New restaurant brings Parisian cuisine and no tip concept to Philly
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- If you have ever traveled abroad, you know that in Europe tipping at restaurants is optional. Here in the States, it's the way servers earn a living. But one new Philadelphia eatery is channeling Paris - not just with the menu, but with our city's first no-tip policy.
Girard Avenue's Girard Brasserie and Bruncherie is taking a novel approach to customer service.
Co-owner Cristian Mora tells us, "How do we do that? Well, let's start by really taking care of the people that are going to take care of everybody that comes in."
That means the staff is paid a fair hourly wage so they're not dependent on tips to earn a living.
Cristian says, "So, it's really that everyone that comes in pays your salary. So we decided, let's turn that around... Let's pay them their salary and then the tip is really a true gratuity."
Cristian continues to explain, telling us, "Typically someone would make between 2 to 3 dollars [an hour] somewhere else."
But at Girard Brasserie and Bruncherie, Cristian says workers, on average, are making around $13 an hour.
And that's only the beginning.
"We're offering other benefits, which is paid vacation and we're paying their medical insurance," he says.
Those are perks that are virtually unheard of in the restaurant industry. But the owners are convinced it will pay off by drawing committed employees looking for a career... not just a job.
Co-owner and chef Brian Oliveira says, "We spend a lot of time prepping the food. We want to make sure that if you are coming we can provide you with the service you want."
Now, about that food...
Brunch is served all day long.
Their French Toast Gateau is layered like a layered cake, and it has ice cream.
There's a brasserie burger served on a Philly-made English muffin and avocado toast.
If there's any doubt how the concept is going over, the restaurant got more than 500 applications for 14 staff positions, and they highly recommend diners make reservations.
