BEWARE of Chicago Pizza!!!

[coredumped]

A little off-topic, but I just found out we have an Uno's at the airport, anyone tried it? Is it like a "real" unos, or a watered down version?

[9a is my backyard]

Side note:  what's the proper protocol when there's a tip line on the bottom of a walk-up (i.e., Moes, Flats, etc)?  It makes for an awkward moment when you use your card as services have yet to be rendered + it's not too unlike other walk-ups that don't have the policy.  Makes me want to come prepared with exact change/cash.  Maybe I'm getting cheap, but, I don't believe that the frontline/cashiers are on a server's rate(?).

Guess we could start a whole new thread:  What about take-out?  What's the proper etiquette?  

I always have the same issue.  I used to leave a buck or two or just round up (i.e., if it's $18.10, just make it $20).  Lately I've been going with no tip on the rationale that it's not fair to the servers who wait on you for 30 minutes to get 15-20% and the guy at the counter who spends 30 seconds on you to get something similar.  However, now that I write it out, it just sounds cheap.

I did notice when I picked up a pizza at Al's the other day, the guy who gave it to me looked at my receipt before he handed over my pizza.  Normally they show you the pie to make sure it's what you ordered and ask if you want any cheese, pepper, etc but he just handed me the pizza.  It's possible it's just the guy but I definitely saw him sneak a peak.

What is the proper etiquette?

[cityimrov]

A tip is just a tip.  Something given for extra service.  That what a tip is.  It is optional and extra and I think several courts said the same thing.  Although a tip can be customary, it isn't mandatory unless the menu or some type of notice says a "service charge" of something is mandatory.  Although legal if enough notice is given, it does feel sleazy - like those hotels in Orlando with their "surprise" service charges.  

As for servers, they are paid by the restaurant owner.  If the owner is skimping on their salary, they should complain loudly to the owner for a raise in salary or something like that.  The owner should then raise the price of food to cover the extra expenses of servers so everyone can read up front what the cost of that food is.

Side note:  what's the proper protocol when there's a tip line on the bottom of a walk-up (i.e., Moes, Flats, etc)?

Most companies realize when someone is asked personally for money, they feel uncomfortable.  It's a psychological response.  In a way, they are trying to get you to give the servers more money so they can give the servers less money.  It's like when a homeless person ask you for money.  You feel uncomfortable because the human response is empathy.  That's why when there's a homeless person in one corner, you see everyone trying to avoid them so they won't feel "guilty" of not helping them.

[duvaldude08]

I seen that one my tab the last time I went. didnt really bother me though. I did look at the ticket kind of unny I must admit. LOL

[ProjectMaximus]

I should've made this a poll:)

I'm usually in the 18-20% range. If gratuity is included, regardless of %, I almost never tip extra.

Just wanted to add that it doesn't offend me, actually gives me an excuse not to tip more unless the service was amazing. The extra charge on refills is more offensive.

[Brian Siebenschuh]

A tip is just a tip.  Something given for extra service.  That what a tip is.  It is optional and extra and I think several courts said the same thing.  Although a tip can be customary, it isn't mandatory unless the menu or some type of notice says a "service charge" of something is mandatory.

While technically true, this doesn't speak to the standards we follow in the US.  Federal minimum wage for almost everybody is $7.25 per hour.  Minimum wage for tipped employees is $4.23, which speaks to the fact that we as a society agree that tipping servers is part of the cost of dining out.  Other cultures handle the practice differently.

[Timkin]

I should've made this a poll:)

I'm usually in the 18-20% range. If gratuity is included, regardless of %, I almost never tip extra.

Just wanted to add that it doesn't offend me, actually gives me an excuse not to tip more unless the service was amazing. The extra charge on refills is more offensive.

Beverage charges in most Restaurants are outrageous.  And then adding an additional charge for refill?

[RJR83]

A tip is just a tip.  Something given for extra service.  That what a tip is.  It is optional and extra and I think several courts said the same thing.  Although a tip can be customary, it isn't mandatory unless the menu or some type of notice says a "service charge" of something is mandatory.

While technically true, this doesn't speak to the standards we follow in the US.  Federal minimum wage for almost everybody is $7.25 per hour.  Minimum wage for tipped employees is $4.23, which speaks to the fact that we as a society agree that tipping servers is part of the cost of dining out.  Other cultures handle the practice differently.

