Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Greed

The Vulcan thread brought up the subject of greed. If we're going to talk about that, how do we all feel about Michel Roux Jr. ?

I've never been happy with the whole business of a unilaterally applied "service charge". A tip should be an expression of a customer's satisfaction with the service provided. When the gratuity is just taken without the client's say-so, regardless of how good or bad their dining experience has been, it's already a bit tasty IMHO. To then fail to pass the charge on to the staff I consider to be borderline fraud; the customer is being charged for something that has not been delivered. It's made even worse when many of those employees are (illegally) not even being paid the basic wage (as is the case at le Gavroche).

I think it's time for a campaign against these service charges. I never, ever, add a tip to a credit card payment as I'm pretty sure that the staff will never see it; I always pay tips in cash, preferably directly to the waiter.

With you 100% on this.

Like you, we always tip the person in cash, often surreptitiously if they say that it's frowned upon by management.

Start the petition up, Giles. I'd sign it.

As a Yorkshireman I resent 'compulsory' service charges wherever they occur It's a London custom which has spread out to where Londoners travel (e.g. Cotswolds) but you don't see it much in Yorkshire. Maybe at Harrogate (the posh end).

That would be Harrogate not 'Arragit?

At least if they add a service charge, and you don't feel they deserve it, you can make a point of asking for it to be removed. More satisfying than just wandering off without leaving a tip, which may just leave them thinking you are just tight or forgetful.

Entirely agree.

I never ever pay the service charge if I am not entirely happy and then I only pay what I think is justified; some think this is 'tight', but IMHO the Service Charge should not be there in the first place, it is a Gratuity borne of goodwill and gratitude, not some obligation to increase the bottom line.

I know of a place local to me that takes tips - rather than a service charge - but then divides those tips amongst staff who have been there longer than 3 months.....so some of the people that deliver the good service on the night may end up with nothing and that, to me, is wrong also.

Credit where credit is due - and to those that deliver the service - otherwise nothing.

Some of the Cotswold Hotels add 10% to the bill as a default.

That's not right. Tips should be discretionary, not auto imposed.

Yes Bob - Arreget.

I've eaten at Le Gavroche and met Michel who I found to be absolutely delightful
He came to our table as my friend who we were with had just run the London Marathon. After chatting Michel came back to our table 10 minutes later and gave us a couple of his books and signed them for us

The service by all the staff was absolutely outstanding to the point of Balletic -we didn't have to fill a glass or even move a chair in and out arising to go to the lav

I've eaten in many top restaurants and we all said after that it was by the far most polished when it came to the staff and service

I don't have an issue at all paying a service charge and it being added to bill when the restaurants are excellent as I expect it and helps restaurants to survive to make service a decently paid profession

It doesn't have to go straight to the staff if the staff are paid a good salary

If they are poorly paid and are expected to make up their wage in tips, that is different but I don't think that's the business model of Michelin starred restaurants

I haven't heard about Le Gavroche paying staff less than the minimum wage but I would assume and hope that all the senior staff I encountered front of house were well paid for their professionalism

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...rge-le-gavroche

He doesn't seem to be quite so delightful towards his staff.

Yup. Pay the bill with card, tip with cash.