G ordon Ramsay’s 20 per cent service charge has sparked a fierce backlash – with Independent readers voicing frustration at how expensive, and confusing, eating out in the UK has become. The eye-watering charge was introduced on Ramsay’s Lucky Cat New Year’s Eve menu, where customers were already paying £138 for a Japanese A5 sirloin or £50 for spiced lamb chops. Responding to Victoria Richards’ piece on the spread of “American-style” tipping , many readers said so-called “discretionary” fees are anything but optional. They argued restaurants should simply build staff wages into menu prices, rather than adding percentages at the end – with some saying they now actively avoid venues that do. Others took a more measured view, saying they are still happy to tip – but only when service genuinely warrants it, and with confidence the money reaches staff.…