Food & Drink

Restaurants who ‘trick you into tipping twice’ may face fine

He wants to 86 double-tipping.

A Brooklyn City Councilman is introducing new legislation Wednesday that would slap fines as high as $250 on restaurants that hide when gratuity has been included in customers’ bills.

David Greenfield (D-Brooklyn) says the proposal is an attempt to halt the underhanded practice of restaurants including a “suggested” gratuity on a bill, and then leaving room on a credit card slip for patrons to unwittingly add a tip.

The slight of hand leaves many unwary consumers paying twice the amount of a typical tip.

“By our account, this is literally an in issue that is costing restaurant-eating New Yorkers millions of dollars every single year,” Greenfield told The Post.

“We’re not looking to hurt the hard-working waitstaff at restaurants,” he added. “But at the same time, we don’t want you to trick people into tipping you twice.”

The proposed bill would force restaurants to indicate clearly on customer bills and charge card receipts that a “suggested” gratuity – including the exact amount – has already been added to the total tab.

Earlier this year, Manhattan tennis pro Ted Dimond sued a half-dozen restaurant chains – including Red Lobster and The Olive Garden – for regularly adding tips of 15 percent or more to the tabs of small dining parties.

His class-action suit cited a 2009 Post investigation that found that dozens of businesses had been caught engaging in illegal tipping practices.