The Kitchen Appreciation Fee is an automatic 3% fee that will be added to the total of the bill before tax. This fee will be split among the kitchen staff only. This is not a tip for your server. We feel strongly it’s our best option given the current realities of the restaurant industry. Most importantly, we hope its’ impact is evident in the quality of food and overall experience you have when dining with us.
Why we believe it makes for a healthier restaurant:
* we believe this is the most transparent, honest, and fair way for our guests to show appreciation for the unsung heroes in the kitchen
* it attracts talented, qualified cooks with the desire to becomegreat chefs
* it retains employees which allows for an investment in education and training
* it directly rewards the kitchen staff for the success of the restaurant
* it encourages constant improvement on the quality and consistency of food
* it creates a culture of teamwork and elevates the expectations of the staff
Why don’t we pay our kitchen staff a fair living wage?
We absolutely do! The kitchen fee is not in lieu of a competitive wage, it is in an addition to it. Every member of the kitchen staff is guaranteed an incremental bonus based on the success of the restaurant.
Why should guests subsidize this? The reality is you are already paying for labor. Sales of food and beverages are the only source of revenue and cover all costs to operate a restaurant.
Why not just increase menu prices? Increasing prices would not yield the same result. By giving the kitchen staff a percentage of sales, it adds value across all facets or the restaurant, creates a better guest experience, incentivizes the kitchen staff, and allows for the type of training that has become very hard to invest in otherwise.
Why not have options to tip the kitchen? Unfortunately, it’s not a legal option. Kitchen employees are not tipped employees, so under our state law they are not allowed to share any tips. To give them a percentage of sales it needs to be in the form of a set fee.