AOC and Lucques Adding 3% Healthcare Surcharge

Patio at AOC, West Third. [Photo: Aaron Cook/AACK Studio]

A slew of highly regarded restaurants is joining the 3% healthcare surcharge bonanza, starting with Caroline Styne and Suzanne Goin's Lucques Group, comprised of namesake Lucques, AOC, and Tavern, writes LA Weekly. The restaurant group joins Walter Manzke's Republique, which gained notoreity last year when they implemented a 3% surcharge to help pay for healthcare costs. The release states that the rationale isn't tied to any political statement, but rather because they believe it's the right thing to do.

The group also discusses the economic impact of having to provide healthcare to employees, which all small businesses with more than 25 workers will have to implement by January 2016. Rather than simply raising prices, Styne and Goin feel that menu prices should reflect the price of the ingredients they purchase. Instead, the healthcare costs, which supposedly affects the bottom line by as much as 30-50%, is something that's passed onto diners.

Though they haven't fully signed to add the 3% surcharge, a number of notable restaurant groups, including Hungry Cat, Rustic Canyon, and Melisse, are also considering healthcare line item. In an effort to skirt the controversy in San Francisco, where establishments taking in the city-mandated surcharge weren't always using the funds appropriately, the Lucques Group hopes to have full transparency. Beginning October 1, all employees working more than 30 hours will have an HMO paid plan.

With these higher end restaurants leading the way, will Los Angeles see more of this voluntary healthcare surcharge showing up on menus?
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