Do You Still Need to Tip With Service Charges?
Over the last few months, you've probably seen a 20% service charge on some of your restaurant bills. Are you supposed to tip on top of that? Why are restaurants doing this? Washingtonian Food Editor Jessica Sidman has all the answers. Be sure to also check out her Washingtonian piece on service charges.
For more D.C. news and culture, sign up for our morning newsletter. Every Wednesday, we've got a fantastic 'neighborhood guide' section that's sure to wise you up to some local gems.
We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc.
And tell us your stories too! Leave us a voicemail with your D.C.-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations by calling 2026422654.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Latest Episodes
Painful Cuts, Bright Spots, Shit Sandwich? The New DC Budget
The mayor has just rolled out her final budget and it’s pretty painful. Jenny Reed walked us through the administration’s theory of the c...

Why the Holocaust Museum Censored Itself Before Trump Even Asked
We’re talking about another Trump-era controversy at a DC cultural institution — in this case, the Holocaust Museum, which last year yank...

'Your City Could Be Better': Why Portland’s Considering Hiring a Night Mayor — Presented By City Cast DC
Washingtonians, what do you do when your night life starts to dwindle? Nightlife is a huge economic driver for cities, but city offices a...

Dirt Bike Debate, Penn Ave Redo, Goodbye (Maybe?!) to Ovi
DC is starting to feel like an old Dennis the Menace cartoon. Last week, the city was up in arms about teens running wild at Navy Yard. T...

The Washington Post's New Food Critic Tells All
Once upon a time, the food critic of the Washington Post was an all-powerful — and totally anonymous — figure in the local restaurant ind...

Inside the Architecture of DC's Homes
Have you always wanted to be one of those people who can tell a Georgian D.C. rowhouse from a Federal D.C. rowhouse, or drop the name of...

How 56,000 Lost Jobs Could Change DC Forever
The DC area lost 56,000 jobs in 2025, the worst of any major Metro area. But is it as bad as it sounds? Tracy Haddon Low of the Brookings...

DC’s Best Hangover Foods
The hangover— it happens to the best of us, it can even happen if you don't drink! So crack open that Pedialyte and settle in, because An...

'Your City Could Be Better': Denver’s Bet on a Women’s Soccer Stadium — Presented By City Cast D.C.
While both D.C. and Denver have a professional Women's Soccer team (go Spirit!), Denver is only the second city in the U.S. to build a st...

Bowser Taking L’s vs. Council, Trump’s Ballroom Blocked, DC’s Best Chefs
The 51st’s Martin Austermuhle is here to talk about the DC Council, Muriel Bowser, and public safety — where the Council keeps handing th...


