Should I have tipped this waitress?

Question

I went to a restaurant with my dad, and ordered. I was talking with my dad, and the last thing I was thinking about was the food. Without giving it a second thought (why should I,) I began eating the bread from the bread basket on the table. All the sudden, the waitress comes almost angry at me telling me the food is about to be ready. My dad even laughed telling me I shoudn't spoil my appetite.

When we left my dad was surprised I left a tip, but I always do that.

Why did she get mad I was eating the bread from the basket they put on my table?

Answer 1

Your dad knew you were a sucker to pay for an insult.

Answer 2

I agree with the others that she may have been upset previously, she probably had not intended to snap at you. There really is no way of knowing.

Was the service fast, the food good, and otherwise a generally good and pleasant experience, then yes the tip was justified.

People often forget the rest of the good service, and food, when one off chance thing may happen. It is always polite for a person to tip, it is almost rude to not tip since waiters and waitresses make less than minimum wage because tips are counted. If the service is terrible small tip, if the service is sufficient a standard 10% tip, and if it is excellent 15% is nice. They will generally get the hint.

People should have more compassion and sensitivity towards persons in the food service industry. They have to deal with a lot of rotten people each day as well. Imagine two dollars an hour of your pay taken from you for cursing at the computer, or short with a collegue, or frustrated because paper shreder barfs on you. Unfortunately not everyone is as generous and understanding as yourself.

Answer 3

I would have still tipped her, but maybe not as much as I would ordinarily. Think of it like a scale. She was rude, but didn't actually ruin your meal. So maybe 10%. Ordinary service with issues is 15%. Excellent service is 20% (or more if they're just amazing and you've got money to spend). Only if they server does something AWFUL would I not leave a tip. It would have to be bad enough that I would never go back the restaurant. You can't stiff the waitstaff (even deservedly) and ever expect good service there again.

Answer 4

First you say "almost angry", then you say "mad". Make up your mind- was she angry or wasn't she?

Before NOT leaving a tip it's best to talk to the manager or supervisor to clarify the situation. It won't necessarily change the situation, but it will bring the issue to management's attention and that reduces the chances of the same thing happening again. In this case, I think it would have been appropriate for you to raise your eyebrows at the waitress and say, "I'm sorry?" Then you could have figured out what she meant, because it's not very clear.

Answer 5

something does not add up. There is no reason the waitress would get mad at a customer for eating the bread on the table. Something must have annoyed her enough to yell at you. And always leave a tip for the service people.

Answer 6

i've been working in a restaurant for 9 years, been a manager for 6 of them.

if one of my waitresses did that, i'd make them apologize - there is NO reason the server should care if you ate the bread on the table

usually when i go out to eat, me and my date will sometimes eat as much as two loaves of the bread (especially when it's got that deliciously sweet butter) and if a server yelled at me, i'd just get up, put on my jacket, and thank her for the opportunity to see how i would be treated there. before leaving, i'd let a manager know that the reason i'm not staying is because the server doesn't want me to stay and eat.

Answer 7

Maybe you took it the wrong way, sometimes I get flustered with one table and turn to another one still looking flustered to tell them something. If she truly didn't want you to eat the bread, you should have talked to a manager if you felt she was rude. I would have still left her some kind of tip, but I am a server and know they only get paid 2.13 an hour.

Answer 8

I've been a server for the last 3 yrs, while I am going through school. And that is crazy. I wouldn't give a crap if they ate something before their meal got there.
I would tip because you got your service, she's just crazy.
I just hate ppl who treat servers like crap.....
And you should tip because I don't go to your job and get a quote from you on let's say fixing my car.
But the guy at the front desk wasn't that pleasant to me, can I really tell them I'm not paying the quote you gave me because you have rude workers....
You can't do it at other jobs then why should you do it to a server?

Answer 9

Maybe she was just angry about something else and it just appeared that she was angry when she announced it to you. The bread is suppose to be there for you as an appetizer before the meal anyway. She shouldn't have taken it out either way on you. I probably would have said something to her right then, like,,,, "You seem a bit irritated, Was it something I ate?" Just to see if she would have apologized and said what she was really angry for.

Answer 10

Under those circumstances, I'd have probably left a very small tip. I usually tip more than the standard 15%, but if the server is rude, would adjust significantly downward.

Answer 11

This really makes no sense !!
If you don't finish your meal you could get a box and take it home anyway.....right?
I think you were reading too much into the tone of a person's voice that you do not know !!
Take it all with a grain of salt, and remember that there are all kinds of different personalities out there that you are yet to be familiar with.
And always remember and
please don't EVER forget,
ALWAYS TIP YOUR SERVER !!!!