“Dear PoPville,
Went to Hells Kitchen at the Wharf and saw the attached note at the bottom of the bill that made my brain flip trying to understand. Server knew nothing other than service charge was not a tip. That they recently started doing this and it’s been a mixed bag result. We left cash tip and I decided to call the restaurant the following day to get a better explanation from the manager.
I asked him to kindly explain how the service charge is not the tip (or equivalent) especially since it is clearly explained that way on the receipt and he was unable to do so.
Is there anyway to confirm as a customer that these charges are being distributed accordingly?”
Another reader writes:
“I’m curious as to how folks would tip considering there is a 20% charge that goes towards service staff, but the bill clearly states that “this is not a tip”