Is gratuity in addition to tip?

Is gratuity in addition to a tip? Seriously, I used to be so confused by this! It’s like, what?! Another charge? Well, here’s the thing: gratuity is the tip. It’s just…required. Think of it like, maybe, a built-in tip? You know, they automatically add it to the bill. So, no, it's not extra on top of a tip.

A service charge is a whole other story, though. That is separate. Remember that time we went to that fancy restaurant in the city for our anniversary? They had a service charge, and we left a tip. Felt a little weird, like double-tipping, but I guess that’s how it works sometimes. Crazy, right? Anyway, so, you can totally add an extra tip on top of a mandatory gratuity if you feel the service was truly exceptional. Like that waiter who remembered my nut allergy – he totally deserved an extra something!