Some Ontario restaurants are starting to adopt a tip-free dining model. Here's how it works

canada-man

Well-known member
Jun 16, 2007
32,038
2,922
113
Toronto, Ontario
canadianmale.wordpress.com
Some Ontario restaurants are beginning to adopt a tip-free model for their patrons by increasing menu prices -- something they say allows them to pay their staff more and retain them.

Barque BBQ, located at 299 Roncesvalles Avenue in Toronto’s west end, has a sign greeting customers when they enter, informing them they will not need to tip their servers

“We always felt like the tip model was on the way out, no matter what,” owner David Neinstein told CTV News Toronto Wednesday. “This is the right thing to do.”


Every employee at Barque makes at least $22.25 an hour in order to match Toronto’s living wage.


“It allows for stability and predictability of income,” he said, highlighting that, with this model, employees need not worry whether their income will be impacted by the unreliability of tipping.

“They get paid no matter what – doesn’t matter if it's a Tuesday or a Saturday night, you get paid the same,” Neinstein said.

The restaurant officially adopted the model on May 4, and Neinstein says it’s been a huge success so far.

“We developed the policy along with our staff,” he said. “Because that's the whole point – keeping a great team together.”

"Keeping staff is better for morale, it's better for talent, it's less expensive for turnover."

He even said they haven't received any complaints about the rise in menu pricing.

“That was the one thing I was most worried about,” he said. “In fact, we've had very little resistance so far. It's been very good.”

Another restaurant, Aiana located in Ottawa, Ont., recently adopted a similar model, asking patrons not to tip and instead raised prices.

“A salaried position normalizes and mainstreams our restaurant workers,” he said. “I strongly believe that it acknowledges that a restaurant job is not just a gig, it’s a career choice,” owner Devinder Chaudhary told CTV News Ottawa.

“For some of the guests, it’s a bit confusing, but that confusion lasts for about 15 seconds and it’s all very well received,” he said.

Going forward, Neinstein said he hopes more businesses adopt this model.

“The goal is to make this the norm,” he said.


“I expect, in the future, the government will make this policy and, unfortunately, it's companies like ours that have to do it now, but hopefully, [that] won't be necessary in the future.”

With files from Ted Raymond.

Restaurants in Ontario are starting to go tip-free. Here's why | CTV News
 

Mr Deeds

Muff Diver Extraordinaire
Mar 10, 2013
6,348
3,525
113
Here
I wish them good luck keeping staff, regardless of the wage
Increase servers will always make more in tips
 

Garynever

Member
Jan 24, 2022
13
23
13
Some Ontario restaurants are beginning to adopt a tip-free model for their patrons by increasing menu prices -- something they say allows them to pay their staff more and retain them.

Barque BBQ, located at 299 Roncesvalles Avenue in Toronto’s west end, has a sign greeting customers when they enter, informing them they will not need to tip their servers

“We always felt like the tip model was on the way out, no matter what,” owner David Neinstein told CTV News Toronto Wednesday. “This is the right thing to do.”


Every employee at Barque makes at least $22.25 an hour in order to match Toronto’s living wage.


“It allows for stability and predictability of income,” he said, highlighting that, with this model, employees need not worry whether their income will be impacted by the unreliability of tipping.

“They get paid no matter what – doesn’t matter if it's a Tuesday or a Saturday night, you get paid the same,” Neinstein said.

The restaurant officially adopted the model on May 4, and Neinstein says it’s been a huge success so far.

“We developed the policy along with our staff,” he said. “Because that's the whole point – keeping a great team together.”

"Keeping staff is better for morale, it's better for talent, it's less expensive for turnover."

He even said they haven't received any complaints about the rise in menu pricing.

“That was the one thing I was most worried about,” he said. “In fact, we've had very little resistance so far. It's been very good.”

Another restaurant, Aiana located in Ottawa, Ont., recently adopted a similar model, asking patrons not to tip and instead raised prices.

“A salaried position normalizes and mainstreams our restaurant workers,” he said. “I strongly believe that it acknowledges that a restaurant job is not just a gig, it’s a career choice,” owner Devinder Chaudhary told CTV News Ottawa.

“For some of the guests, it’s a bit confusing, but that confusion lasts for about 15 seconds and it’s all very well received,” he said.

Going forward, Neinstein said he hopes more businesses adopt this model.

“The goal is to make this the norm,” he said.


“I expect, in the future, the government will make this policy and, unfortunately, it's companies like ours that have to do it now, but hopefully, [that] won't be necessary in the future.”

With files from Ted Raymond.

Restaurants in Ontario are starting to go tip-free. Here's why | CTV News
Richmond station has been doing this for years and has by far some of the best service in Toronto.
All restaurants should adopt this model as it’s entirely broken that I should feel responsible for your living wage every time I want to grab a bite to eat.
 

Garynever

Member
Jan 24, 2022
13
23
13
I have a relative that works in a high-end Italian restaurant.
They have had $600 - $1000 nights.
The poor cooks in the back are probably getting paid minimum wage and don’t see a dime of those tips.
And if they do it’s unlikely a fair percentage.
 

