'Unpleasant' kitchen fee charged by Hudson Valley restaurant

If credit card fees, administration fees, and takeout fees weren't bad enough, a new charge on your dinner bill will leave you feeling completely taken advantage of.

I'm always the first to stand up for a restaurant when people complain about poor service or high prices. Customers often don't realize how difficult it is to run a local business.

But there are some Hudson Valley restaurants that even I have a hard time getting on board with. I don't know exactly when it happened, but some local restaurant owners believe they are operating as a charity organization that must support the community at all costs. It seems there are some.

Exorbitant fees at Hudson Valley restaurants cause customer dissatisfaction

I have previously discussed several poor business decisions made by several Hudson Valley restaurant owners. He spent $35 on a bowl of pasta and then the insulting credit card fee added to the bill is completely annoying. Why only restaurants think they have the right to charge an itemized fee as an expense rather than simply adjusting the price is surprising and a case study in bad management.

Price gouging on takeout orders and mysterious “business fees” have also been a source of dissatisfaction among eateries, with some local restaurant owners saying they are not showing much appreciation for the support.

Hudson Valley Restaurant collects a “kitchen management fee”

A restaurant in Hudson, New York is taking surcharges to a whole new level. At Kitty's, a restaurant and market on Front Street, the owners say they charge a 3% kitchen management fee to pay their kitchen staff.

Rumors about the fees have made their way to social media, with consumers slamming the company for the “disgusting” policy.

Online commenters criticized Kitty's fees, saying it shouldn't be customers' responsibility to pay extra to subsidize workers' wages. One angry restaurant said businesses that can't afford to pay their kitchen staff “probably shouldn't stay in business.”

In a now-deleted Facebook conversation, customers pointed out that Kitty's already charges a premium for food. The restaurant's menu includes half a rotisserie chicken for $36, a chicken sandwich for $18 and a slice of Devil's Food His Cake for $13. This does not include tax and tip. Other local business owners say such additional fees should bring in enough revenue to pay kitchen staff a comfortable wage.

Others are more sympathetic, saying they don't fault owners for doing what was necessary to offset rising costs and inflation. Still, many agree that it's easier to raise prices slightly than to offend big-spending customers with behavior they deem “insulting.”

I would like to know your opinions. Repulsed by the idea of ​​paying extra to cover the salaries of your kitchen staff? Let us know what you think on our Facebook page or send us a text using our mobile app.