1 /5 Liss: Update: Walla Walla Steak Company sent us a copy of the bar menu. The service charge is only listed on the first page. We were focused on subsequent pages, looking for cocktails.
The moment we walked into Walla Walla Steak House, we were blown awayâthe space is beautiful, and the steaks on the grill looked and smelled amazing! We immediately said to each other, âWe have to come back for a full date night.â
We grabbed seats at the bar and had fantastic drinks with warm, attentive service and great conversation with the bartender. We werenât even at a table, yet we felt completely welcomed and taken care of. Everything was going greatâuntil the check arrived.
We were surprised to see an unadvertised 20% âservice chargeâ added to our bill. As far as we could tell, this charge wasnât posted anywhere in the restaurant or listed on the menu. When we asked, we were told it goes to the staff and is intended to replace a tipâbasically, the restaurant decided for us what the tip should be.
And while the service was excellent and certainly worthy of 20%, tipping should be based on the guestâs experience, not a hidden mandate. This felt sneaky and left a bad taste in our mouths after what was otherwise a really lovely visit.
Tipping culture is complicated, but this isnât the solution. If your service is truly worth it, build it into your menu prices, pay your staff accordingly, and be transparent about your policies. Sadly, despite the great drinks and wonderful service, we wonât be coming back. The way this was handled just didnât sit right with us.