Is it normal for a restaurant to charge automatic gratuity for a take out order? The bartender charged an additional $5.90 in a $64 tab on a take out order. Seems a little presumptive to tip oneself. Isn't gratuity optional?

I tried talking with the General Manager at Golden Goose and they feel it's ok to charge doordash and grubhub customers 10% more than independent customers picking up take out from their restaurant. I don't understand the rationale why it's ok to charge some customers more and not others. Personally I think it's unethical and unlawful to charge a customer more than they are expecting to pay without them knowing. That's just me tho. If they can't cover labor costs with the current menu prices, I think they can change thier menu prices and not auto gratuity only certain customers. I also feel this goes against the concept of "gratuity" Gratuity is a choice not a demand. Or expectation.

The gratuity should not be added on take out orders if you are picking up the food. There was no service rendered at the table or at the bar.

For delivery, I would assume so, but not for a pickup. I would call and talk to them about that.

Is the gratuity then split between the delivey driver & the Restaurant, or wait staff, or who gets the extra gratuity charged? You can see where this leaves the customer feeling cheated (or robbed), there is no Service renderer or special, above or beyond normal service rendered for an extra 5, 10, or even 15% tip. I agree with the others, tone taken an1 additional unauthorized 15% tip is unethical...If I am misunderstand- ing this, please let me know. I don't want to falsely accuse the Restaurant of doing wrong, this past year, 2020, was hard for every Business & my Sister, & I , our Husbands, we enjoyed our trip as well as the Wedding. We also enjoyed dining out, shopping, & Seeing the Sights.💋🍀

It's all about options.

I agree, however very good good.

The gratuity is not automatic on takeout orders. There is an option to add gratuity if placing the order online through their online provider called ChowNow. The only auto gratuity that is applied is for the delivery service if you choose to have the takeout meal delivered by Door Dash. Door Dash requires the auto gratuity. There is no auto gratuity for the Golden Goose. Any gratuity provided to the Golden Goose is chosen by the customer placing the order.

Glad to know. I was considering going there. Will never visit them now. How can you ever tell what your tab is if the owners think it's okay to add whatever percentage they want. I would have called the police.