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Post by buddysmom on Dec 4, 2018 14:42:35 GMT
Three of us went to a restaurant Sunday evening. It was about 8 pm, not crowded at all, maybe 1/4 full and by the time we left, even fewer people. The menu specifically did say there was a sharing charge of 7.50.
We had be eating all day (lol) so weren't starving by the time we went but had made reservations and wanted to try this place. The prices were about $15-$20.
They are huge portions, served family style. We ordered two @ $20 plus a side for $10 plus a $45 bottle of wine.
I've been to places with sharing charges before but have never actually been charged because we aren't just "dead weight" and order drinks, etc.
They charged us the sharing charge. I nicely commented about it and the server said we could order dessert (to go if we wanted) but that would have really just been wasting food.
What's your opinion on this? We weren't "depriving" the restaurant of having an additional "paying" customer since the restaurant was not nearly full.
So three people could go and get three entrees @ 15 and drink water = $45.
But we had two entrees @ 20 = $40 + $45 wine plus a $10 side = $95 plus had to pay a sharing charge.
I think that was a poor decision for the restaurant.
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PrettyInPeank
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Dec 4, 2018 14:48:15 GMT
I think it's in poor taste of the restaurant. Clearly it irritates the customer to be charged for a service fee of sorts because you didn't order their food how they want.
I get some patrons are in fact, dead weight. Especially in a restaurant with big, family-style portions. But I still don't think it's a wise move as a restaurant owner. I'd instead put in fine print somewhere that orders could be halved and deal with the reduced revenue.
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Belle
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Post by Belle on Dec 4, 2018 14:52:16 GMT
Not sure about a sharing charge for portions served "family style". That seems strange to me.
I have seen sharing charges on a menu but in those cases, the restaurant does a really nice presentation of the main dish, dividing it up and then both plates get a full serving of the side veggie or salad. In that case, I have no issues paying an extra fee.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Dec 4, 2018 14:53:48 GMT
Is the sharing charge noted on it's menu? If so, then you really can't do much other than never eat there again. If it isn't a published practice, then I wouldn't be happy. I totally understand why restaurants do it though. Even though you didn't eat as much, your group did use the equivalent dishes/silverware, glasses, water, napkins, etc that a paying customer would. Since they serve large portions, maybe they charge this to prevent that. I don't see if often, but there are restaurants around here that will charge you to split an order.
Don't we have a few peas who work in or own restaurants? Maybe they could weigh in on the practice.
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Post by Basket1lady on Dec 4, 2018 14:59:36 GMT
That would irritate me. Enough that I’d have asked for the manager. The answer would determine whether or not I’d eat there again.
Did they plate your two entrees on 3 plates? That’s the only way I could see justifying it.
I’d probably send an email to management or corporate, outlining the costs as you did. Portions in restaurants are too big—I think you made a good decision.
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Post by its me mg on Dec 4, 2018 15:11:00 GMT
As a restaurant manager, I can tell you that management and the server made a poor decision. I would only charge you the split fee if you were getting *one* $20 entree, and well.. splitting it.  Like a PP said -- I probably wouldn't sweat you over the split charge if you had some alcohol.  I would have definitely had the manager on duty comp that. |
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Post by myshelly on Dec 4, 2018 15:18:58 GMT
I don’t understand a sharing charge if things are served family style.
Does the menu describe the meals as family style or is that your opinion because you think the portions are big?
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 4, 2018 15:28:04 GMT
I don’t understand a sharing charge if things are served family style. Does the menu describe the meals as family style or is that your opinion because you think the portions are big? This is how I feel too. It makes no sense to have family style portions and then charge a fee to split those dishes when they are clearly so large they are meant to be split. I would have taken it up with the manager and probably wouldn’t go back if that is the standard policy. Usually when we encounter places that charge a fee to split an entree, it’s because they split it back in the kitchen and both plates also get the sides. I can understand that. |
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Post by mom on Dec 4, 2018 15:32:57 GMT
I think the restaurant made a poor choice and would have probably asked to speak to the manager. I would't be rude about it but I also would like to hear what the manager would have to say about it.
