Over the weekend, I shared about my dinner at Café Imperial in Prague, a historic hotel restaurant that dates back to 1914 and was a favorite of Franz Kafka. But it now seems I may have been cheated concerning a service fee.
Tipping Scam? Service Fee At Café Imperial In Prague
Recently, I wrote about an exposé in which French restaurants were found to be charging American tourists more than Europeans for substantially similar products, like bread and water.
> Read More: Are Paris Restaurants Ripping Off Americans? Here’s What To Know
It appears I may have fallen prey to a different sort of scam, where a 10% service fee was automatically added to my bill as if it were mandatory.
I dislike the tipping culture in general, and I especially dislike seeing it taking hold in Europe. While I’m okay with rounding up my bill, I’m not in the business of tipping in Europe like I do in the USA because that is not the business model, and workers are paid a living wage with health benefits and vacation. Tipping should not be part of the calculation: everyone should be provided a high level of service because that is your job as a waiter or waitress.
Here’s my receipt:
But the restaurant website states that “we charge 10% service charge to all reservations of 9 guests and more” and I was dining solo.
It appears, however, that this is a longstanding problem at this restaurant. For example, here’s a TripAdvisor review from 2011:
When the bill arrived we only scanned it but noted particularly that it said in large letters that no service charge was included and we therefore left a 10% tip. It was only later that I looked at it more closely and noticed that they had already added 10% for service. As we were staying very close by we went back the next day to query this and they apologised and refunded 10% but could not explain why this had happened.
I’m speculating here, but I bet this service charge is inserted on the bills of many foreign guests. Many Americans would probably look at the automatic 10% and be relieved they did not have to tip 15-20%. Others might think this is like a mandatory cover charge.
But it’s bad business…you either charge the service fee to everyone or no one…charging it to visitors strikes me as highly unethical.
The idea that this was “accidentally” added to my bills strikes me as implausible.
I had a really nice dinner here…the food was delicious and the Art Deco-style dining room was a beautiful place to dine. But be on the lookout for service fees that are slipped in contrary to the restaurant’s published policy…
Maybe when you are in Europe you should start talking vis za German accent, ya?
German accent would still be foreign in Prague
They might be less willing to scam someone from centeal Europe than they would someone from the US.
If you spoke Perfect English, they would take you as a local.
I’ve notice most Poles, Czech, and Germans speak better English than most Americans.
Matt must of slipped up with his California Beach Boy drawl. LOL!!! 😉
“Must of”? You mean “must’ve”, as in “must have”.
The fact you’re mocking Matthew’s ability to speak proper English and then make such an eyesore of a mistake is priceless, though!
@Mike
Hang tight dude!!
First problem, ok 2nd, is getting a receipt in some 3rd world language.
But of course they are going to try to F Americans. They hate us because of their jealousy which is only getting worse because of Trump making them pay up for NATO while our economy is thriving for many of us.
As for being “unethical”, come on, here and there the business world is based on being unethical. They don’t have a monopoly on that by any means. Show me a business in America that isn’t unethical in one way or another.
Bottom line is you visit 3rd world sh#tholes, you are at their discretion on how they treat you. And yes, they do hate you regardless of how much you fawn over them and spend.
Guuuuurl.
Number 1. Prague isn’t a third-world shithole. If you had ever visited it you would know that.
Number 2. Nobody is currently jealous of the US.
AMEN!
Ask those supposedly “starving” in Hamas land if they are jealous of American s and get back to me.
No such place callsd Hamasland you racist ignorant twit. If you mean the Palestinians living in Gaza, no, they’re not jealous of the US as well.
Also, once again, great job hijacking this website’s comments section with your asinine off topic comments.
No one is jealous of the US, trust me (I live in Europe)
Prague is by definition second world as it was behind the iron curtain.
Also, if the economy is so prosperous – why is the US doing everything it can to destroy the world order which has made it as wealthy as it is?
Americans are stupid, ignorant and like being fucked.
Anyone that goes to US is schocked what shithole it is. Everywhere homeless people, drug addicts etc. You can’t even provide reasonable health service and you are stupid to pay numerous times more for health services and medicaments. Nobody is jealous of that.
