tipping at restaurants...

[slipknotpsycho]

you just had a 100$ dinner... what do you tip, if any at all?

just wondering... i can't consciencly walk out of a resturant without leaving a tip, but the wife, on bad service, prefers to just get up and walk out....

even if the quality of food and service was complete shit i just can't leave without feeling guilty if i've left nothing at the table but dirty plates...

so do you tip? and if so how much?

[budsmoker only]

well i work in a resturant and i see bad tipping all the time... and it sucks..

especially cuz sometimes its not the servers fault, the kitchen fucks up at times and so does other things, but the people take it out on the server....

i always leave at least 15%, and thats with really bad service...

and i dunno why but it seems native americans usually dont tip well, not tryin to be mean but its just the way it is, and they are not poor they buy the most expensive stuff on the menu...

[jeepboi]

If the service is poor, .01 to 15% depending on if it is really the servers fault or if the kitchen fucks it up. BUT i have had some horrible service, no drinks, no refills, food comes out cold. or i order steak and ask for it rare and it comes out well done. and the server never asks about the steak. then it gets into the pennies, regardless how much the bill was, and they are lucky i dont ask to speak to the manager. because i can be a prick. generally im laid back though. but if i shell out a c note or more then i expect some good service.

[Rapidfire187]

you just had a 100$ dinner... what do you tip, if any at all?

just wondering... i can't consciencly walk out of a resturant without leaving a tip, but the wife, on bad service, prefers to just get up and walk out....

even if the quality of food and service was complete shit i just can't leave without feeling guilty if i've left nothing at the table but dirty plates...

so do you tip? and if so how much?

$100 dinner? Who the fuck am I feeding, Rosie O'Donnell?

Seriously, I usually tip around 10%, and add or subtract some if the person was extra attentive or rude. I usually hook pizza boys up though, because I used to do that, and even a $10 tip can make your entire day.

[Kenn]

Tipping In Australia is not expected ,only from the rich and famous. I never tip ,shit he or she is already getting paid for waiting on you.

[Reefer Rogue]

$10-15 depending on the service

[DurbanStone]

It depends, I to be honest,do not like too, and here's why. Servers don't work that hard, they take your order, then give you food, was it worth the tip? Probably not. If people won't tip people at the gas station, or ANY service, why tip a server? I know that server wouldn't tip someone at the gas station, therefore I don't believe they deserve one.

Always tip, or never. It has nothing to do with being cheap, but being fair.

[cm8883]

[Tipping In Australia is not expected ,only from the rich and famous. I never tip ,shit he or she is already getting paid for waiting on you.]

Yeah, but here in the states, they make around $2-$3 an hour, about 1/2 minimum wage, which is why we tip.

[LIP]

I tip my local indian, and the indian in the town i work, but that's it.

[Unknown American]

Is the waitress hot?

[angry nomad]

I have been a waiter. Most people that are or have been servers usually tip really well for good service, and punish you for bad service. But, I wouldn't tip in countries that don't.

[FakeBoobsRule]

you just had a 100$ dinner... what do you tip, if any at all?

just wondering... i can't consciencly walk out of a resturant without leaving a tip, but the wife, on bad service, prefers to just get up and walk out....

If the service is bad, the last thing I'm going to do is just walk out. I want them to fix it and I will let them know. I also am not going to wait until the bill comes to let them know things were sucking. Of course I can distinguish between the kitchen errors and the server errors but I will let someone know right away and if they don't fix it, I expect some compensation for it. A well run restaurant will want the chance to fix things. If it's the servers fault and they fix things, then they will get a tip, probably 15%. If they fix things and really go up and beyond to make amends for their errors or problems then they might even get a bigger tip. Usually though even if things are of average service I will give 15% and if things are good then 20% and if they kick ass 25-30% even. Of course the places that I go on a regular basis get big tips and they take care of me too.

Another reason why I won't stiff them on the tip without saying anything, some servers are too oblivious to the fact that they gave bad service and if you don't let them know they will just think they busted their ass for a bad tipper.

