Tipping a waitress?

Question

does a waitresses preformance decide how much of a tip you give her? Inorder for you to give her a really goos tip. what does she have to do? I am a waitress and make pretty good tips, how can I make more?

Answer 1

I have spent my entire career as a restaurateur observing great waiters and teaching others what I have learned. Essentially, a great waiter is a "care-giver". One must cosset one's guests. Equally important are the following: 1. a professional appearance (waiters do best if they APPEAR to have the same socio-economic standards as their guests), 2. a great knowlege of your product line. (you wouldn't want to buy a pair of shoes from an expert on V-8 engines) 3. you should think of your role as a consultant. (advise guests who order appetizers and entrees with similar sauces that they may want to consider another option) 4. STAY IN YOUR STATION (be available to your guests by simply maintaining a chance for eye contact. nothing worse that needing a waiter who is 10 feet away yet has his back to the guests and talking to another staff member. Remember that you can chat with co-workers and watch your guests at the same time. 5. Great service is never noticed. (anticipate guests' needs and provide them without having to be asked.

I could go on forever (as you might suspect). Also, look as if you are enjoying your work even if you are having a bad day. (never let 'em see you sweat) Even great waiters get the occasional crappy tip. Just remember that they all even out in the long run and that the benefits that come with this career are pretty amazing (flexible schedules and tax evasion come to mind). If you want a steady and predictable income get out of the restaurant biz.

Answer 2

The performance by the waitress/waiter does affect the amount most people tip. A nice appearance, smile, pleasant person that knows the menu and can offer suggestions helps a lot. We dine out frequently with friends and enjoy it when the waitress listens to our requests. We prefer to order our beverages and then an appetizer. After we finish the appetizer we order the main course and if we want dessert, it will be ordered at the end of the meal. When the waiter does as we suggest and the food is good, you can bet the tip will be 20-25 percent.

Answer 3

Yes, her performance does indicate how much I tip. However, I always tip AT LEAST 15% nothing less. So when I assess a waitress's performance I do it to indicate if I'm going to leave 20%. I'm pretty patient and non demanding, so 9 times out of 10, I leave 20%.

Anything else less then 15% is just an insult. Unless the waitress verbal or physically assaults you, or is so rude---you shouldn't leave less.

Answer 4

I have never stiffed a server. I would only do that if they were hateful, yelled at me etc. If I was adverse to tipping or broke I would cook for myself or eat fast food.

I leave 10% for bad service
I leave 15% for mediocre service
I leave 20% for good service
I tip above 20% for great service

I consider good service when the server keeps my drinks at least half full and communicates well with me on when certain items will be out. It isn't the servers fault if the kitchen is slow, but I like to know if there is a delay.


If people think tipping is stupid they should eat at McDonalds or Subway.

Oh and to the absolute moron who said 10% was too much for the server who took 10 minutes to 'find' the table....get over yourself buddy. I have experienced much MUCH worse, and I still am classy and respectful enough to leave 15% in that situation. It is not her fault how fast the kitchen is. Of course your associates would agree with you, illbred and demanding people tend to get along very well. Let me guess, they were your buddies or family right? Cheapskate.

Answer 5

well remember when your tipping the waiter your also tipping the wntire restaurant the peopel who clean your tables the kitchen staff everyone. so if you think the waitress is bad still tip just myabe only 10% if its just okay 15% and a really good waitress deserves 20% if it was amazing... they usually make most of their money off of tips seeing as waitresses are usually paid minimum wage. and the majority are going through university so its only kind .. it is a hard and stressful job.

Answer 6

I used to wait tables at a diner type place. One woman consistantly out paced all of us in tips. One day she finally told me how she did it. She continually cleans the table while people are still at it, every time she went to the table to see how the meal was, she would take away empty plates. By the time they got up to leave, she walked over, washed down the table and picked up her tip. Then, her section was always open for more customers. She turned her tables over quicker. That is the secret. If you can only get 22% basically, and you only have 5 tables, the more times you turn the table over, the more opportunites you have to make 22%.
Good Luck

Answer 7

Her performance absolutely depends on how much she will receive for a tip. I went to Olive Garden the other day with six other people and the waitress was totally scatter-brained. She didn't offer us wine until after we were finished with our dinner; didn't bring salad and bread sticks until our entrees were out; and our appetizers didn't come until she offered us wine at the end of our meal. We asked for boxes but never received them. One of the people in my party sent their food back to be heated up and she brought it back when she brought our tickets. We ordered dessert and then she brought us the tickets, but no dessert. She stood there and read our tickets and handed them out, when we looked at them, the were all handed to the wrong people. Then she rang up the wrong tickets with the wrong credit cards. I constantly had an empty glass of water, I finally ended up getting up and going to refill it myself. She wasn't even new, she said that she had worked there for seven years. I only left her a $3 tip. Even with that, I thought is was gracious. I spoke with the manager and told him our situation and the "service" we received. He said that our waitress had a large area and was having difficulties managing her tables recently. He also gave each of the people in my party a free entree on their next visit-to which I was grateful.
Last night, BF and I went to IHOP and the service was exceptional. Drink glasses were constantly full, empty plates were removed from the table and the food was hot. I left her a $15 tip on a $20 bill.
Your tip depends on your service, be attentive. If you can't see the steam coming off food when it should be, have it reheated before you bring it out. That is what people expect when they pay more money for food when they dine out than if they cooked it at home.

Answer 8

Be attentive to their needs, fill their water/drink glasses asking if they would like more, have a smile on your face, even when they seem like jerks, remember the customer is always right, which usually isn't the case, but, act like it, but, don't be too pushy. I've waitressed years ago, and found that people like you to come around, but, not too often, being a waitress and a customer, I hate it when they are always there, give them room to breathe, talk, ect...get the feel of how they are, if they are alone, with people, ect..and go with your gut, but, always be attentive, but, not overbearing.

Answer 9

Just being friendly and coming back to check on us several times will get you a good tip from me. My fiance usually figures 15% of the check, more if REALLY GOOD, less if not so good.

Just be courteous and attentive.

Answer 10

Nice attitude, professionally dressed, sociable, attentive, confident poise, prompt. That's the ticket to the tip.