"Dishonest tip billing method detracts from an outstanding dining experience. Food and service were excellent, the restaurant is clean and nicely decorated. It deserves a 5-star rating, if it wasn 't for the way they present the check to customers. A Service Charge of 18% is included below the sales tax line subtotal and added to the total, which would be okay if it wasn 't for what follows below. At the bottom, the customer is presented with a list of suggested tips in percentages and amounts, followed by a line to enter the TIP and another line to enter the total. It 's all too easy for customers to enter a customary tip amount unless they have carefully examined each line item on the check and noticed the already included service charge. Entering a tip amount would in fact double the normal and customary tip to 36% to 44% instead of 18% to 22%. The line for Tip should clearly read ADDITIONAL TIP, so customers understand the amount is an addition to the tip already included in the total, especially when the check is suggesting tip amounts in percentages of 15, 18 and 20. Although deceptive, this billing method allows the restaurant to claim transparency because it 's listing the service charge under the sales tax, therefore the customer should have known that any amount added in the tip line is extra. But they know that most customers are going to overlook the embedded service charge line item and add the customary tip to the bottom. Foreign customers not familiar with the service charge term may not even realize that service charge is equivalent to a tip. I 've seen this billing method used by several restaurants in Miami since the financial hardships created by the pandemic, labor shortages and rising prices, but it takes advantage of customers and should be discontinued. The service charge should be renamed 18% Tip or Service Charge and printed in bold. The suggested tip percentages should be replaced by An 18% service charge is already included, but we encourage you to add an additional tip if you want to reward excellent service . The line at the bottom should read Additional Tip. The service was excellent and I left an additional tip for our server, but I almost overlooked the Service Charge item and was about to leave an additional 22% on top of the 18% on the check. Very tricky and detracts from an otherwise excellent dining experience. That 's the reason for the 3 stars instead of the 5 stars the restaurant deserves."