Darts

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2017
23,023
11,220
113
The poor cooks in the back are probably getting paid minimum wage and don’t see a dime of those tips.
And if they do it’s unlikely a fair percentage.
I did a short stint as a busboy while attending school. The policy at that restaurant was to put all the tips in a jar and is then divvy up at the end of the night. Any server who cheats will find the cooks really slow in filling her orders.

P.S. I'm aware of two restaurants that will only accept plastic, no cash.
 

Mr Deeds

Muff Diver Extraordinaire
Mar 10, 2013
6,348
3,525
113
Here
The poor cooks in the back are probably getting paid minimum wage and don’t see a dime of those tips.
And if they do it’s unlikely a fair percentage.
Not true in most restaurants the tips are pooled so that all staff share in the tips
 
  • Like
Reactions: Greytop19

eddie kerr

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2004
1,839
1,162
113
Not true in most restaurants the tips are pooled so that all staff share in the tips
There is little to no tipping in most restaurant/pubs in many European countries including UK, Ireland, Denmark, etc. However they are generally paid a decent wage that compares favourably to Canada and particularly in the US. I used to go to Myrtle Beach every year for golf and talked to many servers in pubs where many were paid an average of $5. per HR and In some cases were paid a wage of zero.
 

wigglee

Well-known member
Oct 13, 2010
10,348
2,253
113
Tips can be under reported to Revenue Canada and are therefore mostly untaxed.
 

Garynever

Member
Jan 24, 2022
13
23
13
Not true in most restaurants the tips are pooled so that all staff share in the tips
I worked in six different kitchens as a cook over my life with about ten years in the industry, and the highest percentage I ever received was 1% of the monthly pool.

And they did not calculate the monthly pool correctly.

I do know of restaurants that tip pool but I don’t think it’s a common as most assume, all the cooks I knew had never been apart of it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: roadhog

Imdrunk

Active member
Jun 7, 2022
117
111
43
In Quebec servers are taxed 7% on their wages I believe, they automatically assume they will get a tip. I believe every drink is registered somehow. A server told me this several years ago.
 

Mr Deeds

Muff Diver Extraordinaire
Mar 10, 2013
6,348
3,525
113
Here
I worked in six different kitchens as a cook over my life with about ten years in the industry, and the highest percentage I ever received was 1% of the monthly pool.

And they did not calculate the monthly pool correctly.

I do know of restaurants that tip pool but I don’t think it’s a common as most assume, all the cooks I knew had never been apart of it.
I was in the bar business for years back in the day and your right the kitchen staff was always over worked and under payed. But as I understand it now in most restaurants especially the chains pool tips but the server and possibly the bus boy got the largest share
 

rhuarc29

Well-known member
Apr 15, 2009
9,650
1,308
113
...asking patrons not to tip and instead raised prices.
I think that'll be important: for them to stress to patrons not to tip. Otherwise it just perpetuates a bad system, but at higher prices.
Tipping should never have become "mandatory". It's supposed to be for exceptional service, but too many do-gooders jumped in and screwed the pooch.
Hopefully this fair wage, no tipping strategy pays off!
 
  • Like
Reactions: roadhog

james t kirk

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2001
24,052
3,932
113
https://www.reddit.com/r/toronto/comments/v4tpej
Did you read the sentence, "A gratuity is always appreciated, but completely unnecessary"?

I will bet the farm that when they hand you the visa machine, there is still a line to enter a tip. If they were sincere about this, they would eliminate tipping, but they have not really done that, have they.

Besides, Servers will make way more in tips than what they are paying - $22.25 an hour. Make me laugh.

Either Barque ain't that busy and the owners can handle being the waiters as well, or they haven't thought this one through.
 
Last edited:

james t kirk

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2001
24,052
3,932
113
North Americans tip for good service. 15% for average service, 20 percent for good service, 0 for shit service. (That said, in all my years of frequenting restaurants, I can only recall one truly shitty waiter.)

$22.25 an hour is not a living wage in Toronto. On 40 hours per week, that equates to about 45 grand a year. It's a subsistence wage.

I don't have a problem with tipping waiters, or barbers, or even a delivery guy, or the guy who towed my car. They don't make a lot of money and a tip is always appreciated and in the case of wait staff, they will remember you next time. I am sure that if you ask servers in Toronto if they prefer the barque model or the tipping model, they will pick the tipping model. Why? Because it's more lucrative and money talks when you're looking for a job.
 
Last edited:

Darts

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2017
23,023
11,220
113
One time our group got friendly with a female server at (Canyon Creek?). Anyway, she told us she is actually an actor and only serving to keep body and soul together.

How many servers are career servers?
 

eddie kerr

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2004
1,839
1,162
113
I play golf a lot and generally don't drink beer on the course, but if a beverage cart approaches and I order one I will tip, however afterwards in the clubhouse if I walk to the bar and order drinks that I take out to the patio, i don't tip, but if I am sitting at the patio and order from a server, i do. I don't believe in mandatory tipping.
 
  • Like
Reactions: richaceg
Ashley Madison
Toronto Escorts