CHEF food&friends — Restaurant in Gdansk

During a recent solo trip through Germany and Poland, I spent two days in Gdansk and dined at several restaurants. One of them was Chef Food & Friends (paid at 11PM on Aug 13, 2025) While the food was average—neither exceptional nor poor—the experience was overshadowed by how the service charge was handled.

The menu clearly states: “From 3 people we add 10% for the service.”: a photo of menu attached. As a solo diner, I expected this wouldn’t apply. I ordered two items totaling 81 zloty, yet a 9 zloty service charge (over 11%) was added to my bill.

When I asked the server why the charge was applied, she explained that the owner believes everyone should pay tips. I pointed out the menu’s policy and noted that if this is their current practice, the menu should reflect it. She responded that the menu was outdated and hadn’t been updated in over a year. I then asked whether any prices had changed since that last update, but she couldn’t confirm. It is hard to believe the menu have stayed the same, despite of the inflation.

To be clear, I had no issue tipping at other restaurants in Poland and Germany—especially when it was left to my discretion, as is common practice in Europe. Most places clearly note that tips are not included in the bill, and I often added around 15% when paying by card. Coming from North America, this felt natural and fair—especially since it’s still less than the 18–20% typically expected here in North America.

What bothered me was the inconsistency between the stated policy and the actual charge. As a customer, I felt misled and that my trust was compromised. If a restaurant chooses to apply a mandatory service fee, it should be clearly and accurately communicated. I also felt that my right, as a customer, was violated.

For travelers who value clarity and fair treatment, I would recommend considering other dining options in Gdansk. To be honest, all the other restaurants I tried in Gdansk made better food with BETTER...

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