[fasterspider]

you just had a 100$ dinner... what do you tip, if any at all?

just wondering... i can't consciencly walk out of a resturant without leaving a tip, but the wife, on bad service, prefers to just get up and walk out....

even if the quality of food and service was complete shit i just can't leave without feeling guilty if i've left nothing at the table but dirty plates...

so do you tip? and if so how much?

I tip good for the most part but never eat anyplace that would have a $100.00 food bill because I can't eat just anything anymore.
But if I did eat a $100.00 worth of food, I would leave a $20.00 as a tip.

[geonagual]

I always double the tax on the bill...which puts it at 15%...if the service is bad I will find a piece of paper and write down, 'heres your tip, look both ways before crossing the road"

[Metaphor]

as soon as i saw this thread i thought about the opening scene of Reservoir Dogs, good movie...

[DaZeDShAdOw]

I would leave about 25-30% on a 100$ if the food service was good, and if i had a horrible experience i will leave a penny just to let them know thats all there worth and that i didnt just forget.

[Shovelhandle]

Probably $20. If service was shitty, not less than $15.

Shovelhandle

[LuckyG]

as soon as i saw this thread i thought about the opening scene of Reservoir Dogs, good movie...

Yes! Steve Buscemi makes an excellent point.

It's wierd that waiters or waitresses only make 1/2 minimum wage in the US, I have a hard time believing that. The point still stands though, if you don't like the pay you don't have to be working as a server.

[420MissHighTimes420]

i dont pay for dinners wen i go out, its normally on a date, not even gonna lie. i dont have money to take myself out. but i would leave 20$ for a 100$ dinner. itsnt it supposed to be 20%? unless the waiter is a dick or something.

[stinkyattic]

I've spent about 10 years involved in the restaurant industry, from line cook to server to bar manager.
I get my hackles up over this subject.

This stuff may sound harsh but it's business:

In MA, restaurant minimum wage is around $3 per hour. It's typical that restaurant minimum SUCKS and is NOT a liveable wage. No tip=no food on the table at home.

A really SHITTY waiter should be reported to the manager, ask to have a new server. It's doing the bad one a favor. Trust me on this. I've told a waitress, VERY early in the meal, that it's in her best interest to just hand me over to someone else simply because I wasn't going to be worth her time in the end. Often it's a new waitress who just doesn't GET it yet, and needs more training. If not, she should probably find another line of work.

An average waiter gets 15%.
A cheerful and helpful waiter gets 20%.
At a diner, where the food is cheap, it's not by % of the check, it's by how much of a pain in the butt my order was. Like, a buck for a coffee, 4 for a full breakfast. Diner waitresses bust butt and get the shaft on the regular.
Bar staff starts at a buck a beer or mixed drink, less per-drink if you're ordering multiples of the same thing or a round of just beers.
Sushi/tappan/Mongolian grill chefs should also be side-tipped, but there's no set rule for this- they are paid better than waitstaff and tipping is courtesy rather than an expectation.

And don't give me that bullshit excuse ooooh the food is too expensive, I can't afford to tip. THAT'S WHAT MCDONALDS IS FOR! If you can't afford to tip, go to a counter-service restaurant where you have to bus your own tables.

Okay there's my morning rant. Hope you found it edumacational.

[cm8883]

I've spent about 10 years involved in the restaurant industry, from line cook to server to bar manager.
I get my hackles up over this subject.

This stuff may sound harsh but it's business:

In MA, restaurant minimum wage is around $3 per hour. It's typical that restaurant minimum SUCKS and is NOT a liveable wage. No tip=no food on the table at home.

A really SHITTY waiter should be reported to the manager, ask to have a new server. It's doing the bad one a favor. Trust me on this. I've told a waitress, VERY early in the meal, that it's in her best interest to just hand me over to someone else simply because I wasn't going to be worth her time in the end. Often it's a new waitress who just doesn't GET it yet, and needs more training. If not, she should probably find another line of work.

