Servers Suing Artisanal Over Tip Rip

The fancy French restaurant Artisanal Fromagerie & Bistro is being sued by four former servers who were allegedly ripped off by chef-owner Terrance Brennan, who, according to the lawsuit, shared their gratuities with his maitre d's and cheese-counter workers, "whose duties make them ineligible to receive tips under federal and/or New York law." The former employees were pretty cheesed off about the practice, and raised their complaints about the unlawful conduct to Brennan to persuade him to change the restaurant's policies. But when that failed, they brought in the corny lawyers. Attorney Justin Swartz tells the Post, "Restaurant owners shouldn't treat workers' tip pools like a pot of fondue."

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By John Del Signore in Food on June 18, 2010 5:18 PM

Comments [rss]

jpeditor

"But when that failed, they brought in the corny lawyers."

Hey Del Signore, is "corny lawyers" your jihadi-loving, hipster code for "kike mouthpiece"?

Gothamist_Cynic

This is why tipping should be done away with and service people get paid real wages. Tipping is basically saying people are ok with restaurants paying their staff shit wages. It's been going on too long.

inoyourider

No.

Tipping ensures that your server is working for YOU.

Granted, some waiters are confused about that.

Not the successful ones.

lexicondevil

Yeah, good luck with that...

nicemarmot

Artisanal isn't really a fancy place. I'd call it more bistro-y. It also has the best mac and cheese in town. And now, I understand why the waiters always seem kind of pissed off. I just assumed they were going for that authentic French feeling.