Our Mission
No Surprise Eats is a community-driven project that aims to help diners avoid unexpected fees at restaurants. We believe that transparency is key to a positive dining experience. Our goal is to provide a platform where diners can share information about fees and tipping policies at restaurants. By working together, we can help each other make informed decisions about where to dine.
Understanding Our Tags
Disclosure Tags
These tags are pretty clear. Ideally the fee should be as apparent as possible.
Disclosed on Website
The fee is disclosed on the website for the restaurant. This avoids surprises!
Disclosed on Signage
The fee is disclosed on signage around the restaurant. This could be missed, and you would have to be there to know.
Disclosed on Menu
The fee is disclosed on menu. You wouldn't know unless you had the menu! Sometimes this is availale online, but not always.
Disclosed by Staff
The fee is disclosed by staff, either at the hosting stand or the table and before ordering.
Surprise on Bill!
The fee was only found out afterward on the bill!
Tipping Tags
The restaurant industry in America is constantly evolving, with economic and social factors influencing how restaurants operate. One trend that has gained popularity in recent years is the inclusion of service fees on restaurant bills in place of raising menu prices or relying on tips. With this brings confusion: is the fee in place of a tip or should it be counted as a menu price increase? While some restaurants have eliminated tipping altogether, others are unclear.
Due to the fee, the restaurant does not encourage tipping, or rejects the concept.
The phrase "Tipping not required" is apparent.
This tag is used when the fee acts as a tip, and goes towards your waiter.
You may have an option to tip additionally.
Think of this fee as a manditory minimum tip.
Unclear Tipping Policy
This tag is used when the fee is a bit high (around 15-25%) and the restaurant's stance on tipping is unclear.
Sometimes it's not clear if this fee should be counted as a menu fee, or if it goes towards the staff. Should you tip? We don't know.
Here's an example:
"We care for our team members by including a 20% pre-tax service charge to guarantee a base wage of atleast $17/hr, Direct Primary Care, PTO & low cost counseling for our entire team".
This is great to hear, but it doesn't tell us if we are still expected to tip.
Tell us what you think this means at n0surprises@protonmail.com
Tipping Still Encouraged
This tag is used for fees not related to the tipping system. You may still be encouraged to tip.
Special Tags
No Fee or Tipping
Price as seen on the menu!