An average waiter gets 15%.
A cheerful and helpful waiter gets 20%.
At a diner, where the food is cheap, it's not by % of the check, it's by how much of a pain in the butt my order was. Like, a buck for a coffee, 4 for a full breakfast. Diner waitresses bust butt and get the shaft on the regular.
Bar staff starts at a buck a beer or mixed drink, less per-drink if you're ordering multiples of the same thing or a round of just beers.
Sushi/tappan/Mongolian grill chefs should also be side-tipped, but there's no set rule for this- they are paid better than waitstaff and tipping is courtesy rather than an expectation.

And don't give me that bullshit excuse ooooh the food is too expensive, I can't afford to tip. THAT'S WHAT MCDONALDS IS FOR! If you can't afford to tip, go to a counter-service restaurant where you have to bus your own tables.

Okay there's my morning rant. Hope you found it edumacational.


Well said.

[WEsmokeED]

If you go a commissary which is just a grocery store on a U.S. military base they got these people that bag your grocerys and put them in your car for you. All they work for is tips from people, they dont even get paid by the store. :stoned:

[Call Me Steam]

I always leave 20% plus. I never get horrible service, really can't remember the last time. I leave at least 20%, and usually a few dollars on top of that, or more if the service is great, or if the meal was really cheap. I used to save fortune cookie fortunes in my wallet, and leave the good ones with the tip if the server was great. One time I had one that said "You will inherit a large sum of money," and left it on top of the pile.

[geonagual]

If you go a commissary which is just a grocery store on a U.S. military base they got these people that bag your grocerys and put them in your car for you. All they work for is tips from people, they dont even get paid by the store. :stoned:


Yeah, I have seen them..I wonder why they dont pay them?

[Innominate]

I worked in a restaurant for about 3 months. The way this place is set up was that the cooks were there to cook, dishwashers there to clean dishes. The servers mostly did everything else that had to be done besides the manager would take over cook before EVER taking serving. Greet/seat guest,take beverages/orders, put orders into the computer system (Which mostly took a long time to figure out), make milkshakes or salads before meal, keeping strict attention at the front entrance to make sure if any guests have arrived, answer the phone if it rings, perform all side work cleaning because that place got dirty quick, and make sure all floors were clean.

This might not be a lot but the demand and stress really adds up in about 15 minutes of being the only server through a busy majority of each night. For as much time strain I endured, I appreciated it when people admired how hard I worked for my customers, I've seen very generous tips and the unfair tips, I wouldn't mind if a customer didn't leave a tip at all, but when they would rather be rude about it, it really disgusted me. Especially when people would say I did something wrong when I really didn't, what I did wrong was take the job, but I've already fixed that.

Rate your waiters through your tips, if you have nothing nice to say, or anything remotely truthfully terrible, keep your mouth closed and not screw up someone else's night. Every night.

[ncnavguy]

For a hundred buck meal I'd tip about 15$. But I don't buy the percentage thing. Some times I'll have a 8$ meal but I'll still leave at least 2 bucks even though thats more than 15%. When my grandfather passed, the rich side of my family came to america and we rang up a 6000$ meal between us (15 people) in a resturant in DC. The waiters did not get a 900$ tip though and really they shouldn't. They had good service and all but its not like the quality of the food or the price of it made it harder to do their jobs. There was a team of 3 of them and the total tip was 400$.


edit: as a side note they day we buried my grandfather was also my birthday, how about that for conflicting emotions.

[CheebaMan]

even a $10 tip can make your entire day.

Yep. Thats definitely going towards a dime.

[Purple Banana]

I always tip at least 20%. I know a lot of trouble is people on the grill, so I take that into account. Even if the waitress messes an order up, it's okay- everyone makes mistakes, and if she's polite about it, I'll tip her even more. It's karma.

I was at a bagel place today, they messed my order up 4 times. That's okay- I wasn't in a rush, nor starving, and my pleasantess was mirrored by the staff each time they brought a wrong order out. It happens. I left a 25% tip, and everyone was happy. In perspective, it's not that big of a deal. If you're waiting forever for you food, they get it wrong, you're pressed for time, it's cold, you're starving, yeah I can see getting upset about it. But if I'm in no rush and am treated with respect, you deserve the same amount of tip.

