Chachi's — Restaurant in Baltimore

I am leaving one star because, as much as I love this restaurant and the folks who work there, I cannot stand the policy of forced gratuity after the fact.

You go in, you see a price on the menu, you order, and then WITHOUT NOTICE OR CHOICE you must pay 18% gratuity.

My issue is not with tipping counter staff, my issue is with the owners who decide "I'm not going to pay my employees and instead make them tipped staff, but I'm still going to charge $10 for a side of potatoes."

It is inconsiderate to the customer for the cost of their meal to increase a surprise 18%. This was nearly 10 dollars more than the food I ordered. Why not just pay your workers fairly and incorporate that cost directly into the cost of the food????

TLDR: Anyways, the owners don't pay there workers apparently but love price gouging their customers. The food is great but morally, would...

Went last night for my boyfriend's birthday and it was such a treat!! The food was excellent--made with care, came out hot. The chicken was so tasty--we ate all the skin and sucked the bones. You have to try the green anchovy sauce and put it on everything! Our vegetarian friends were pleased with the hearty non-chicken offerings as well. I mean, the pretzels with beer cheese hit the spot--I coulda eaten a dozen! But save room for dessert--last night there were a variety of cookies to choose from (many from heirloom recipes) and they were warmed up before serving--talk about gooey & melty goodness. The atmosphere is cozy and the service is so kind and efficient. But most importantly--we all left full and happy!! So glad to have Chachi's...

It's a nice atmosphere, and the chicken is so good! But I feel like I keep running into mediocre sides. The time before last I ordered the schmaltz potatoes, and they were nothing to write home about. The most recent time I got the fries instead and they were so dry and salty I felt sadness. There was very little softness or moisture to the interior. I only powered through them because they were $7. The serving sizes of the sides are good. But I cant say that carries much weight in this instance because I didn't like them. I asked my friends who got the beet salad if they would buy it again and they said no :/ I think I'd be more pleased getting half a chicken...