The sales tax and the gratuity are not the same thing at all. The gratuity is the tip for the server. A lot of restaurants have added this practice, which I know is unpopular, because large parties have a bad habit of stiffing their servers. Or leaving a $5 tip on a $150 bill.

I thought most places were upfront about publishing that larger parties did the automatic tip thing. You certainly have every right to either announce that you're not tipping or to go someplace else.

I do agree about the extras on the food, however. It's easy to wind up with a larger bill without thinking about it.