Employers must pay their employees the hourly state minimum wage for all hours worked in Florida. The definitions of "employer," "employee" and "wage" for state purposes are the same as those established under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  Employers of "tipped employees" who meet eligibility requirements for the tip credit under the FLSA, may count tips actually received as wages under the FLSA.

and

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires payment of at least the federal minimum wage to covered, nonexempt employees.  An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13 an hour in direct wages if that amount plus the tips received equals at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference.

We as consumers have agreed to be uneducated and let companies screw us.

the food includes gratuity 'tax' already, as employers must pay the difference of min.wage vs actual wage, and directly increases the cost of food in order to cover the 'cost' of having to pay an employee min. wage.
its why most places 'split' the tips amongst all tipped employees so they don't have to pay the difference.

so in sum, tipped employees will always make min. wage even if they never receive a tip.

the line of work is the line of work, there's no difference between having to be personable while serving food and having to be personable and selling electronics, aside from the spit you get as a repeat non-tipper.

[Brian Siebenschuh]

most places 'split' the tips amongst all tipped employees so they don't have to pay the difference.

No they don't.  Pooling of tips is an extremely uncommon practice.

And I'm shocked nobody's brought this up yet...

Nice Guy Eddie: C'mon, throw in a buck!
    Mr. Pink: Uh-uh, I don't tip.
    Nice Guy Eddie: You don't tip?
    Mr. Pink: I don't believe in it.
    Nice Guy Eddie: You don't believe in tipping?
    Mr. Blue: You know what these chicks make? They make shit.
    Mr. Pink: Don't give me that. She don't make enough money, she can quit.
    Nice Guy Eddie: I don't even know a fucking Jew who'd have the balls to say that. Let me get this straight: you never ever tip, huh?
    Mr. Pink: I don't tip because society says I have to. Alright, I tip when somebody really deserves a tip. If they put forth an effort, I'll give them something extra. But I mean, this tipping automatically, that's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned they're just doing their job.
    Mr. Blue: Hey, this girl was nice.
    Mr. Pink: She was okay. But she wasn't anything special.
    Mr. Blue: What's special? Take you in the back and suck your dick?
    Nice Guy Eddie: I'd go over twelve percent for that.
    Mr. Pink: Look, I ordered coffee, alright? And we been here a long fucking time and she's only filled my cup three times. When I order coffee I want it filled six times.
    Mr. Blonde: Six times? Well, what if she's too fucking busy?
    Mr. Pink: The words "too fucking busy" shouldn't be in a waitress's vocabulary.
    Nice Guy Eddie: Excuse me Mr. Pink, but the last fucking thing you need is another cup of coffee.
    Mr. Pink: Jesus Christ man, these ladies aren't starving to death. They make minimum wage. You know, I used to work minimum wage and when I did I wasn't lucky enough to have a job the society deemed tipworthy.
    Mr. Blue: You don't care if they're counting on your tips to live?
    Mr. Pink: [rubbing his middle finger and thumb together] You know what this is? The world's smallest violin playing just for the waitresses.
    Mr. White: You don't have any idea what you're talking about. These people bust their ass. This is a hard job.
    Mr. Pink: So is working at McDonald's, but you don't see anyone tip them, do you? Why not, they're serving you food. But no, society says don't tip these guys over here, but tip these guys over here. It's bullshit!
    Mr. White: Waitressing is the number one occupation for female non-college graduates in this country. It's the one job basically any woman can get, and make a living on. The reason is because of tips.
    Mr. Pink: Fuck all that! I'm very sorry the government taxes their tips, that's fucked up. That ain't my fault. It would seem to me that waitresses are one of the many groups the government fucks in the ass on a regular basis. Look, if you show me a piece of paper that says the government shouldn't do that, I'll sign it, put it to a vote, I'll vote for it, but what I won't do is play ball. And this non-college bullshit you're givin' me, I got two words for that: learn to fuckin' type, 'cause if you're expecting me to help out with the rent you're in for a big fuckin' surprise.
    Mr. Orange: You know what, you just convinced me. Gimmie my dollar back!

