How much do we really have to tip waitresses in a restaurant?

Answer 1

In NYC - common is to double the tax and leave that as a tip.

Answer 2

Never ever tip less than 10% unless it was the worst service you have ever had and the standard now is 18%-20%...more if you loved the server. Someone said to not tip on drinks...that is ABSOLUTELY not true...servers tip out about 25% of their total tips so if they get $100 then they are tipping out $25. In some places they tip a certain percentage (e.g. 10%) of their alcohol sales so if you don't tip on your $10 drink that they had to order from the bar, serve to you and clean your empty glass...it would have cost them $1 because they are still tipping out on that sale whether they got a tip from you or not. I make a living waiting tables at an upscale steakhouse in Las Vegas and we go through weeks of training learning the food, the company, and the clientele. The tips you give the server go to not only the server but also the hostess', the bussers, and the bartenders so if you cheat the server...the whole restaurant is affected.

Also, if you sit at your table for an hour or more after you have finished dinner, you should tip more because you are costing that server money that can be made from more guests that would occupy that table. You have to remember that these servers work for their TIPS..their hourly rate doesn't even cover their taxes....a tip is basically paying for the service...if you don't want to tip then go somewhere that is self serve.

Answer 3

Like someone said, they only get about $2-$3 an hour base pay. Tipping is what makes it worthwhile - or not. If the service is passable, I tip 15%. If it's very good, I tip 20%. If it's a place I frequent on a regular basis, I tend to tip even a little higher - keeps the service excellent! Remember, too, that in many places the waitress has to share her tips with the busboy, hostess, etc.

Answer 4

well lets start by saying i am a coo for a local restaurant and it is a nice thing to have some body tip. as a cook i look for three things in a place of food " even if its McDonald's" fist i look at the way the wait staff is acting ."attitude" 2ND i look for how far they may go to make my wait be as pleasant as possible 3rd how fast the food come out . now i know that it is not the wait staffs dealing on how long the food takes to cook. but what I'm talking about is if you see 6 people sitting around drinking soda water eating talking it might be about 20 minuets before the food come to the window but if there is more than that you need to base it upon how many tables there are filled with two or more people so add 6 min. to that 20. 10 percent is a good start but i say for every 10 dollars you spend 50 cents to 1.50 that is a good rate .

Answer 5

The general rule is 15 - 20%. You do want to think about how the service was and tip accordingly, but this is how they make their living. The don't live off of their hourly wage. Servers sometimes get a check for $0 because they have to pay taxes on the tips they receive, and that tax money comes out of their pay check.

Answer 6

Hi I used to be a waiter. If the service was OUTSTANDING!! I mean the best you ever had then 20% on the total of the food.(never include drinks)If service was great to good 15% O.K. then 10% So-So and below you leave 1 penny. This shows you didn't forget to tip but the service was not worth a tip. If you leave nothing they will just think you forgot.

Answer 7

I believe if you double the tax your safe. When I tip I usually double the tip then add more for exceptional service. If I only ordered something small that would amount to only 1 or 2 dollars I just leave $5.00. These people are trying to make a living so it is always better to ere on the side of generous.

Answer 8

15% is the norm now days. You can tip more if you think it was an outstanding service, like if they go out of their way for something that you request. What i resent is that we have to tip not on ly because we are happy with the service, but to help wealthy restaurants and diners owners that get away by charging a lot and
don't paying a decent salary to their workers

Answer 9

If you tip below 10% the service must have been had, therefore you shouldn't tip at all. 20% is above average.

Remember MOST of the servers are not paying full income tax on their under the counter tips. They can claim 9 % with a deal with the government, I hear.

For basically rude, non-skilled workers, they do pretty well.

Answer 10

yeah it is fair b/c if you're sitting behind a desk earning you're fixed salary and the waitress is out there on a maybe $2.00 / hour job , they have to put on a happy face and EARN it by being polite and hoping they get a tip so they can make more than $2 for that hour. it's a little different than sitting behind the desk knowing everyday how much you are gonna earn that day, unlike a waiter/waitress who doesn't know if he/she is gonna have a shitty buisness day or not . Sorry but that's just my opinion. And I always heard to tip 15% . :)

Answer 11

You don't HAVE to tip anything unless gratuity is automatically added. You are SUPPOSED to tip for appreciation for excellent service. I tip 20% or more for really great service. 10-15% if it is good but not great and if it is lousy I do not tip and complain to the manager and to the waiter/waitress on top of not tipping!