Do you leave a tip at any buffet restaurant (i.e.. GOLDEN CORAL) even though you serve yourself?

Question

I always feel strange leaving a tip at the following restaurants;
CC"s pizza, GOLDEN CORAL or any buffet restaurant. ect..I serve myself for everything,less in some cases,drinks.Do I leave the standard 15%? (or less).Can someone, who works as a server, tell me what the average patron does?

Answer 1

Yes you always tip a server. I know lots of people who think they don't need to because it's a buffet but, actually the waitress ends up doing more at a buffet than she would at a normal restaurant. For instance, at a regular restaurant she gets your drink and food order, brings back drinks, then brings out food and checks everyone, then usually comes back once or twice to bring a check or remove any dishes or get desserts etc. At a buffet she could have to keep refilling drinks and removing dirty dishes for almost an hour only to get a dollar or worse, nothing for her trouble. I always leave a 20% tip for my waitress/waiter. Unless they really were awful and then I only leave a buck.

Answer 2

When I was 18, I worked at Golden Corral. I was pain $2.13/ hour. Not everybody gets the buffet there. A lot, and I do mean A LOT of people order from the menu as well. Example.... a group of people would all order a steak, then for $1.99 more, the get a buffet... you know for the salad, extra side items, bread and dessert. We had to refill their drinks, give them clen plates, napkins, extra silverware..... coffee, then clean up their mass after they left (no bus boys) and doing all of this in a dress and nylons. It was no easy job, and all for only $2.13/ hour. They figure that you make the rest of your salary in tips! Its like that at almost all restaurants that have servers. Most nights I would only make $20-$30 in tips. after 10 hours.... not a lot of money. (everyone would only leave $! if that) Oh and after everyone left... we were the ones who had to refill the condiment bottles,(ketchup, salt, pepper etc) restock the waitress stations, mop/vaccuum and so on. So yeah, you should tip at any restaurant where some one has serviced you. Even if it is to refill your drinks. A buffet restaurant is not Taco bell or a KFC, or Mc Donalds. You tip at Olive Garden, Red Lobster and so on.. so even at a so called buffet restaurant, even though you do partly serve yourself..... you are not completely left on your own. Thats why they assign a waitress to your table. To assist you with anything you may need.


On average, at say Golden corral, you shoule leave at least $1/ per person seated at your table plus another dollar. if you have a child whos throwing crushed up crackers on the floor.... leave a few extra bucks. (we had to clean that up too)

Answer 3

I've never really thought about it, and I've always left the same tip percentage at buffets...unless I have to get my own drinks and refills. In that case, I leave no tip. Also, I think servers at all-buffet restaurants are paid differently than other servers.

Answer 4

At buffets, if there is someone who brings my beverage, refills my beverage, brings me a new plate or extra napkins, I do leave a tip...but usually a dollar rather than the full 15% because he/she is not doing a full waitressing job.

At buffets where it is all self serve, including beverages, then I do not leave a tip....because nobody came to my table for a thing and just who would I be leaving it to?

Answer 5

yes...i would definitely leave a tip....i wouldn't leave the standard 15 or 20 percent tip, but a couple of dollars might be nice....she does refill your drinks and keeps the table clean....and even though it is a buffet style restaurant, i bet she is still making less than minimum wage, with the tips used to bring her wages up.

Answer 6

Good question Jim. I'm curious to see answers from servers too. Frankl, I tend to tip less at buffet style restaurants. I still tip, but more like 10% instead of 20. I am a generous tipper normally, just don't feel it is right to do this at a buffet.

Maybe I'm wrong...again, curious to see your responses!.

Answer 7

Usually they at least keep your drink filled. If we have to wait for drinks, rolls or clean plates, we don't leave a tip. But if the waitor/waitress keeps dirty plates cleared, clean plates available and drinks filled, we usually leave at least a 10% tip if not more.

If they are only clearing dirty plates, but they keep them cleared, some tip would be nice.

Even if the buffet has a soda machine where you get your own drinks and plates are at the buffet, there is a need for someone to clear your dirty plates. Small tips are nice.

Answer 8

I leave a tip, but not as much as a waitress would get to serve me my meal and drinks. But, she sat you at the table, and cleared the plates, so she should get something for that. I usually just leave like $5, but it's pertty cheap there anyway, so it works out that it might be like 15% anyhow. I bet a lot of people don't leave them tips, and they are still working just as hard.

Answer 9

I leave a dollar at the chinese buffets I go to. Mostly because I go through about 3-4 cokes since I drink while I eat instead of waiting till I'm done eating.

I leave 2 dollars if she's cute.

Answer 10

I leave the same amount of tip regardless. I have been in the industry for eleven years so I can relate to being "stiffed". The big tip I leave usually makes up for the poor one or the lack of one that the wasitress may be getting from her other customers.