Inchins Bamboo Garden Restaurant

For anyone who is planning to dine at Bamboo Garden. which has locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, and some other places, here is an FYI for you:

1.) These restaurants charge an automatic 15% gratuity on every check regardless of how many people are in your party. This is disclosed in small type at the bottom of the menu pages. It is also shown on the restaurant's web menu.

2.) The gratuity does NOT go to the waitstaff or any other people doing actual work there. In the words of one of the managers at the Atlanta location, "It is to increase our salary." This aspect is definitely not disclosed voluntarily.

3.) The management regards "gratuity" and "tip" as totally separate things and will flatly refuse to remove the 15% gratuity from your bill. Their rationale is that such a thing is standard practice in restaurants nowadays.

I.m.h.o. this is pure sleaze. We don't need to put up with this behavior from any kind of business, especially something as non-essential as a mediocre fusion restaurant with hopelessly pretentious décor.

Aside from voting with your wallet, here's an idea for times when something like this really *** you off...

» Whenever Vistaprint offers free shipping, get a batch of free business cards stating the name/address/phone of the business you wish you shame, along with a description of the documented policy in big bold letters. (Obviously you'll make sure you can prove your statement with some evidence.) Distribute the cards wherever there are people likely to patronize the business in the near future.