Well - I'd heard good things about the Beef Cellar, below the VP restaurant, so when I went today the waiter directed me upstairs to vörös postakocsi, mentioning that they were coming from a common kitchen and he could give me both menus. I ordered a NY Steak which was cooked to perfection; although a more little fatty than I would have liked, which could have been trimmed. Undoubtedly the steak had excellent origin, and it was both tasty and tender, sereved on an iron pan. I had to *insist* on a steak knife though, but otherwise, the service was excellent (mid-afternoon).

I got up to pay on the way out, complimenting the waiter on the food. It came to 5,062Ft, and he said 5,000Ft was fine. I was immediately suspicious and checked it to reveal the included TIP of 10%. I wouldn't have minded, except for the two minor discrepancies listed above, and the Tip added to the bill. I told the waiter I would give him 4800Ft, but he insisted on 5000Ft. I told him that this was a TIP charge and not a Service Charge, to which he replied they are both the same - I asked him where on the menu it mentioned a Service Charge, to which he replied "okos vagy" (you're clever) and gave me the change excluding the tip, so I gave him the tip back.

The funtion of the tip is to reward service and the food ("gratuity"), so we certainly have a responsibility to be mindful of that, however it should not be a compulsory payment, this becomes a Service Charge. This is an increasing phenomenon here in Budapest; most recently I experienced it at Menza, and on that night, the waiters also insisted that it was somehow an obligatory payment (it's not, only SC). The restaurant must specify a Service Charge on the menu if they want to oblige you on the bill. It is another debate whether or not it is ever warranted for tables less than 6 people.

I would not return, it gave me a tourist trap feeling. However if you are mindful of this practice, the restaurant is actually quite okay, if perhaps charming in a nostalgic kind of way.

(ps I feel strongly about this so pasted my commnet under vörös postakocsi also to make people aware)