BEWARE of Chicago Pizza!!!

[coredumped]

Hi all, I wanted to post and warn everyone about Chicago Pizza. They are charging 15% gratuity on everyone's bill regardless of party size.

Now, I don't consider myself cheap, and I've worked in the restaurant business, but charging customers without telling them is WRONG! I spoke with my server after the surprise on my bill, they said it's not mentioned on the menu & it's something new their doing.

I'm sure I could've got it off my bill, but I didn't want to make a fuss - I'll just take my business elsewhere. The sad thing is I would've tipped $4 on this meal, our server did a good job.


(date & server name have been removed)

Also of note, they charge for refills on the 2nd one (2nd refill/3rd drink).

[jaxmoviebuff]

With all the pizza places in Jax Chicago Pizza isn't worth the hassle and expense.  Besides they're pizza isn't very good anyway.  Thanks for the heads up!

[Timkin]

LOL...  That will cost em in the long run.  Thanks for letting me know.  Al's Pizza is MUCH BETTER!

[RockStar]

Un-friggin-believable.

[BigGuy219]

Hmm. I kind of like it. 15% is what I usually tip, and this makes me feel like less of a cheapskate. Makes me wonder how many people are tipping less than fifteen percent...

[Timkin]

Hmm. I kind of like it. 15% is what I usually tip, and this makes me feel like less of a cheapskate. Makes me wonder how many people are tipping less than fifteen percent...

So do you tip on top of the gratuity or ?  Just curious.  I tip well too. Most people out there in this industry work very hard. But I just think an assumed gratuity that they tack on is not right.. and I would not think they would tax on a gratuity.

[blizz01]

I would've tipped $4 on this meal, our server did a good job.

- Are they also not providing the server an opportunity with an "additional tip" line?

I wonder if the other locations are following suit - and I wonder if other Landing eateries have tried this approach as this is our core "tourist" draw right?  It doesn't hurt too bad considering that I was in South Beach last week & thought I was getting a great lunch deal at The Park Central for lunch as the maître d' enticed us to come in with "half off of all food items".  He failed to mention the $5 per iced up soda(s) - of course, no refills......(& 22% gratuity incl.).....

Side note:  A new Chicago Pizza & Rush Street is scheduled to open in Fleming Island in the Fall.

[Timkin]

Its fine if it is upfront... The poster indicated it was not mentioned on the menu..but presented as an "oh, by the way"  on the Check? I don't think so.

They just opened Mellow Mushroom on F I  not too long ago.. guess F I  will have its share of options for Pizza places. 

Upfront its fine.. but no surprises.  that is bad business.

[BigGuy219]

Hmm. I kind of like it. 15% is what I usually tip, and this makes me feel like less of a cheapskate. Makes me wonder how many people are tipping less than fifteen percent...

So do you tip on top of the gratuity or ?  Just curious.  I tip well too. Most people out there in this industry work very hard. But I just think an assumed gratuity that they tack on is not right.. and I would not think they would tax on a gratuity.

No. What I'm saying is, on a normal check, with no added gratuity, I tip 15%. Which is the tip mandated on this check. If it's particularly good service I'll go to 18% or 20%, but in NY where the tax was rather high, we usually had a "tip double tax" rule before we all had calculators on our phones.

[brainstormer]

I served my way through college and still am serving as a second job.  There are two sides to every situation.  Unfortunately there are a lot of "cheap skates" in Jacksonville.  Leaving a dollar or two on a $40-50 meal is kind of sad.  Perhaps the servers there were complaining and the 15% is an effort to give them a few extra bucks.  On the other hand, if I worked somewhere where I usually was tipped well, I would hate it because a lot of people leave 20% and higher.  I always over tip if the service is good because I know how it feels.  In the end, the restaurant should just make sure that their policy is well posted on tables and menus.  

[coredumped]

To answer a few questions:

• Yes, you have the opportunity after they swipe your card to add additional compensation. It went something similar like this:

Bill $X.XX
Tip $X.XX (15 %)
Additional Tip $__.__
Where you fill in additional, then add all 3 numbers.
Unfortunately I don't have a picture of that.

• The above picture is what comes when you get the bill, BEFORE you pay (so they've already billed you for it).


• Our server was not happy about this policy (or so they said) when we inquired about it.


• There is NO mention of this fee anywhere. If you've not been there it's one of those places that leaves the menus on the table, while waiting for our server to come back I checked the menu, no mention of it. I also asked our server and they confirmed it. (It does mentioned the refill limit).

Like I said, I would've tipped more, and I hate to "punish" the server, but perhaps enough people will only pay the minimum and they'll realize this won't work. If I was in another mood I would've made a stink about it. Instead (and perhaps worse) I just won't return there.

Anyone want pizza tonight? Let me know if they do this crap on take out orders.

[Timkin]

I served my way through college and still am serving as a second job.  There are two sides to every situation.  Unfortunately there are a lot of "cheap skates" in Jacksonville.  Leaving a dollar or two on a $40-50 meal is kind of sad.  Perhaps the servers there were complaining and the 15% is an effort to give them a few extra bucks.  On the other hand, if I worked somewhere where I usually was tipped well, I would hate it because a lot of people leave 20% and higher.  I always over tip if the service is good because I know how it feels.  In the end, the restaurant should just make sure that their policy is well posted on tables and menus.   

Concur completely, Brainstormer.  If the gratuity is a direct compensation to the server FINE.. No problem.. but is there a particular reason the CUSTOMER should not be informed of this beforehand?  That is all I am suggesting.   I do not believe in being a cheapskate either.  I salute people in this industry and many of them do a wonderful job.. some go overboard.. they tend to be tipped even better. Some do not do as well.. either way 15% is fair  but the customer should be made aware of this before getting the bill, IMO

[fieldafm]

One thing you need to be aware of... Landing customers over the last few years have been extremely cheap and they have a suprisingly HIGH amount of walkouts.  You'd be suprised at what people try to pull off.

Last Landing restaurant I was at last week, a lady comes in... ordered some cheese fries, paid(with cash), walked out, came back three minutes later with half the fries eaten and complained b/c the fries were too expensive.  She raised a fuss and the bartender refunded her money and she walked out.  Now don't you think if the fries were 'too expensive' then you a)wouldn't have ordered them in the first place b) never handed over the CASH(unless you can't count) or c) wouldnt have eaten half the fries and then demanded a refund???

Sounds like this is a way to protect the servers who have been getting screwed recently.  I for one, think Chicago Pizza has been a great addition to downtown.

[Timkin]

very good point.  I cannot see a refund on a half-eaten order, with a complaint they were too busy, but I guess the customer is always King , huh ?

[fieldafm]

The above picture is what comes when you get the bill, BEFORE you pay (so they've already billed you for it).

Well that does kinda suck... I agree on principle as to why they do it(especially at the Landing), but you should see that on your bill BEFORE you pay IMO