tipping at restaurants...

[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.