[beachguy in thongs]

I would tip $15 to $20, but, I wouldn't spend $100 in the first place.

[r0k]

I'm with you slip, I can't leave without giving at least something. Generally, I give a fairly large tip, because waiters (and waitresses) have to put up with a lot of shit their whole day, and I think my tip might improve their day a tad. If the service sucked, the tip would be much less. The quality of the food has very little impact on the size of my tip, because it's not the waiters fault the food sucks..

[UTD Toker]

The one thing most people don't understand is that here in the states, the average wage for a waiter is about $3.50 /hr, and take out taxes, and that comes out to a whopping 30 bucks a week. What pissed me off when I was a waiter is getting complaints about the food quality, It's not like I made you're F'ing food! GRRRRR, sry for the rant, but waiting IS the top 5 most stressful jobs out there because the money you earn is completly based on what people leave you. I hate it when some people are like "Waiting isnt hard, there already making enough per hour, so I'll just leave a couple bucks." I always leave at least 10%, good service=15-20%.

[birdgirl73]

I tip 20% for good service. In an expensive restaurant, I'd go to 25% if both the service and food were exceptional. On that $100 tab, I'd tip $20.

I don't "stiff" or under-tip waiters. I did that job myself when I was a kid. I know how hard they work and know they're factoring in folks who routinely don't tip enough. If something goes bad wrong at a restaurant, we'll diplomatically complain to the floor manager, and down here that inevitably results in an adjusted or complementary bill. I still leave a tip on what the total would have been if the problem weren't with the wait staff (usually it's a problem in the kitchen). More and more, all the restaurants we regularly go to have implemented surveys or some sort of customer-service feedback mechanism, which seems to have really helped assure good quality service and food. We live in a nice area that's just flooded with restaurants, so they're all competing for all they're worth.

[JaggedEdge]

I usually don't pay attention to percentages. If I have a $10 meal and the service is good, I will usually leave a 5. If the service is horrible, I will leave a buck. If it's a $100 and the service is good, I would tip $20-$25, if it were horrible, I may leave 10-15.

My feeling is this, if you can't afford to tip the server, you can't afford to eat in a restaurant. Not to mention, servers only make around 2 bucks an hour, they are counting on tips to pay their rent.

Granted if they suck at waiting, they need to find a new job. You couldn't pay me enough to wait on hungry assholes again.

[tenajtimmad]

if im at a place i like, and the waiter/waitress was trying or busy then i will double the tax. but if im at a place where the service is horrible and the meal sucks then i will leave little

[tenajtimmad]

should have put this in the post before, but its been past 10 mins (it says)

anyway the check was 100. so the tax would be like 8-9% (im not sure as to the exact decimal place) so that is roughly 11 dollars.. and i would doublethat to 20ish.. depending on service.

by the way.. i think doubling the tax is perfect for determining how much you tip someone.

[potsmokingnome]

I use to be a Server at a denny's fast paced resturuant, and I know how important tiping is to your Server when you go out to eat. So I will allways tip unless its absoulutely horrible service! If its ok service I'll tip at least 15%, but if its good service and beyond I'll tip 20%+ depending on how good the service was, and if its busy as hell, and My server is crazy busy,and still gives me half decent service I will tip very well if I can! :)

