New twist in the Oilers refusal to pay $18,000 restaurant tab on NY's Eve

Oh, oh, this could turn into SJ Tipping Thread # 245.

Around here I think 18-20% is standard on groups of six or more.

And Hank's right. Lot more work in serving big parties like this than say a table of four.

 

At the negotiated $12,000, it works out to about $225 a head before the 18% tip. If it's really a high end Italian joint and drinking accounted for 1/3 of the tab (per original figures), this doesn't seem out of line.

So why did the jerkoff owner go public? He dickers down the bill, then rips the team for it anyway? He's lucky they didn't stiff him entirely and trash the restaurant just for the hell of it.

 

He's lucky it wasn't Chrissy and Paulie responsible for the bill.

 

I live in the area. I have never seen a built in tip as high as 18 per cent for a large group, mind you I've never spent $400 on a meal either. When I have seen the built in tips in this area they are usually either 10 or 15 per cent. Being an oil area getting stiffed on the tip usually doesn't happen more often than not they are usually leaving a considerable tip on top of the built in tip which is why usually it isn't that high in this area.

And for the record I usually tip between 15 and 25 percent depending on the service.

The only point I was trying to make with my original post was that I am sure the restaurant owner wasn't completely innocent in this situation that he was likely a little opportunistic when he saw an NHL team walk in the door - proven I think by going to the media the way he did originally. Does it let the oilers off the hook, absolutely not

 

did the oilers have their bratty kids with them at the restaurant?

 

considering most of them are in their early 20s I don't think most of them are even married, and with a bar tab alone of $8,000 it doesn't sound like it was a family outing. Group of about 50, Im thinking team officials and some girlfriends and for the few that are married, maybe a wife or two

 

you must've missed the "kids at nice restaurants" battles around here

 

FYI Beef, when my wife worked at the hotel bar in Lloyd, THEY added a 15 per cent gratuity for any party larger than 10.

 

All I had said gomer was that I hadn't seen 18 per cent, that 10 or 15 per cent was normal for the built in gratuity, and that includes some nicer restaurants in Edmonton, and I know often there is a tip left on top of that.

 

Edmonton must be different than the rest of country.

18% is the average in most Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver restaurants. 15% is the low end. 10%? Well, maybe 40 years ago.

Sorry, 18% is not gouging but as you said, that's not the point. The Oilers should have paid up and the assclown owner should have shut up. He's a dick.

 

So the food was $10,000 for 45 people?

Let's say that $3,000 was for tip, that is still about $150 a head for food. Does this place sell $100 meals?

I'm going to say that a lot of what was on the bill never made it to the table if you know what I mean.

 

The place in question is as high-end as it gets (they've served presidents and other dignitaries), so yes, $150 a head for food isn't surprising. I'm guessing a lot of pathetically-portioned appetizers will up the bill quickly.