My family and I have been coming here for years. We have celebrated many birthdays with Via Mercanti and even booked their private room in the basement for a function.
I frequently go with my grandmother who is over 80 and her sister who is 90. They have issues hearing and can be abrasive at times (who isn't) but I was appalled by how they were treated by the Via Mercanti staff at our last visit.
Their policy states that parties of 6 or more can be subject to an autogratuity of 18%. We were a party of 5 and an autogratuity was added to our bill, without any indication from the serving staff. My grandmother paid and tipped her usual 15% (shes 80 and vows to tip no more than 15%) on top of the charged 18%. Bills were collected and not a word from the serving staff that she double tipped. Before we left, she noticed that she tipped twice (a total of 33%) and mentioned it to the server who refunded the first transaction upon her request.
This behaviour is sick. Its abusive towards older people. The policy clearly states on the menus that parties of 6 or more may be subject to an autograt. We were 5. This appalling behaviour indicates that there is a clause in the policy stating: if you are elderly and easy to take advantage of, we will seize the opportunity. It greatly saddens me to think of the other times she may have been taken advantage of by Via Mercanti staff without noticing. Please don't do this again.