Comments on: Health Care Ordinance Infects Restaurant Industry

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:33:00 +0000

This is part of that “us vs. them” mentality that propagates the idea that somehow restaurants are in the business of fleecing customers. Most restaurant owners work extremely hard, often 18 hour days, and the ones driving Jaguars are most likely been doing it a long, long time before they got to that point.

I think when prices go up, some guests want to know why. It’s great the city is ensuring health care for some of it’s residents, but am unclear why those costs (and benefits) aren’t evenly distributed amongst everyone, setting a model for a single-payer system for all.

By: Michael Procopio

Michael Procopio — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:49:00 +0000

Wendy-- Do I think this is a head game? In a way. I am half hoping to see this letter-writing confederacy bring Sally Struthers into the mix. Perhaps she might start crying outside their restaurants.

Amy-- Agreed, agreed. The Jaguar jab is a real dig, though. But so was that last bit about Sally Struthers.

This is no easy thing. What restaurateurs like this ordinance? It's a mighty prickly affair as to how it is handled. Absolutely contentious.

Anon-- A green fee? What is this, golf?

Oh, and speaking of contentious...

Grumpy-- I've already commented on your own blog. Again, I hope I might have sparked a little debate on this. Not a knock-down fight, mind you, because it's nice out and it's the weekend. I'm going to settle down in some coperto-free park and read me some Sherlock Holmes.

And my friends will giggle at the thought of someone calling me a slut when I tell them tonight. I've been called ignorant plenty of times, however, but never a slut.

By: Grumpy

Grumpy — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 09:54:00 +0000

“There are those among us who appreciate the transparency of these explanatory letters, even applaud them.”

Count me among them. This post is just SO wrong is so many ways. For a complete counterpoint, way to long for a comment section, see http://grumpyglutton.com/2008/03/08/michael-and-i-dont-mean-bauer-you-ignorant-slut.aspx.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:12:00 +0000

i’ve recently heard the new Sundance Kabuki cinemas added a surcharge to their ticket prices for being “green.” These tactics definitely blunt the goodwill one might feel in visiting such establishments.

By: Amy Sherman

Amy Sherman — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:48:00 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. Surcharges are lame. Your costs are rising? Frankly, I don’t give a damn. We all have our own problems. If you need to charge me more, go ahead, but please don’t forget, I came for a meal and a pleasant experience, not for a sob story about how rough your business is.

By the way, I’m waiting for a message on my bill that says: “To pay for the restaurant owners Jaguar a 4% service charge is included”

By: wendygee

wendygee — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:13:00 +0000

So, do you think they are just playing a psychological game by adding a surcharge and not simply raising prices? That customers can more easily accept and feel sorry for the additional insurance burden by it being isolated as a separate charge and not seeing their “food” costs go up? I guess it will be interesting to see how many restaurants jump on this surcharge bandwagon.