
Originally Posted by
Lady Jade
Having been both a server and a manager, I can tell you that most (if not all) of that "service charge" money goes to the restaurant. Large parties take up more room and take more time than smaller groups, so it's their way of recouping the possible loss of other patronage because of not having available tables and the inconvenience of having to do so much at one time (getting all the food and drinks out at the same time and whatnot). The restaurants couldn't care less about how much money the staff takes home, especially chain restaurants!
Unless it is specifically an added gratuity (that's the key word here, "service charge" is something different), you can be pretty well guaranteed that the server won't see a dime of it.
Also, I worked at one restaurant that actually took money out of my tips if the customer paid the whole amount by credit card. I'd heard that some places make you wait to get credit card tips, but I was shocked that they took 5% out of my tip for "fees". Seriously, WTF? I always leave my tips in cash now, just in case.
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