Life’s Good Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Dallas

Update for response to owner:

Hey @LifesGoodDTX, thanks for responding. Just to clarify the law:

⚖️ Dallas/Texas Law on Auto-Gratuity

Mandatory disclosure is required Under Texas Administrative Code § 3.337, any mandatory gratuity—including auto-grats at bars—is legal only if it’s clearly disclosed (e.g., on menus, signs, or before ordering), and must be separated on the bill .

It must not exceed 20% Charges over 20% are automatically taxed as a sales tax . You mention 25%, which is unlawful under this regulation.

Consumer rights under DTPA Texas’s Deceptive Trade Practices–Consumer Protection Act (Chapter 17) makes it illegal to conceal or misrepresent mandatory fees. Failing to notify customers qualifies as a “deceptive act” .

🤝 What This Means for "Life’s Good Bar"

If no signs/menu mention the 25% auto-grat, that’s illegal non-disclosure.

Even if posted “online”, under Texas law, disclosure must be physically visible in the venue—not buried in fine print.

Charging 25% when the legal threshold is 20% violates state tax code.

Patrons can refuse payment, and you leave yourself open to consumer complaints or legal penalties.

🧾 How Patrons Can Take Action

Gather proof: Retain receipts that show 25% auto-grat without disclosure and snap photos of the venue where signage is missing.

File complaints with:

Dallas Office of Consumer Affairs (local)

Texas Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), especially since it concerns alcohol licensing.

Be prepared to share the documentation showing the undisclosed 25% fee and where signage is lacking.

🚨 PSA: What LIFE IS GOOD doesn’t tell you… They auto-grat you 25% without warning.

❌ No signs. ❌ No heads up. ❌ No itemized receipt.

That’s ILLEGAL in Dallas. And here’s the kicker— You end up tipping on top of it. 💸

That’s not hospitality. That’s deception. You’re unknowingly handing over your hard-earned money— not to the servers, but to owners who can’t manage to pay fair wages.

Tip your servers. Expose the shady businesses. This isn’t gratitude—this is theft...

I went here because of the advertisement on social media because of the burgers and drinks they have everywhere on their page so I decided to take my hubby to eat the best burger in Dallas, well when we walked in we were no greeted I ask for a drink menu and there wasn’t one but they have drinks on every page.. I ordered us some burgers and fries and immediately after the bar tender asked for my credit card for a tab I did not order no alcoholic drinks I only ordered hamburgers and fries why would I need to give you my credit card? I know from experience when they ask you for your credit card they are automatically assuming you can’t pay and that was the icing on the cake for me I told him I’m not leaving my card with you but I’ll pay for my food before I get it and he said ok, this is a restaurant I thought you paid for food after you eat!!! The place was not welcoming it did not smell good the bartender was not welcoming at all. I have a large social media presence and I’ve already told them not to go to this place.. There were others in that bar and I guarantee you they wasn’t asked to leave their credit card at the bar, the place just looks old the burgers were not good and everybody who’s saying they are good on those videos are lying.. the drinks they post do not exist and the bartender got mad when I let him know they were false advertising on social media… the patio was not clean the table was not clean I hope the owner sees this comment and roll back the camera for 2/15/23 and see how they treated myself and my husband. I would not recommend this place to black ppl because you might get asked to leave your card at the bar with a stranger for a tab for hamburgers!!! Pappadeaux would never!!! Burger street and Griffs has way better burgers than this place.. stop false advertising and stop treating ppl of color like thieves we pay for meals we don’t steal!! Zero stars I would...

Be forewarned, an automatic gratuity of 25% will be added to your bill! We were a party of 4, surprised when we got the bill how much it was for a few burgers and fries and soft drinks, and see that nice automatic 25% charge. Very presumptuous for a neighborhood bar!! Will not be going back. Even fine dining establishments that add gratuity for large parties usually only add 18-20%, tops. Food was decent though.

Edit after owner response: Terilli's and Snuffer's and Gloria's do not have autogratuity much less at 25%, just to name a few. Saying 90% do is just a made up claim to justify a shady, anti-customer policy. Pointing to a sign behind the bar in fine print when you aren't sitting at the bar, is a pathetic response (had to see that "posted" index card of a sign in one of the other reviews, lol). Put it on the menu if you want to make sure customers see it! It's two stars for the whole experience, policy included. Food was a bit above average, service was bare minimum, absolutely nothing above industry norms to deserve an above industry rate, i.e. 25%. Hence it balances out to 2 stars. Would have been maybe 3.5 (absolute tops) otherwise. Also when a restaurant is making a claim to have best burger in Dallas, and does not, I'm going to ding the review for that too. Haystack, Maple and Motor, Hudson House, Neighborhood Services, Hillstone, Chips, JG's, Liberty Burger, to name a few, all have better burgers. If you want to run a European style restaurant, just raise your prices by 25%, give your servers a 25% raise, and let them work for anything extra by providing exceptional service. That would be more up front and honest toward your...