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Post by annabella on Dec 4, 2018 15:35:35 GMT
I think if you knew the menu said that, you shouldn't have told them you were sharing. 1 person should have said she's just ordering the side as her entree. They obviously have this rule because they've been burned too many times, even though I think it's a tacky rule. Leave a yelp review.
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Dec 4, 2018 15:36:08 GMT
Doesn’t family style imply sharing?
When I think of a sharing charge I think of it as when 2 people ask for the chef to split one entre onto 2 plates. Then the chef usually splits the main protein / dish but the charge is for extra sides (like rice / veg) that may have to go on the second plate to make it look just as presentable so the chef is satisfied with his/her presentation.
But family style is already sharing. It sounds more like you were charge a minimum fee but they didn’t word it correctly. I’m not sure I’d return to that restaurant and I’d send the owner a letter why.
I like the yelp review idea.
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christinec68
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Post by christinec68 on Dec 4, 2018 15:38:43 GMT
I think it's something that should be discretionary. If a party is just taking up space, by all means charge the fee. But in your instance, waiving it would have gone a long way in terms of good will and repeat business (if you're inclined to not return for this reason).
I am also confused about the restaurant being family style but also charging a sharing fee. Any family style restaurant I've been to had that built into the price.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:15:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2018 15:47:13 GMT
The restaurant loses in the end. 3 people who will never go back.
And 3 people who will leave a yelp review, making a loud notice of the service charge.
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Post by buddysmom on Dec 4, 2018 15:50:35 GMT
It was an Ethiopian restaurant. All of the food (except the bread) is placed on one giant plate in the middle of the table, even though there was more than one entree.
There is no tableware so no forks/knives to clean. You "scoop" it up with Ethiopian bread. Everyone eats from the one plate.
Yelp sounds like a good idea.
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on Dec 4, 2018 16:21:37 GMT
They charged you $7.50 for the seat.
2 entrees with 3 people.
There was silverware, glasses, dishes for 3 involved in serving your table. Your alternative would have been to order an appetizer, soup, salad, dessert for the equivalent of a $7.50 charge to avoid the sharing fee.
I think it sounds fair at that type ($$) of restaurant, regardless of the restaurant being full or not.
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Post by myshelly on Dec 4, 2018 16:27:13 GMT
They charged you $7.50 for the seat. 2 entrees with 3 people. There was silverware, glasses, dishes for 3 involved in serving your table. Your alternative would have been to order an appetizer, soup, salad, dessert for the equivalent of a $7.50 charge to avoid the sharing fee. I think it sounds fair at that type ($$) of restaurant, regardless of the restaurant being full or not. There was no silverware or dishes, if you read the thread. They paid for wine for the glasses. Restaurant was way out of line. |
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Nink
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Post by Nink on Dec 4, 2018 16:36:17 GMT
The menu specifically stated there would be one, so why were you surprised that there was? If they tell you in advance of the practice, then I think leaving a crappy yelp review would not be fair. You can have the option to never dine there again, if you wish, or you could have got up and left once you read that. While it may be a poor business model, they didn’t just spring it on you out of the blue.
I’d do nothing. You had the information ahead of time and chose to eat there anyway.
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Post by ~summer~ on Dec 4, 2018 16:40:50 GMT
I’ve never actually heard of a sharing charge but I think in that situation it certainly doesn’t make sense and I would have complained.
It seems sharing plates and eating family style is so popular - with multiple sides, maybe one main etc - that’s usually how we eat in restaurants- a sharing charge really doesn’t make sense...
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Dec 4, 2018 16:42:31 GMT
At our favorite Chinese restaurant they have a family style meal and you pay per person. To get the mix of food we like we pay for two even though we take home enough for a meal the next night. It's just the way it works. And we actually save money rather than buying four dishes a'la carte. If we're getting take-out then we only buy for one.