[BigGuy219]

The more I think about it, the more I wish more restaurants would adopt this policy.
To me, 15% is the absolute minimum I would ever leave as a tip. If the service is bad, I don't leave 10%, 5%, or nothing ... I speak to the manager. Do I ever tip 18% or 20%? Yes, but only when I'm around other people and I almost always feel bitter about it.
Another benefit of this is that it doesn't take a few days for your tip to post on your credit/debit card. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten into tough spots where 3 days later a $2.50 tip would come through on a lunch I forgot about would come through and throw my whole account into chaos.
I don't have this empathy thing you people speak of. Maybe it's the New Yorker in me.
But, hey I live downtown and eat tacos in an art gallery a couple of times a week so I have to be at least somewhat a jerk, right? 

[RockStar]

Ok. One thing that everyone might not be aware of, that an employee of Chi Pizza told me, is that they don't get their credit card tips at the end of their shift. The owners, shady as f' owners, include it in their paycheck, but, if their tips average out to minimum wage, then they adjust their pay rate from  $4.23 to  $7.25. Haven't really dug into this to see how the employer is cheating their employee, the government etc, but it stinks; and it lends itself to mediocre service (unhappy employees = crappy service). By auto grating, the owners are guaranteeing a certain level of income for themselves, I think.

Believe me, nobody wants an auto gratuity on their bill. Service levels only go down when the gratuity is a given. Anyone in this business knows what they're getting into as far as wages and tips; they're no surprises. If you work at Olive Garden, you're not going to make as much as the person at Capital Grill, regardless of location. The guy @ OG in Miami is getting stiffed too.

Jacksonville tippers really aren't that bad, in fact I've not noticed any difference from NY to LA to Jax. Cheap is cheap anywhere. And good service tends to be rewarded, but great service is truly recognized. What this town needs are more people who are passionate about what they do, and stop treating their service job as a step to somewhere "better"...in the words of Jack, "what if this is as good as it gets?"

LOL

[copperfiend]

The charge for drink refills really gets to me and is a reason I won't go there. This 15% charge is ridiculous.

[Jaxson]

Ok. One thing that everyone might not be aware of, that an employee of Chi Pizza told me, is that they don't get their credit card tips at the end of their shift. The owners, shady as f' owners, include it in their paycheck, but, if their tips average out to minimum wage, then they adjust their pay rate from  $4.23 to  $7.25. Haven't really dug into this to see how the employer is cheating their employee, the government etc, but it stinks; and it lends itself to mediocre service (unhappy employees = crappy service). By auto grating, the owners are guaranteeing a certain level of income for themselves, I think.

Believe me, nobody wants an auto gratuity on their bill. Service levels only go down when the gratuity is a given. Anyone in this business knows what they're getting into as far as wages and tips; they're no surprises. If you work at Olive Garden, you're not going to make as much as the person at Capital Grill, regardless of location. The guy @ OG in Miami is getting stiffed too.

Jacksonville tippers really aren't that bad, in fact I've not noticed any difference from NY to LA to Jax. Cheap is cheap anywhere. And good service tends to be rewarded, but great service is truly recognized. What this town needs are more people who are passionate about what they do, and stop treating their service job as a step to somewhere "better"...in the words of Jack, "what if this is as good as it gets?"

LOL

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine advised that I always use cash to tip my wait staff - even when paying with my credit card.  She told me that the wait staff is more likely to see the money if they get the tip in cash...

And, speaking of tips, does anybody want to touch that 'third rail' of dining and cuisine?  How much do 'Canadian' people tip?  Those in the restauarant business are familiar with the term...

[JSquared]

Does anyone know if their other locations are doing this? (this may have nothing to do with the landing)

They're also doing this at the Baymeadows/Philips location.  Our server, as she was bringing out the bills, explained it beforehand, and actively lobbied us to speak to the manager.  Before we got up to leave, we heard two other tables (with a different server) complaining to the manager about it.  Clearly, at least some of the wait staff are unhappy with the move.  We tipped on top of the gratuity that was automatically included, because we had a table for an hour and the gratuity included was $0.96.

[Bativac]

I have had consistently bad service at Chicago Pizza and no longer go there because of it. 

I have been blatantly ignored and made to wait before while the servers chatted with each other and counted tips.  The pizza is good, but the service has always been very sub-par at the Landing location.  I imagine that may have something to do with instituting a 15% minimum.

Chipwich this is why I have only set foot in Chicago Pizza twice... both times without ever getting a table. There is no excuse for 20 minute wait times, without so much as a "we'll be with you shortly," when you've only got a handful of customers. I'll never go back, I don't care how good people tell me the pizza is. There are enough other decent pizza joints in Jacksonville that don't have lousy service.