Douchebag Dave Edwards, proving with your every comment that your nickname is absolutely accurate and completely deserved. Nothing better to do with your pathetic waste-of-oxygen life than to comment here over and over again every day.
Just because YOU are unethical doesn’t mean everyone else is you schmuck. Just because everyone hates YOU doesn’t mean they hate everyone else you SHPOS.
You should crawl back under whatever rock you crawled out from under.
(At least Brandon went away, with any luck Douchebag Dave Edwards and Shit Hsuan will do the same.)
So true! I totally agree with you.
Dave- You are just joking around right? Nobody can be as uninformed as you seem to be. Prague is not a third world s#hole. If you have ever been there you will see that it is now a well advanced city as is the rest of the country. They don’t hate all Americans. Only Trump supporters which is completely understandable.
Try thinking before posting as you come across as a completely uninformed. Travel the world a bit and you will see a different world than what you imagine.
I wonder if the English menu also has higher prices? One restaurant tried to have an English menu that had slightly different dishes and high prices to get around any accusations that the English menu was more expensive. There, maybe they added one spice different so they could say the dish is different.
It doesn’t, prices are exactly the same.
Again, Imperial is widely seen as a respectable place, partly due to it being owned by a celebrity chef. This is a major betrayal of good business practice, though.
Yes, you were definitely scammed. If you look at TripAdvisor, there is a review from 1 month ago mentioning the 10% service charge which was not mentioned anywhere been added to the bill. I really like the way Italians deal with this type of charge as it is well known every restaurants charges a “coperto” which is usually a EUR2 to EUR3 per person fee to cover for the table setting, including linens, cutlery, bread, olive oil, etc… I think it is fair that it is clearly stated at every menu in Italy and they will bring as much bread as you want.
Could be worse, Momofuko in Vegas is now charging $1 per person for tap water, even if you don’t want it.
As I said above, even the Greatest Country on Earth (since January 25) isn’t immune to unethical business practices.
Douchebag Dave Edwards, proving with your every comment that your nickname is absolutely accurate and completely deserved. Nothing better to do with your pathetic waste-of-oxygen life than to comment here over and over again every day.
Re: “the Greatest Country on Earth (since January 25)”, fixed it “the Greatest Country on Earth despite Donnie Douchebag the lying corrupt multiply bankrupted seria wife cheating moron cult leader.” But please, keep drinking his Kool-Aide, maybe that will cure your TDS psychosis you SHPOS.
You clearly need mental assistance.
Check this other tipping scam that I have seen a lot lately. The receipt comes with the tipping percentage “for your convenience” but those values are way higher than what that percentage should be. People won’t pay attention and will pick those numbers and tip way higher.
https://johnnyjet.com/dont-fall-for-it-the-restaurant-tipping-scam-that-makes-you-tip-extra-without-knowing/
I mean, it’s the same issue with some California restaurants now charge a 5% credit card processing fee despite of lack of disclosure. Is that also a scam?
YES.
I was there last month and was charged 10% service charge for a table of two.
True about Calif..they also charge 3-5% for healthcare for their employees,,, then expect a 20-25% tip!!causing u to drop 30-35% in fees for your $100 dinner-$135!!! nuts Also the staff get $20-25.00 n hour now in most cities in Calif…
This BS fee was finally banned in MN early this year and now restaurants have to include whatever fees they want in the advertised price for their meals. It is then up to customers if they are willing to pay those prices or not. I rarely eat out in the US mainly because of the outrageous prices for food and then BS fees and tipping expectations. Not with my money.
I agree, and in California all fees must be disclosed on your receipt and menu along with a statement that they must be removed if you request.
IMO tipping has gotten out of control in the US. And in California waiters make at least $16.50 per hour, and usually much higher in the larger cities. Why should I pay an additional 15-20% for someone to fill my water glass and carry my food and drinks to my table? I don’t get it. Times have changed and the hourly wage paid to waiters has changed so it’s time to let the tipping culture go.
