Tipping rules?

Question

What are some good guidelines for tipping at resturants

Answer 1

15% for respectable, adequate service. Nothing you're going to compliment, but nothing to complain about either.

20% for excellent service. More if they've done something really over the top; done something extraordinary to ensure that you've enjoyed yourself.

10% if the service was just off, but not rude.

It's fine to leave less than that (or nothing) if the server was rude to you -- but it's a good idea to tell a manager, just so that server doesn't continue to ruin the restaurant's reputation.


Servers rely on their tips. Personally, I think the job would be seen as a profession rather than a minimum wage job if they were paid a fair wage for their job. Servers in good restaurants, ie; upscale with real wine lists, aren't just slinging hash. They know food, they know wine and their job isn't close to the same as the job of a McDonald's cashier. That isn't the way it is, however. Instead, they make anywhere from $2.13 to $7.50 an hour + tips. (Oregon pays $7+. Most other states are somewhere in the $2 or $3 range.)

The customs dictate the "rules". It has been that way for about a hundred years, and the IRS accepts that the bulk of a server's income will be tips. The National Restaurant Association likes it this way because they keep their labor costs down, and the lobby they have on the government is huge.

Serving will always be a commission-based job. The hourly wage will be low, but the rewards can be great for a good server. The difference is that instead of a fixed percent, in the serving situation, the client has direct decision-making ability about the percentage the server will make in commission.

Servers in a family restaurant might make $6/hour in tips. But a server in a Morton's (or the like) might average $30-$40/hour in tips. It's all about menu-prices, service level, and server skill.

The job's not easy and I couldn't ever do it again, but I had a lot of fun and made a ton of money in fine dining.

Answer 2

Typically 15%-25% depending on how good the service is. If the service is really bad, I leave 10% and fill out the comment card or let the manager know. Also, you should be tipping on the % of the entire amount of the bill, not the discounted rate for those that have coupons, etc. I used to be a server and know how hard it can be. That is why I never leave less than the 10% for really bad service. I was also in management at one point and understand the need to know if the customer is walking out very unhappy, so I let them know that the service could improve. Better that than never coming back again. As a side note, back when I did wait tables I remember having some preconceived notions about certain groups of people. I recall not wanting any singles thinking that it would not be worth my time. Well, let me tell you when I dine out now when I am alone and I can tell that someone does not want to wait on me because I am "not worth it", their tip absolutely reflects it. Conversely, if they treat me like everyone else I always tip well above the standard amount.

Answer 3

Waiter/ress' normally get paid way UNDER minimum wage. Chiefs and other cooks get paid a lot more than watier/ress'. If the wait staff was to get paid minimum wage or more than the prices at the resaurant would be very high, and the average person would not be able to eat out on occasion. Also its a service, its customary to tip people in service roles such as waiter/ress, delivery people, manicurist, hairstylist ect.... If you were hired by a company to just load boxes then who is going to tip you if you don't deal with the public? The average wait person makes $92 a week if they worked full time without tips. You made $240 a week without tips. Please don't get into that get a better job. If no one is willing to be a server in a reasurant, then they're wouldn't be a lot of nice sit down reasurants. That would take a lot of money out of local economy's. Also you have no idea what a persons situation is you can't just say get a better job and poof they are magically qualified for that job. Some people are high school and college students or its their 2nd job. If you don't want to tip then don't you seem to have a chip on your shoulder about tipping. Its really not that serious.

Answer 4

A lot of people do not realize that servers make anywhere from $2.13 to $3.00 an hour. Tips are how they make their money, as the hourly rate is usually taken out in taxes. Tip anywhere from 10 to 25 % depending on service. If the resturant is really busy, give the server a little more time to get your order and drinks, they are busy, not just being lazy.

Answer 5

I always always always leave 20 percent. I am of course, a server. And I know what you go through in a night. I had to leave work one night because so many people were yelling at me. I had someone yell at me because the food wasn't good, yet they ate the whole thing, I had someone yell at me becuase they didn't like their wine, and I had a lady get in my face because she was too drunk to remember what she drank. Need I remind you, I'm not a cook or a bartender, I'm just the waitress. I know you are probably saying, big deal, but at the end of the night, not only do i have to tip my busboys, but i have to tip my bartender. So let's say I made 100 dollars, 20 percent goes to my busboy, and 10 percent goes to my bartender, so i leave with 70 dollars. That's if there are only one of each. Say there were two of each, I'd leave with 40 dollars. What you leave for a waitress is not for her, it's for serveral other people. If the waitress is absolutely horrible, i leave 15%, if she is ok, i leave 20%, and if she is really good, i'll leave more. I left a 50% tip one time. It's really up to you what you tip, but just consider what i've told you.

Answer 6

10%-20% is the average of what consumers tip in restaurants. I do 15% most often. I suggest that you tip according to your service but still following the 10-20% rule, unless you get exceptional service feel free to tip more.

Answer 7

15% is the least you should ever tip. I dont know where that rule comes from, but its pretty much the norm.
Usually I tip 20% for good service, for outstanding 25%, but I rarely tip lower than 20%. You have to be pretty awful to get 15% from me. Plus its easier math-wise to tip a round number.

Answer 8

The guidelines are simple. You are supposed to tip your waiter/waitress 15-20% of your bill. If they didn't do very good serving you, you might want to give them a little less. I guess it all depends if the waiter/waitress did a good job serving. I mean, why should you reward some one when they didn't earn it. That's my opinion, but it is generally between 15-20%. I hope I helped you! : )

Answer 9

I'm so glad someone asked this! I'm a server and I have so many trashy people that good excellent service and leave 10% or less! 10% is for bad service, 15% for average, and 20% for good service. Believe me, if you tip bad, they WILL remember you. People that tip 10% eat a lot of stuff they don't want to....

Answer 10

You know alot of people will go by percents, but it truly does matter on how well your service was! If your waiter or waitress was bad, didn't bring your food while it was still warm, or filled your drink, are you really going to want to leave a decent tip?!