In 2019, we initiated a 3% kitchen appreciation fee. This fee supports our kitchen staff’s hard work.

The fee will be applied to each in-house dining bill to allow our kitchen staff to share in the restaurant’s success. In short, the fee compensates them for their significant work in providing the very best BBQ for our guests. This appreciation fee does not represent a tip, gratuity, or service charge for our front of house staff, which includes servers, runners, bussers, and bartenders.

We implemented the fee to keep up with the Boston area’s rising living costs. And therefore it will provide a better living wage by more equitable distribution of your dining dollar.

Most importantly, this fee goes straight to the kitchen staff. As opposed to a general price increase that would not benefit them as directly.

In short, we appreciate your support in recognizing our back of house employees’ hard work, and their commitment to quality every day, every shift. And certainly, we hope you will feel the positive impact.

Above all, the fee is voluntary. If you wish to not pay it, please let your server or bartender know and we will be happy to remove it for you.

Thank you for your continued patronage and supporting the Smoke Shop BBQ!