It’s interesting that it displays as Service Charge and not the same in Czech. Yeah, you got taken.
Re: “Nobody is currently jealous of the US.”, “Ask those supposedly “starving” in Hamas land if they are jealous of American s and get back to me.”, “Anyone that goes to US is schocked what shithole it is.”, if any of that was or is true why is one of our problems too many people who want to enter our country relative to the number who want to leave? And if you hate it so much, please stay or go somewhere else, we certainly don’t need any more idiots like you.
So did you tip on top of this? When I see service charge I just don’t leave a tip.
I didn’t tip on top of it.
Greetings from Prague! I went to a restaurant tonight that was very much NOT in a part of town that tourists frequent, and they pulled this on me too. Look,.. the meal wasn’t expensive, but knowing how rude this is considered to Czechs, it’s amazing they do it when they hear you speak English.
How did you handle it?
He approached me as I paid, and asked if he could add 10%, or really more realistically informed me he was adding 10% for tip. I paid it, somewhat reluctantly because it was only 80 CZK, but it wasn’t until afterwards when I realized that doing this is considered very very rude. I watched as he closed out other tables, and made no such comment. This happened in Karlin in Prague-8, so not exactly tourist central. I left a bad review on Google Maps, and moved on with life… but it won’t happen again.
They saw American tourist / travel blogger (bingo!) & they went in for the kill.
Next time watch the YouTube videos b4 u go.
There might be an exception to tipping in European high end restaurants. If you’re ordering pricey wine ( way more expensive than the food ) and have sommelier service, a tip of around 15 % maybe expected on the wine portion of the total check. At one of the best restaurants in the DMV, the tasting menu with wine pairings ( $ 800 ) comes with a 22% service charge. This is a rip because if you order a separate bottle 10% would be acceptable on the wine portion of the bill. Thankfully these issues are not commonplace.
$800 for the tasting menu? Yikes!!! (Hopefully it’s good at least.)
Well it’s about as excellent as it gets, but I’ve never been able to enjoy a meal that lasts three hours. The chef has a cafe across the street that offers the best as well ( bakery etc.) and average price of a meal is about fifty bucks. If you’re not eating on OPM that’s where I I am more comfortable spending my time and money.
Liz Lemon, I think you just got scrumped.
Local Czech guy here. I visited Cafe Imperial few times last year and this never happened to me. And I never met this practice in any other Prague restaurant. So yes.. it seems kind of OK if you notice and don’t tip on top of total bill, but it’s unethical and I guess it might be also illegal, as no bss can charge differently based on customer’s nationality.
BTW Cafe Imperial is owned/run by probably most famous CZ celebrity chef, Mr. Pohlreich.. he is well known for his love for money, but I doubt that he would approve this practice. Don’t you want to.. chase it a bit, send them email and ask about it? I would be really curious about feedback.
Sorry for my Czenglish:)
Based on the receipt above, this BS charge was not added manually. It is clearly an existing option in their system that someone can trigger if they want so that option clearly exists and the owner should be aware of it. It is different when someone writes that down vs when their system allows them to add that “special fee” depending on your nationality. This place will never see my money.
Prague is such a disgrace. overrated and police get kickbacks for letting gypsies run rampant around the city not to mention the disgustingly lazy and rude restaurant staff who pull tricks like this or dont give you the right change after paying
I always expect poor countries to add extra stuff to tourists. Cost of doing business, you price it in.
I used to own a few cash businesses, you always expect to lose some amount to shrinkage.
Whats the problem here? It says plain as day, service charge 10%, 68 CZK=$3.25 ish. Which incidentally is the price of an excellent pint of Czech beer downtown. And you said you didn’t add an additional amount. You could have asked, and had it removed. The website said this and said that. Did the price of fries go from .99$ to a $1.00? What can you complain about now? No turnstiles in the subway? Amazon doesn’t do same day delivery? No English menus?
Might want to pass it on to the guys at Honest Guide, I’m sure they’d be happy to check it out and see if it’s a scam.
https://www.youtube.com/@HONESTGUIDE