I remember my best tip I ever got as a server. I was working on a super busy day shift, and I had this one table of 6 young people (20's-26) and they told me after the meal was done, that they had just traveled all across Canada, and I was there best Waiter they have had the whole time :) The guy who came to pay the bill tipped me 25 dollars, and everyone else left 4-5 dollars on the table. so i walked away with at least 45 dollars from one table, and the bill was about 120, but I can't honestly remember the total of the bill, thats just an estimate of 20 per person. The morale of this story is if you get good service let the person who served you know they will apreciate it ever so much! Even if that table hadn't tipped me so well, just that comment alone was worth me going the extra mile to give them great service! I use to love being a server, Because I was allways meeting new people everyday, and in the summer time, I was bringing home in tips anywhere between 100-250 a night! only hit the 250 mark a few times, but those nights were killer busy! And also remember a Server's income is based mainly on there tips, Most resturuants in the states to my understanding, don't pay there Servers much an hour(In Canada serving is ussually minimum wage or a few dollars more depending where ya work), they depend on their tips for a part of there income. So next time your out for Dinner, and you get good service, tip well cause that person serving you is trying to make a living of their tips too, not just there wage!

[GreenLadyOfDankDowns]

Average service earns 15%, amazing service is going to net the server 25%. If the service is beyond horrible and they didn't try to correct it after being clued in, all they are going to get is 5% and a word with their manager on my way out. I've worked wait staff jobs before, and all it takes to make good tips is a pleasant demeanor and a willingness to fix any mistakes that might be made. When I worked at an upscale restaurant in Orlando, I only made $3 per hour on the clock, but almost always went home with $250+ in tips, and that was after tipping out my busser and bar back. It was common to make twice that on a Friday or Saturday night. Cheese and crackers! Why the hell did I leave Orlando? LOL

[dragonrider]

I usually leave 20%, so 20 bucks on a $100 dinner. A good server can really make a restaurant experience great, so it's worth it. And they usually aren't paid enough in wages to make it.

If the kitchen makes a mistake, or if things are running slow, then I expect the server to correct the error or compensate by adjusting the bill or bringing something special. If the service is bad, then the tip will be smaller. But usually the server should already know I'm not happy and should understand why the tip is small. I almost never have to leave a small tip, and I never walk out without leaving something. I think if you leave a small tip, it says more than leaving nothing. It let's you keep your dignity and still sends a message.

If you are at a bar and going to be there awhile, It's worthwhile to tip well on the first drink. You'll get better service the whole night.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

I leave 20% if the service was acceptable.
I leave less depending on just how unacceptable the service actually was.

If the food is bad, or screwed up, ask the server (or his/her manager) to comp the food. That way, you can still tip the server for his/her service, but the restaurant still eats it for giving you crappy service overall.

[ceecee79]

On $100, about $20 sounds right. I am also one to base it on service though. I don't count kitchen mess ups-just on the service. If you didn't give good service you won't get a good tip from me. If you give exceptional service--you will get an exceptional tip.

[TheGreenBuddy]

You guys should see the movie Waiting...

[Mississippi Steve]

I *ALWAYS* tip... if the service is excellent, I will tip well enough that I will be remembered the next time. If the food isn't right, that gets brought to their attention immediately. I don't have a problem with asking an excellent server if they have to split their tips. If they do, I will slip the server an extra 10 bucks or so.

Always treat servers and waitstaff well, tip well, and they will take care of you next time.

[The.Severed.Angel]

I am a waitress, most people don't know how much bull we have to put up with. Not just from you, but your whole party, those who are irritated with waiting, and the cooks and the boss.

Think of it this way, if your having fun, so are we. Plus, if your a bad customer you are the main source of our jokes during breaks.

[thecreator]

Hmm with one person I'd say 10 to 15 but two idk 25 to 30. I'm a cook at heart so the plight of a server doesn't really concern me all that much. Old habits die hard i guess.

[dylan]

Well, I have never been a waiter, but my brother is, and I understand what it's like. My brother gets $2.50hr wages, so without tips he wouldn't be keeping his job. Fortunatly he works at a top end resturaunt and makes GOOD money.

If I get decent service I will usually tip 15-20%, however if I get EXCEPTIONAL service I have tipped 30-50% depending on the tab. On the other hand, if I get really bad service I will let the manager know and leave 5-15% tip.

