Can someone tell me how did Otono get their # for kitchen fee, auto gratuity, and tax? My # is not adding up

by BiteyShark

11 Comments

  1. BiteyShark

    **Some context:**

    We were a party of 5 went there for my mom & my brother’s gf’s birthday during lunch time yesterday. Their [menu](https://www.otonorestaurant.com/menu) said 20% gratuity will be added automatically for party of 6 or more. The 20% manager comp discount for churros was what they offered for birthday celebration.

    I’m not sure the 3% kitchen fee and 20% auto gratuity are calculated based on the subtotal, because it would be less than the current #, but the #s I got post-tax also don’t quite add up. If someone can help me with the math and how these % came about, I’d really appreciate it. Thank you!

  2. programaticallycat5e

    Yeah the math aint mathing. To get a $39.81 tip you need a subtotal of somewhere around $199.

  3. Not saying this is how it should be done, but this is how it’s calculated: all positive amounts totaling $182 + 9.375% tax (17.07) = 199.07 + 3% kitchen fee (5.97) + 20% grat (39.81) = 244.86 – discount (2.40) = 242.46, some rounding error of a penny

    Subtotal is all line items including discount + kitchen fee, somewhat irrelevant as it’s not part of any other calculation and kitchen fee is calculated post tax

  4. supermegafauna

    Wasn’t the owner all “STop tHe mAnDatEs NeWsOmE” during the pandemic?

  5. Orchidwalker

    For that amount you could be 1/2 way to Spain by now eating 2 euro croquets

  6. Restaurants do this 3% kitchen fee supposedly to tip the kitchen. It’s a lie because you can’t pull tips from a charge at the end of the shift; You can only pull tips from gratuity. Other places say ‘it’s to offer medical insurance for employees which is another lie because that would mean you are paying for their insurance and it’s also possible to pull money for a benefit from a charge. The 20% gratuity for a party of 5 or 6 or whatever is legal but it has to appear at the bottom of the ticket to be more clear and avoid problems.

  7. tacosconleche

    This place blows. So overpriced, bland paella.

  8. Doctor-Venkman88

    At least you got 20% off the churros!

  9. VaguelyArtistic

    Last I saw, the Lakers were down by 25. There is *obviously* something wrong with numbers and math today. 😭

  10. Salty_Wedding3960

    So restaurants that apply autograt can tax the gratuity. Voluntarily gratuity (fill in line) can’t be taxed. So whether they apply the gratuity first and then apply the tax, or apply the tax and then the gratuity post-tax, you’re still gonna get the same inflated #s. Auto gratuity really is the worst thing that non fine dining restaurants have adopted and it has soured me on eating out in the US (well, and realizing that Europe and Asia and South America can adopt an all-in pricing system and we in the US can’t because of the restaurant wage system and tipping culture).

    Here’s the breakdown:

    F&D subtotal: $182
    Tax: $17.07
    Post tax F&D total: $199.07

    Gratuity (20% post tax): +$39.81
    Kitchen (3% post tax): +$5.97
    Birthday discount: -$2.40

    Grand total: $242.45

    For perspective, In September I ate at Aramburu (a recently named 2 Michelin Star restaurant in Buenos Aires) for less than $220 USD for two people, all in. 18 courses.

    I really hate what has become of the restaurant industry in the US, nickeling and dime-ing at every opportunity.

  11. Did you go in the back and use their kitchen? Otherwise wtf is the fee for smh

Write A Comment