>The only reason I can see for restaurants to do this is that the minimum wage here is $15/hour, and if tips alone don't make that rate, the restaurant pays out

>The only reason I can see for restaurants to do this is that the minimum wage here is $15/hour, and if tips alone don't make that rate, the restaurant pays out of pocket because it is illegal for them to pay below minimum wage. There is no exception to minimum wage in California for tipped employees, and many cities in Alameda county have a higher minimum wage than the state minimum (Oakland for example, is $15.97/hr this year and Berkeley is $16.99/hr).