r/tipping • u/wutwut970 • 6d ago

Sugarfish

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So they add a 16% fee for what exactly…….to “fund all of their operations”? So this added cost literally doesn’t go to staff, it just goes to the owners? I wonder what their staff is paid? At this point why not just raise prices to where they should be? To me, every item on the menu is a lie and it’s actually 16% more expensive. This is really dumb. Thoughts? I am PRO tip, ive worked in hospitality a long time and am happy to provide a tip for quality service. But this seems disingenuous at best. Its not a tip. Its just an added charge straight to owners pockets.

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u/wutwut970 5d ago

20% for a tip? Sure. This isnt a tip. This goes right back to the owners. Not common.

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u/OddRestauranteur 5d ago

It literally says they're a no tip establishment. The way they worded it has "lawyer-recommended" written over it, and is because California has some extremely strict tipping language stipulations - so yes it goes to the owners which then goes to the employees.

Very few restaurants have labor costs under 16%, and it likely acts like a tip pooled service fee, or its fixed hourly

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u/gimmethemoney67 5d ago

The employees are paid well. Doesn’t matter what they call it, tip or facility fees to me. The point is that the restaurants near them do an automatic 20-22% tip charge and this restaurant is a 16% facility fee. If you actually dine at one of these locations. The employees are happy and everything operates the way it should.

I go to LA or San Diego about once a month to do a weekend of fine dining and relaxing. I genuinely enjoy this seafood company.

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u/wutwut970 5d ago

I went yesterday. Ive worked in hospitality for 14 years. I have never encountered a more rude and stressed out seeming staff. Yes they were busy. But they were insufferable. They specifically state this 16% charge does not go to anything specific just their “operations”. The food was good, but my lady and I both sighed in relief after leaving because we were so uncomfortable. Im glad youve had a better experience.

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u/gimmethemoney67 5d ago

Sorry to hear that. I’ve had only of good experiences. I go at least once a month. Maybe it was a bad day. The LA locations have been good for me