The Taco Bar in Seaside

[NOLA TRANSPLANT]

O.K. So my question is this, Are these guys getting paid a minimum wage such as the state minimum wage or more? This is always a sticky area. When you go to get a take out order from a restaurant do you tip on that? In essence a to-go order and and a counter order is the same. The only difference between counter and to-go is usually the person taking care of your to-go order in a restaurant is making half of what a counter person makes.
Now, I know I'm probably adding fuel for a potential heated battle (which is not my intention) but I have always been told that this is the profession one has chosen and if one didn't like the pay one should seek employment else where.
Bud and Alleys has this policy and you know, it is what it is. Some people are put off by it and some aren't. Imagine the one's who don't even know about it and leave extra.

 

[Allifunn]

I totally understand why they tack on the 15% tip. They get screwed because you pay up front, it's an open-air restaurant, and so people bolt when they're finished with no fear of embarrassment for not leaving a tip.

This is so true! So many kids eat there and don't think about a tip! My daughter included...but she would tip!

I agree, The young man was very well mannered and very pleasant.

And I can see that point about the kids, Tuff call for me though, I will give it some thought, The food and service were excellent like I stated earlier. Thanks for the heads up on why, I never thought about it that way...

What is wrong with leaving an extra tip if you want to? I get mad when upper end restaurants have an automatic tip factored in, I see it almost as an insult, but an open air place, to me, is acceptable.

When the Taco Bar first opened, the bartenders weren't making any money because of the "Micky D" factor BR mentioned. The automatic 15% tip was added several weeks later. Dave & Co. did the right thing, otherwise a job at the Taco Bar would be the "penalty box" for an otherwise hard-working bartender.

I have always gotten good friendly service there...and I LOVE THE TACOS!!!! (esp the fish taco)

O.K. So my question is this, Are these guys getting paid a minimum wage such as the state minimum wage or more? This is always a sticky area. When you go to get a take out order from a restaurant do you tip on that? In essence a to-go order and and a counter order is the same. .

Most times my food is brought out to me...so that also makes them a waiter of sorts, entitled to a tip. IMHO any place that serves alcohol is a place to tip. Micky D's, well I've just never thought about tipping the counter person in fast food establishments. (I do not eat at Mickey D's BTW! BARF)

 

[tistheseason]

In Atlanta there are many order at the counter restaurants. Some of them they will bring your food to you. While we tip generously in traditional restaurants. We don't in counter orders. If they bring our food to us, we'll generally leave something -- but not 20%. If I have to do most of the work, who am I tipping exactly? I think the staff in these type of establishments should be paid a regular salary. Just my 2 cents.

But I am curious? Where do most people draw the line?

PS. I have never been to the Taco Bar mentioned in this thread. Just giving my opinion in general.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Good question. The short answer is it is highly unlikely that the Taco Bar would have either no employees, or very crappy employees, and either way, be out of business very quickly if they took the attitude of like the pay or don't work here.

O.K. So my question is this, Are these guys getting paid a minimum wage such as the state minimum wage or more? This is always a sticky area. When you go to get a take out order from a restaurant do you tip on that? In essence a to-go order and and a counter order is the same. The only difference between counter and to-go is usually the person taking care of your to-go order in a restaurant is making half of what a counter person makes.
Now, I know I'm probably adding fuel for a potential heated battle (which is not my intention) but I have always been told that this is the profession one has chosen and if one didn't like the pay one should seek employment else where.
Bud and Alleys has this policy and you know, it is what it is. Some people are put off by it and some aren't. Imagine the one's who don't even know about it and leave extra.

 

[Beach House 25]

O.K. So my question is this, Are these guys getting paid a minimum wage such as the state minimum wage or more? This is always a sticky area. When you go to get a take out order from a restaurant do you tip on that? In essence a to-go order and and a counter order is the same. The only difference between counter and to-go is usually the person taking care of your to-go order in a restaurant is making half of what a counter person makes.
Now, I know I'm probably adding fuel for a potential heated battle (which is not my intention) but I have always been told that this is the profession one has chosen and if one didn't like the pay one should seek employment else where.
Bud and Alleys has this policy and you know, it is what it is. Some people are put off by it and some aren't. Imagine the one's who don't even know about it and leave extra.

Now thats some very good points.

This is so true! So many kids eat there and don't think about a tip! My daughter included...but she would tip!

Point here is she has a choice!

What is wrong with leaving an extra tip if you want to? I get mad when upper end restaurants have an automatic tip factored in, I see it almost as an insult, but an open air place, to me, is acceptable.
I have always gotten good friendly service there...and I LOVE THE TACOS!!!! (esp the fish taco)

See if I had the choice I might have even left more than 15%. But since I didn't and I felt forced to accept what service was provided, Well he was a nice guy! But I wonder how many have left nothing more behind once they knew the "Tip" was taken care of?

Most times my food is brought out to me...so that also makes them a waiter of sorts, entitled to a tip. IMHO any place that serves alcohol is a place to tip. Micky D's, well I've just never thought about tipping the counter person in fast food establishments. (I do not eat at Mickey D's BTW! BARF)

In Atlanta there are many order at the counter restaurants. Some of them they will bring your food to you. While we tip generously in traditional restaurants. We don't in counter orders. If they bring our food to us, we'll generally leave something -- but not 20%. If I have to do most of the work, who am I tipping exactly? I think the staff in these type of establishments should be paid a regular salary. Just my 2 cents.

But I am curious? Where do most people draw the line?

.

I have never "Tipped" counter help in the past as well. Now had I been sitting at the bar drinking than he becomes a bartender and of course you tip a good bartender. But someone just handing you the food over the counter, well thats a good question, We sat at the bar and it was slow and the young man was very nice with conversation and he placed the food nicely in front of us. Shrug guess its a choice thing for me, I prefer to choose. But BR did bring in a few good points.

 

[chrisv]

We sat at the bar and it was slow and the young man was very nice with conversation and he placed the food nicely in front of us. Shrug guess its a choice thing for me, I prefer to choose. But BR did bring in a few good points.

So you sat at the bar, ordered, drank(?) and ate, all at the bar? The bartender served you exclusively? I've never been to the Taco Bar, so excuse my ignorance in how things operate.

I spent half of my adult life bartending in a resort town, in a casual-type establishment. Frequented by everyone from dirtbags (the kids?) to big-shots (Beach House 25?). And we never added a gratuity to any bills. It's not appropriate, IMO. Seems that this bartender had plenty of opportunity to earn a good tip from Beach House 25, it being slow and he sitting at the bar for service.

Now posting notice and adding a gratuity to large parties seems reasonable to me.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Just curious, what is different between an auto gratuity on a party of six or more, vs a party of one? Both are done so that the server doesn't get screwed. Why is one accepted and the other is not?

 

[chrisv]

Just curious, what is different between an auto gratuity on a party of six or more, vs a party of one? Both are done so that the server doesn't get screwed. Why is one accepted and the other is not?

Good question, and one I have no answer for other than personal experience. Notice that I said 'posted'. I think that's a key. When I have been part of a large party, it seems that it's always a cluster when it comes time to pay the bill, maybe that scene repeated over and over led to the auto gratutity. That and servers complaining of being stiffed. But service at a bar- I don't see it as reasonable.

 

[egrp]

kids its a $7 burrito in Seaside...no one cares about 15%.

 

[Dave Rauschkolb]

Man what a super Burrito! The wife and I stopped in Seaside today for a late lunch and decided that we would give The Taco Bar a try, we were pleasantly surprised, the food was excellent and the service was very good. The young man that was there was an excellent representative of the establishment. Very polite and took good care of us during our luncheon. The only downside to this that I have a little problem when I go out to eat that when I pay my bill I have no option to decide how my service was. I disagree with a 15% automatic charge to the bill for the tip. I was a bit shocked, but the service was good and I would have left it anyway. But for an open air small ?Taco Bar? setup I was most certainly surprised. I understand that in fine dinning it?s a good chance this will occur, But in an open air maybe 20 people max setting and single server, I feel it?s a bit over done. I honestly felt that I would not return because of this policy, but I will if that young man is they?re working because I know he will earn his 15%. Other than that.. Great place.

Thanks so much for the input and good comments; I really appreciate it BH 25.

Basically my bartenders were making very few tips when we opened in April because of the walk up format. When folks sat at the bar they were getting tips but if they sat at the outdoor tables, very few tipped. Our food runners and bartenders were getting stiffed about 85% of the time.

I had seen in Miami and many, many establishments in Europe that had an auto gratuity. Also one of my managers had done an auto gratuity at a beach bar and it worked very well with a very small complaint percentage.

I am proud of my managers efforts to hire exceptional employees and always hope they perform excellent service but as in every human endeavor mistakes are made from time to time. I agree that if anyone is not happy with the service or just have an issue of the principal of the policy at the Taco Bar they may have it removed by the Manager. I do respect your opinion on the matter.

I made the percentage 15% because customarily folks tip 10% to 15% for normal service and 20% and up for exceptional service. I believe our servers are striving for the extra 5% or more. The notion the staff will be complacent with an auto 15% just doesn't fly with me.

I hope you will return for I believe we provide a quality product with great service in a fun atmosphere. Either way, the auto gratuity is here to stay. Thanks again for your input.

Dave