[UPDATE] Gansevoort Hotel: Nevermind, Tip Whatever You Want

[UPDATE BELOW] Over the weekend, the Post reported that a few trendy bars in the Meatpacking District were including automatic gratuities of up to 20% on all bar tabs. There was a lot of bitching, and now the Gansevoort Hotel Group says they're ending the policy. They sent us this statement:

In response to a recent news story in the New York Post, Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC would like to clarify that the bar does not include an automatic 20 percent tip on all beer, wine, and cocktails ordered, and has never done so. Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC has the utmost respect for its customers and gives them the choice to tip hotel and bar staff as they deem appropriate.
Since its opening this summer, Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC, the newest hotel from the Gansevoort brand, has included a 20 percent gratuity on all bar tabs. We are pleased to note that as of today, this automatic gratuity has been eliminated. Moving forward, neither Gansevoort property in New York City will include a gratuity on bar bills, and an automatic gratuity will only be added for large parties and bottle service.

And all it took was a moderate amount of online outrage. Yes We Can Complain on the Internet! We've contacted the Ace Hotel bar, where a Post reporter said she was able to argue her way out of an automatic 18% gratuity, to see if they have any plans on changing their policy. We'll update if and when they get back to us.

[UPDATE] It turns out the Breslin will be changing the policy as well! A spokesman told us, "the 18% will
be recommended through a message on the ticket but not mandatory."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in Food on November 3, 2010 10:11 AM

Comments [rss]

Jesse

I know where to go next time.

They will be happy with my 25% tip.

xToddrick

I came across this practice Monday evening at Le Poisson Rouge and wasn't happy. We ordered both food and drink and while our waitress was great, that is never assured.

jules1000

The Standard Hotel does that too.

I was forced to pay $4 on a glass of wine.

Next time - if there is a next time - I'll refuse and just tip my usual $1 for a drink.

CydSavior

I'm still not going back. Removing the automatic gratuity doesn't make up for the fact that the staff and the clientele are completely unbearable. I'll just go to Florent--oh, wait.

Thanks for killing the area, guys. Have fun with your New Jersey "I'll have the chicken fingers" friends.

Temptations Page

"We are pleased to note…"

This lie makes me question the ethics of the entire restaurant industry.

JenChungsBaby

How do I get in on that automatic bottle service gratuity? I wouldn't mind 20% to put a $400 bottle of vodka and some glasses on a table and then maybe come back a few times an hour to refill the glasses. How hard can that be?

schadenfreudian mensch

Apparently is VERY labor intensive work coordinating the bottle and the glass. It takes too much manpower to adjust the varying degree of how much to pour into each glass. They have their work cut out for them. /sarcasm

schadenfreudian mensch

Why do you even need to argue. Pay the tab + whatever tax and include what you think is a fair tip. That's what I would do. They can call the cops if they want to but I really doubt they're going to since tacking on that 20% grat is illegal unless we're talking about a large party.