Two RI Restaurants Go Tip-Free

Patrons won't be able to tip their waitstaff any more at two Rhode Island restaurants.

According to NBC 10, both Rosmarin at Hotel Providence and Vinya on Westminster Street are going to go tip-free.

Owners Massimilliano and Alethia Mariotta tell the TV station that they are taking tipping out of their restaurants and instead implementing a 22-percent fee on their meals.

They say they

want to make sure everybody has a good wage, a living wage, and particularly the back of the house."

Adding

Usually, the servers are making so much more while they get the tip on top and the kitchen doesn't get anything."

So now everyone will make a flat rate of about $12 to $15 per hour and patrons will cover it with the new 22-percent fee added to their bill.

For the wait staff and bartenders, that ends up as a raise from the state tipped wage of $3.39, but no additional tips. So staff will now have more reliable paychecks each week.

Customers are so far on board with the change as well, but it remains to be seen if this will catch on at other area restaurants.

Would you want to see this pay change happen locally?