I Have only once not left ANY tip. That was when I waited for 10min to be greeted and asked for my drink order(mind you there was not a crowd), then I waited another 15 min for my water and beer; another 30-40min for my food. When it finally came out it was wrong. I spoke with the manager and the waitress about it(free drink woohoo). Another 15-20min later I got another wrong order, which I told the manager Iwas going to eat because I didn't want to wait any longer because I was starving at this point. When I got the bill I paid and didn't leave a tip at all. However, I don't think they were expecting one.

[ldg420]

It depends, I to be honest,do not like too, and here's why. Servers don't work that hard, they take your order, then give you food, was it worth the tip? Probably not. If people won't tip people at the gas station, or ANY service, why tip a server? I know that server wouldn't tip someone at the gas station, therefore I don't believe they deserve one.

Always tip, or never. It has nothing to do with being cheap, but being fair.

Servers may not seem like they do a lot for you except act as a middle man but you must remember that they make $2.15/hour(at least in Colorado) A servers lively hood is in his/her tips, on a $100 bill your tip should be 20% ($20)

:stoned:

[OLDE ENGLISH '800]

i always tip generously seeing as i had a single mom who worked at resturants the majority of my childhood so i know what its like living on tips.

[matthiasj]

i think the concept of tipping is stupid. Servers should get fair wages just like any other employee of a business, tipping should be totally optional. I don't feel like I should have to pay this servers salary on top of buying the food.

Just me $.02:jointsmile:

[ldg420]

i think the concept of tipping is stupid. Servers should get fair wages just like any other employee of a business, tipping should be totally optional. I don't feel like I should have to pay this servers salary on top of buying the food.

Just me $.02:jointsmile:

I agree, servers should be paid a respectable wage and tipping should be for those occasions where they went above and beyond. Unfortunately that is not how it is....

:stoned:

[ChiefSmokesAlot]

what i do, is when someone leaves a very large tip, i take it.. lmao

[indicagrower]

if ya'll would stop tipping it would force the owner to pay a better wage...

all fast food places in my area are looking for help so i know you can get a higher paying job but lets face it (tips + pay = more money for less work)

since we make people feel like scum for not tipping, people do it purely out of obligation even if the sevice was shit

me personaly, i never tip for anything

[friendowl]

if the servers are rude and make me mad i dont leave them shit

if they are just doing their job i hook em up

for 100 meal id leave 15 buks
20 if they were real good

[geonagual]

for a $ 100 check..oh shit, I forgot my wallet..I will be right back

[DreadConches]

Well for everyone that says tipping is bullshit, your meal would end up costing more because of the pay increase so it would even out anyway and also tipping helps to insure good service. If they get all of their pay by the hour, why would they wanna go above and beyond?

[smokerofweed420]

I used to work at a pretty nice family owned Italian restaraunt. All I did was bussed tables but working there I learned a lot from the servers. They expect tips to be above 15% no matter what, and they prefer 20%. Some have even said that anything below 20% is a 'bad tip'. So regardless whenever I go out to eat as long as I have enough money I always try and tip at least 20% unless the service was particularly shitty. These servers don't make a lot of money and most of what they do make comes from tips. Plus it makes you look like a pimp if you spend lots of money lol.

[budsmoker only]

Well for everyone that says tipping is bullshit, your meal would end up costing more because of the pay increase so it would even out anyway and also tipping helps to insure good service. If they get all of their pay by the hour, why would they wanna go above and beyond?

i have to agree with what you said here a lot...

food would def. be way the hell more expensive and there really would be no point for the server to bust their ass if they already have a set salary type thing...

good point!! :thumbsup:

[tootsie roll]

i think the concept of tipping is stupid. Servers should get fair wages just like any other employee of a business, tipping should be totally optional. I don't feel like I should have to pay this servers salary on top of buying the food.

Just me $.02:jointsmile:

Then until laws change, please eat at home or fast food.
I would NEVER EVER not tip at least 18%, and it's usually more.
When we decide to eat out we make sure we can afford to go out and relax and have a nice time. If the waitress is busy and I see the coffee pots, I have no problem re-filling hubbys cup and anyone else who wants some.
People need to be nicer to other people.

Just me $.02:jointsmile: