The Taco Bar in Seaside

[Beach House 25]

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.

 

[Beach Runner]

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.

 

[Beach House 25]

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.

I can honestly say I have never felt Embarrassed when not leaving a tip. The server was not worthy of it and they should have been embarrassed for the lack of service to the guest.

I have eaten in many out door "Fine dinning" open air places in Europe (Spain, France, Italy) and Asia, Never was a "Tip" added and the ones that served us proper got the "Tip" the ones that did not got a dirty table to look at. Could be I was just lucky, But I honestly prefer control of thanking someone for their services.

Now I will say it takes allot for me to go to that extreme but... I admit I have done it for a just cause, More than likely the manager was notified and the server knew why we done what we had.

But the bottom line is ... I do not like it... My opinion. I most likely would not go back.

Rollie Pollie has a "Tip" jar on the counter... Works for me....;-)

 

[Beach Runner]

Ditto -- I'm a world traveler as well. But Taco Bar gets a lot of kids who think it's the 30-A version of Micky D's where no tip is expected. Personally, Mike, et. al., have given us great service.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Interesting perspective. Maybe Dave's managers train all their staff of the Taco Bar to give great service, yet you are going to not go back in case you don't get good service, when you admit to having good service. That math don't add up, but different strokes for different folks. I could see your complaint as legitimate if the service sucked. If that was the case, you should have no problem demanding the 15% back and letting the manager know. However, if you were going to pay it anyway, the thought of not going back sounds silly.

 

[Beach House 25]

Ditto -- I'm a world traveler as well. But Taco Bar gets a lot of kids who think it's the 30-A version of Micky D's where no tip is expected. Personally, Mike, et. al., have given us great service.

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...

 

[Beach House 25]

Interesting perspective. Maybe Dave's managers train all their staff of the Taco Bar to give great service, yet you are going to not go back in case you don't get good service, when you admit to having good service. That math don't add up, but different strokes for different folks. I could see your complaint as legitimate if the service sucked. If that was the case, you should have no problem demanding the 15% back and letting the manager know. However, if you were going to pay it anyway, the thought of not going back sounds silly.

Silly as it sounds JOe thats how I felt until I read BR's post I had never thought of the "Kid Factor" Still kinda hard to think that I must be told what to do in spending my money on a "Tip" service, But very understandable when you look at it with BR's prospective.

 

[Chickpea]

Excellent food - service for us has always been great and FWIW and IMHO, I have zero problem with 15% being added.

 

[TreeFrog]

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.

 

[Chickpea]

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.

Figured as much- makes total sense to me.