Having been in the general BA area, now, my 3rd time over a period of about a decade, and staying here for 7+ weeks to this point, I cannot say that I'm either that new or that I'm truly experienced here, yet... However, I ran across this for the very first time, this past week, and I wonder what others may have to say about what may have happened... and more importantly: How to deal with it in future.
I am staying in a very popular northern zone suburb. I eat out 4-7 times per week, and I have developed a habit of regularly visiting several places that I like within not only my own northern community, but also in Microcentro and in Recoleta. I have observed quite a number of signs (though ONLY in the capital city, so far in my own travels, which have seen me in Belgrano, Palermo, Recoleta, Microcenter, San Telmo, Monserrat, Cabellito, Once, etc... but never in my own community up north) signalling the absence of table service in some restaurants, and posted in their windows and on their menus... but I have never frequented any of those establishments. Perhaps more importantly, I have never incurred such a charge, anywhere here, either... until this past week...
One very notably well-known restaurant in the heart of my community is a place I frequent at least once or twice every week. I've been in there at least 10 times, now - usually in the afternoon. I've been in there with another local resident whose wife is from this region, but mostly I've been there on my own. There are 3 different waiters during the day time: One I've had twice; one I've had several times. Only the very day before, I'd been in and was served there by somebody I'd been served by the very first time I ever went there.
Never a table service charge.
On this past Tuesday, I was faced with a bill that was higher than I'd expected and I noticed the table service charge on the bill - this from a waiter I'd seen but who'd never before waited upon me.
I did register with him that it wasn't my first time there, but that this was the first I'd ever seen such a charge in that restaurant.
What that short conversation produced was really nothing more than his listening to me...
My Spanish is good enough to be understood in everyday transactions, for the most part, but is still not yet good enough to try and win an argument, frankly!
One person I mentioned this to - afterward - suggested that MAYBE they'd just implemented this charge on that very day? [possibly because the summer season is beginning?]
I'm wondering if others have dealt with this situation and what has happened. What suggestions do folks have?
If more details are needed, I can provide those - privately if discretion seems a nice thing to do...
Thanks, as always,
Paul
PS: One reason this concerns me is that I like that restaurant.. or, at least, I did... I'd like to go back.
I am staying in a very popular northern zone suburb. I eat out 4-7 times per week, and I have developed a habit of regularly visiting several places that I like within not only my own northern community, but also in Microcentro and in Recoleta. I have observed quite a number of signs (though ONLY in the capital city, so far in my own travels, which have seen me in Belgrano, Palermo, Recoleta, Microcenter, San Telmo, Monserrat, Cabellito, Once, etc... but never in my own community up north) signalling the absence of table service in some restaurants, and posted in their windows and on their menus... but I have never frequented any of those establishments. Perhaps more importantly, I have never incurred such a charge, anywhere here, either... until this past week...
One very notably well-known restaurant in the heart of my community is a place I frequent at least once or twice every week. I've been in there at least 10 times, now - usually in the afternoon. I've been in there with another local resident whose wife is from this region, but mostly I've been there on my own. There are 3 different waiters during the day time: One I've had twice; one I've had several times. Only the very day before, I'd been in and was served there by somebody I'd been served by the very first time I ever went there.
Never a table service charge.
On this past Tuesday, I was faced with a bill that was higher than I'd expected and I noticed the table service charge on the bill - this from a waiter I'd seen but who'd never before waited upon me.
I did register with him that it wasn't my first time there, but that this was the first I'd ever seen such a charge in that restaurant.
What that short conversation produced was really nothing more than his listening to me...
My Spanish is good enough to be understood in everyday transactions, for the most part, but is still not yet good enough to try and win an argument, frankly!
One person I mentioned this to - afterward - suggested that MAYBE they'd just implemented this charge on that very day? [possibly because the summer season is beginning?]
I'm wondering if others have dealt with this situation and what has happened. What suggestions do folks have?
If more details are needed, I can provide those - privately if discretion seems a nice thing to do...
Thanks, as always,
Paul
PS: One reason this concerns me is that I like that restaurant.. or, at least, I did... I'd like to go back.