"Within three years, most of America's fine-dining restaurants no longer will accept tips. That's the prediction from Chicago restaurateur Nick Kokonas. By ditching tips, restaurants say, they can better manage rising labor costs while solving the fundamental inequity in pay between bartenders and servers and those forbidden by law to share in gratuities, such as cooks, porters and dishwashers."
Read the full story:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20151114/ISSUE01/311149992/is-tipping-becoming-obsolete
Sounds like increased menu prices and/or standard service charges are the top alternatives being implemented/considered. (Right now, many restaurants only do the service charge thing on parties of 8 or more.)
If they want to raise menu prices, fine. That gives the customer a choice as to whether or not to dine with them.
Assessing a mandatory "service charge" though? POPPYCOCK! If service is bad (waitress, food quality, cleanliness, etc.), the customer must be given the choice how to recognize that.
Out for now.......
Matt