Lucques Group Latest to Add 3% Health Care Surcharge

Yet another restaurant group is hopping on the health care surcharge bandwagon: Caroline Styne and Suzanne Goin of Los Angeles's Lucques Group announced yesterday that they'll join the growing group of restaurateurs that add-on an additional percentage to diners' checks to help cover employee health insurance. LA Weekly reports that as of yesterday, Goin's restaurants Lucques, A.O.C., Tavern, and the Larder (among others) add a three percent surcharge to each check, specifically designating the money to health care.

In a press release, the group writes that "this is not a political statement or endorsement of any kind... We are doing this because, quite frankly, we believe it's the right thing to do." Instead of simply raising prices by three percent, the duo argue that the tacked-on charge increases transparency between diners and business owners: "We'd rather keep our menu costs as an accurate refection of our ingredient prices."

The practice of adding a health surcharge has been gaining steam in Los Angeles of late: Earlier this year, Republique implemented a three percent charge and met the wrath of Yelpers. (A similar backlash occurred just weeks later when a Florida chainlet added a one percent health charge to diners' checks.)
· The Lucques Group Introduces Healthcare For Employees [LA Weekly via Eater LA]
· All Surcharges Coverage on Eater [-E-]