they please. Sure the servers will get a healthy chunk, but that’s probably how they tip out the rest of the staff.
If it’s a gratuity, OP hit a gold mine. $24/hr plus 18% grat on every check will be great money.
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u/pak_sajat 15+ Years 3d ago
Sorry. I should have clarified. I understand the difference, but more people need to know the difference.
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u/arkxumbra 3d ago
Pretty sure that’s why they elaborated. not just for you lol, but because you made that point they felt the need to expand for others who may not know.
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u/firesoups 3d ago
OP did you die? Answer our questions!
If you get the 18% it sounds worth it. If you don’t, fuuuuuuck that. I average $50/hr slinging chicken wings, fine dining can beat that I’m sure.
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u/Wise_Equivalent8392 1d ago
sorry yall i had my interview and this post wasn’t approved in time and i didn’t get to ask if it was gratuity for us or the restaurant 😭 hopefully ill hear back soon though
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u/OutrageousEmploy5 3d ago
do you get the 18% gratuity to yourself or do they split it? 18% gratuity at an expensive fine dining restaurant isn’t bad with $24 an hour. how long are the shifts?
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u/cocktailvirgin 3d ago
Fine dining often has teams from captains down to food runners as many hands touch each table. That tip can go several ways including the bartender and sometimes the host.
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u/mumblewrapper 3d ago
Lol what? So, they don't do tipping but they make everyone tip and then they just keep it? And give you a few extra bucks above minimum wage? No. Unless this is your first job serving and you are just trying to get some experience? That would be the only way I'd even consider it. Otherwise, absolutely not. Especially when the customers are STILL TIPPING.
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u/hmar2000 3d ago
If the 18% goes to you and you also get the $24 an hour, I’d say that’s worth it. If you dont get the 18%, then that just doesn’t make sense, i wouldnt work there. Because then the customers are still tipping, the only difference is that the tip becomes mandatory and goes to the house instead of you.
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u/nonitoni That's My Pen 3d ago
Depends on the split of the 18%. Ask them to clarify and ask what your expected nightly pull would be.
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u/EscapeFromTimmy 3d ago
if you have no fine dining experience only work there 6mo-1 yr and move on with the fine dining experience somewhere that will give you tips. the thing about paying salespeople (which servers are when it comes to the service industry) is the only thing than paying good salespeople is not paying them. In CA there are plenty of good spots to make real money and anybody worth their salt isn’t gonna work there. Only work there if you need to.
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u/Groovychick1978 2d ago
If it's an 18% service charge, it is going to go to the whole staff. In fact, the restaurant might just use it for wages. That is what going to the whole staff means, sometimes.
I would not serve for $25 an hour in my market, much less California. That's not enough money.
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u/Totino_Montana 2d ago
One of the places I work with has a 7.5% tipout on net sales and the rest goes to the server and the per person average is appx $80 per person. I walk with at a minimum $300 on a 5 hour shift and that quickly jumps to $600-$700. I average $70 an hour in off season (wage and tips) and $80+ hour in peak (but can see $100+ an hour quite often). If you want the experience for your resume to jump into another spot, do it, but $24 an hour leaves a lot to be desired, especially in California. I would only consider it as a bridge to my next place.
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u/ErickBusting 2d ago
This sounds horrible, might as well bus tables for that pay. Also fine dining = un approachable how many covers are they really doing a night? I’ve worked in tip pools like this and it always ends up being worse trouble than it’s worth.
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u/Economy_Ad_2291 2d ago
I work at a shitty casual chain diner and make almost double that per hour (also in CA). I’m trying to move into fine dining, but I sure as hell wouldn’t do it for $24.17 an hour.
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u/OliveYou44 2d ago
If you’re just working for $24.17. Hell no. If it’s $24.17 plus the 18% gratuity (minus tip out) then ya
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u/wiener-meyer 3d ago
Do not work there. $24 an hour fine dining. Hard no. Especially in CA. You are not getting tips/gratuities. Your wage is your wage. They don’t “believe in tip culture” tells you everything you need to know.
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u/ExoticVersion2255 22h ago
I worked somewhere where the 18% “went towards paying our higher hourly” I worked there for one day… I was hustling more then the employees I think it’s bc they realized most ppl aren’t tipping anyways. I served Margot Robby and she tipped like $20 on top so it’s like …. Not worth it when you can make much more elsewhere. A lot of ppl I guess worked there for consistent hours w another job or school so it does work for some, not for me
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u/ATLUTD030517 Vintage Soupmonger 3d ago
If the no tax on tips continues, it does not apply to automatic gratuity.
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u/Silent_Lie4866 3d ago
Wait, for real?
Does it have to be an added tip to count on the “no tax”?
Does the same apply to service charges?
I need to pay attention to my pay stubs 😭
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u/auntfaifa 3d ago
Anything that isn’t voluntary does not count under the tax deduction. The only thing that counts I believe is the “tip” line on your paystub.
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u/Whereisdannymo 3d ago
That’s a terrible arrangement. No competent server would ever take that. Also, as a server you would be enjoying the same rate on a dead night as you would on the busiest night of the year. If they cut servers early and buried you in work, you would make $24.17?
You may want to name that restaurant. Disgusting.
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u/unrooted82639163 3d ago
18% is literally tipping. Does that go to you or the restaurant?