I agree that it was in bad form, but it was stated on the menu. Sorry.
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joelise
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Post by joelise on Dec 4, 2018 16:43:14 GMT
I’ve never heard of this charge before. I have a small appetite and always share food. I wouldn’t go somewhere that made this charge!
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Post by ~summer~ on Dec 4, 2018 16:43:20 GMT
It was Ethiopian?? We eat Ethiopian all the time and it is always family style on one big platter. That being said if you didn’t technically order enough to cover their per person policy I now kind of understand....I definitely would not leave a bad review.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2018 16:49:18 GMT
I think the sharing charge is ridiculous when you ordered a decent bottle of wine. Stupid decision on the part of the restaurant.
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Post by Fidget on Dec 4, 2018 17:23:29 GMT
The amount of food served should cost the same regardless of how many people consume it.
The only time I have ever seen a sharing charge is for an all you can eat buffet, Jane gets the buffet and Sue doesn't, Jane gives Sue food from the buffet = sharing charge.
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Post by lucyg on Dec 4, 2018 17:30:56 GMT
I understand sharing charges, but I believe they should be waived when your group clearly ordered plenty of food and drink, and certainly weren’t taking up a table for a long time when the place was busy.
On the other hand, I think businesses run by immigrants don’t always follow the same rules we might expect here. Their expectations and their understanding of our expectations can be different. I would cut them a break for that reason.
And I think Yelp sucks. I’d never leave a bad review on Yelp unless there was an extraordinary issue like racism or stealing or something.
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schizo319
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Post by schizo319 on Dec 4, 2018 17:37:47 GMT
A sharing charge at a family style restaurant is a little ridiculous. Yes, the waitstaff might need to bring out an extra plate silverware (though I realize this wasn't the case at the Ethiopian place). Since it was on the menu and you were aware beforehand, I probably wouldn't do anything at this point - I just wouldn't be back to that particular establishment - frankly, if I were looking to share an entree and there was a sharing charge, I'd go elsewhere - I'm not into paying extra for an entree I'm only going to eat half of.
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Post by papersilly on Dec 4, 2018 17:42:04 GMT
i was never a fan of places that instituted splitting charges, especially places that charged in the range of $15 and up for their menu items. it just seems a bit tacky to me.
i've noticed around here, the "splitting charge" has been replaced with a surcharge for "employee healthcare benefits". more and more restaurants are charging an extra buck or two on top of the bill with the explanation that the surcharge allows them to offer health care benefits to their employees. this is can almost understand for small restaurants we got hit with it recently by an expensive restaurant. for me, i'd rather that they just build it into the menu prices. they are always raising the prices for one reason or another so why not this.
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Post by stingfan on Dec 4, 2018 17:42:11 GMT
If you'd ordered 2 entrees for 3 people, then maybe the sharing charge is okay. But I think the $10 side should have counted as the 3rd person's meal. I order an app or a side as a meal all the time.
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Post by katlady on Dec 4, 2018 17:50:28 GMT
At first I was going to say the charge was ridiculous. But when I read what type of restaurant it was and how the food was served, I kind of understand the charge. It is pretty much a per person charge. They expect everyone to order at least one item. It is sort of like the Korean BBQ place we go to, if there are 4 of us we have to order at least 4 dishes of meat.
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Post by ~summer~ on Dec 4, 2018 17:52:21 GMT
I would have said the bottle of wine was my meal! But seriously I hope you cut the Ethiopian place a break - what a treasure for a community to have one
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Post by chances on Dec 4, 2018 18:54:57 GMT
I think you do nothing because **it said it on the menu ahead of time**. I'm actually shocked that so many people get this fee waived!
I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but it just seems like middle class white entitlement. Me and my friends have never had anything waived no matter how much we spent. I guess I should have known-- but am really shocked at the number of commenters who have experienced (and expect) otherwise.
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