Internet abuzz as restaurant imposes 18% service charge for solo diners
PTC News Desk: A recent restaurant bill has ignited a social media storm due to an unexpected 18% service charge applied to a party of one. The bill in question was shared by a Reddit user, TRTL2k, who posted it on the platform's "mildly infuriating" thread. The bill originated from Pho Na Hoi, a Vietnamese restaurant located in California, specifically in Cupertino. The original subtotal of the bill was $49.50, but it surged to $62.93 after including an $8.91 fee and $4.52 in sales tax, as clearly displayed in the image.
Expressing surprise and disbelief, the Reddit user commented, "I've seen restaurants include gratuity when it's a large party but never for parties of 1!" A note below the bill explained that an 18 per cent gratuity "is applied automatically for parties of 1 or larger."
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As of now, the restaurant has not provided any public response to the viral image of the bill.
The photograph has sparked a flurry of reactions on the social media platform. One user suggested, "That's the tip as far as I'm concerned," essentially considering the service charge as the de facto tip.
Others took a more critical stance, with one user remarking, "No better way of saying 'we definitely do not pay our workers enough.'" Another user humorously quipped, "Should be the largest font on the front page," emphasizing the surprising nature of such charges.
In recent months, several restaurants have introduced unconventional fees, including a "wellness fee," "kitchen appreciation fee," or a "living wage charge," all purportedly intended to benefit workers.
This incident echoes a similar case from August in the United States, where a couple received a bill with a $15 charge labeled "You're an A**hole." The diners shared a photo of the receipt on Reddit, accompanied by a caption that read, "My dinner receipt had a message for me." However, the couple later realized that the charge was related to a cocktail of the same name they had ordered.
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- With inputs from agencies
