NYCCHEF

How's that math work? $5M gross 18% of gross is a reasonable estimated gratuity = $900,000 3% of $900,000 is $27,000 $150K is the total credit card fees on everything. ← Your right, my bad.....Then maybe he WAS having the waitstaff pay the total credit card fees. I wonder if that is legal. Where would I find that out? I guess I would have to look into NY state labor law.

From what I understand, the waitstaff are required to pay the credit card fees on tips only. So, in your case, it would be 3% of $15. If you look at it from an owners point of view....If your restaurant does, say, 5 million a year, thats 150 thousand dollars. Most restaurants dont bother making their waitstaff pay this, but considering the small profit margins that restaurants already operate under, it would be wize to start doing so (IMO).

I don't think that's the point, Fat Guy. Management has the right not to accept credit cards. Servers have no such right. Therefore, it is manifestly unfair to penalize them for serving customers who pay with credit cards. And considering how low their pay is in the first place, it doesn't seem fair to further lower their hourly rates globally in order to absorb the credit-card-related costs that management decided to incur. ← A good friend of mine is 'Bigfoot" from the book "Kitchen Confidential". I spoke with him about this many years ago. He said that he has his waitstaff pay the credit card fees, and that it is absolutley legal. He is a self proclaimed labor law guru. This was about 8 years ago.

That would be funny if it wasnt childish. Fact it's until there is concrete proof, the presumption of innocence is how things work in America. The only thing funny in this whole sad story is that New York actually has crimes or should I say (alledged) crime labelled as "Petit Larceny". Is that true or does gawker and eater mean "Petty Larceny"..... ← They probably made an error. A simple spelling mistake...like the one you just made....... Definitions of alleged on the Web: declared but not proved; "alleged abuses of housing benefits"- Wall Street Journal alleged(a): doubtful or suspect; "these so-called experts are no help" wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Neither has OJ.

From what I understand, if the manager/sommelier is integral in service ( ie: pouring wine, clearing tables, seating customers, delivering food, ect.....) then they are entitled to a portion of tips........Managers taking points off of the floor is a norm in many restaurants

That food looks absolutely stellar. Even if Doc was "made" as a VIP...the kitchen can only raise its bar for that table so much. The quality of the ingredients really shows. I have to go eat there.

Oh my God....That has to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. I almost shit myself watching those videos. The uncomfortable feeling was palpable......sounded like Paul hated it......gotta pay those bills though, dont you......And did he say that he was going to serve them pasta that had rat shit in it? HAHAHA!!!! I will NEVER forget this one..

I wonder how this will affect the decision of how many Michelin stars to give him, in NY.

Dinner at Lupa 4 nights ago. I had the brussel sprouts as well. Tasty, but I'm not a fan of large quantities of raw veg. Had the affetati as well. Delicious. I loved the clove scent in the head cheese. I loved the rustic presentation. Breasola (sure i spelled that wrong) was the best I have ever had. Herbacious, sweet and sour, and tender enough to eat with a fork. Gnocchi was excellent. Lupa is consistently one of my favorites.

Panama Hatties in Huntington. Its the only 4 star NYT restaurant on Long Island.

If you buy box seats, they come with "admission" to a clubhouse restaurant, which is sort of like a Houlihans. The new stadium is supposed to have a few different restaurants. ( Hopefully a good steakhouse) Now if you are really, really lucky ( which I have been a few times), you will see the game in a luxury suite. These are little living rooms which hold about 15-20 people, come with 20 outdoor seats, have their own waitstaff and catered food. Its great.

Not to get off subject....but Fat Guy mentioned the Macaroni Grill. I second his opinion. Their "Penne Rustica" cooked in a wood fired oven is excellent. Then again, what doesnt taste good in a wood fired oven.

79th st Boat Basin restaurant.....at west end ave. You cannot drive up to it, but you need to follow a path, on foot, down to it. It is only open in the summer, and is a great place for a steak sandwich and a margarita. It feels like your outside of Manhattan, and not too many people know about it. Takashiyama ( I must have spelled that wrong) on Madison between 54th and 55th. They have a tea room downstairs that is fun and completely hidden from the outside.

Circulator huh.....are you a Chef Vadouvan?