A couple has opened a ‘no tipping’ restaurant aimed at reducing stress for customers while dining out and enjoying their meals.
In Chicago, a couple has opened a unique restaurant called Thattu, where customers do not need to tip.
Vinod Kalathil and his wife, Margaret Pak, started this new venture to create a more relaxed dining experience for their guests.
They believe that the pressure to tip can create stress during meals.
Couple launches ‘no tipping’ restaurant to reduce customer stress in dining out
Thattu serves food from Kerala, a region in southern India where Vinod is originally from.
The couple wanted to share their cultural cuisine while also changing the way people think about tipping and service charges.
Unlike most restaurants, Thattu does not add a service fee to the bill.
This approach allows the couple to set prices that reflect the true costs of running the restaurant.
Vinod explained that their prices are about 15 to 20 percent higher than typical restaurants that rely on tips.
This increase in price helps ensure that the staff is paid fairly.
For example, employees at Thattu earn approximately $19 an hour.
Additionally, the restaurant shares about eight percent of its total sales among all employees, ensuring that waitstaff can take home an average of $24 to $25 an hour.
“We don’t charge our customers a service fee or expect them to leave tips.
So, our prices are about 15 to 20 percent higher than they’d be if we were adding those charges onto the bill,” restaurant owner Vinod said.
In Chicago, many restaurant workers depend on tips, which can lead to them being paid a lower base wage.
Vinod and Margaret wanted to change the tipping culture
They first considered the idea in 2019 and experimented with it through pop-up restaurants before finally opening Thattu.
During their pop-up events, they noticed that the card readers often suggested tip amounts, putting pressure on customers.
Vinod felt that this could be uncomfortable.
He shared, “When a server is standing in front of a customer with a handheld device, there seems to be a lot of pressure to tip.”
He believes this situation creates unnecessary tension during the dining experience.
At Thattu, customers can enjoy their meals without worrying about tipping.
However, some guests still choose to leave tips as a gesture of appreciation for good service.
Vinod emphasizes that these tips are not required but are welcome as expressions of goodwill.
The restaurant staff has decided to pool any tips received to buy drinks like coffee or soft drinks for everyone, fostering a sense of teamwork and community.
The couple is committed to creating a positive work environment for their employees.
They believe that when staff are paid fairly and treated with respect, they can provide better service to customers.
This approach not only benefits the workers but also enhances the overall dining experience for patrons.
Thattu has received attention for its innovative model.
Many customers have praised the restaurant for its delicious food and welcoming atmosphere.
The couple hopes that other restaurants will consider similar no-tipping policies to help reduce the pressure on customers while ensuring fair pay for workers.