When you eat at a restaurant, do you always make sure that your waiter/waitress gets a tip?

Question

If so, how much do you usually give him/her?

Do you normally offer the tip directly to your waiter or do you leave it on the table instead as you're leaving for someone else to "steal"?

If you don't ever tip, how do you make your swift & discreet exit from the restaurant without being noticed by your waiter?

Do you try to sneak out the back door or something?!?



I want to hear the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

Thanks!






P.S. NOTICE TO BRITISH FOLKS: PLEASE ABSTAIN YOURSELVES FROM RESPONDING TO MY QUESTION AS I AM FULLY AWARE THAT YOU DON'T EVER TIP WAITERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM!!!

Answer 1

As a former restaurant owner, if you get a tip from me.... you earn it. If I don't give a tip... I'll tell you why and what might help to correct the problem. They can take it as I meant it to be... constructive criticism, or not. I don't really care. When I do tip, a sufficient service will get you 15 to 20% of my bill. Over and above the call of duty.... I might equal the bill as a tip. A good waitstaff can earn a decent living if they do their job. I've seen it from both sides, so depending on the conditions in the restaurant, I see what a lot of people don't, or don't even know to pay attention to.
When the waitstaff does a fantastic job, I make sure to give it to them personally, and have been known to ask to see the chef/cook to tip them as well. Even the best service can be totally ignored if the food isn't what you expect. Its a team effort, all the way from the hosts to the waitstaff and kitchen.
I have my favorite restaurants... and when I go in the door... they know what I expect.
Trainees are fun.... within a visit or two, they can be molded into exemplary employees.

Answer 2

I am in America, and a few times when the service was definitely abysmal, I didn't tip a single cent and walked across the front door.

Once in New York, where the tip always comes with the bill, I refused to pay it to a particularly disgusting waiter. Yes, there was a small scandal and he called his manager. After an unpleasant interchange of words, I simply left.

Don't be afraid to enforce your right to get a good service. The American way of making the client guilty if they leave no tip is a complete travesty. Basically it means the owner pays the waiters 15 % less than what they should receive. I usually tip around 15 % like most people do, but I reserve the right to zero tip those who don't do squat to deserve it.

Answer 3

I tip 20% rounded up to the next dollar (unless there is gratuity on the bill). It depends on how I have to pay for the meal if I give the tip to the waiter/waitress or leave it on the table. If I have to pay the bill at a register, the tip gets left on the table. If the waiter/waitress takes the money, he/she will get the tip at that time. A thing everyone should know about waitstaff is that their employers can pay them less than minimum wage by factoring in an estimated tip. You should always tip the waitstaff or not eat out. Another thing is that you should base your tip on the price before any coupons are applied.

Answer 4

I usually have an idea what the meal is going to cost, so I like to tip 10% ahead of time.

When I do that I let them know I want my glasses full and my meal fast. It works quite well and if the service is spot on (or better), I leave more at the end.

Most waiters like it that way, though at first it takes them by surprise, getting a piece of their tip ahead of time.

Answer 5

I used to wait tables and my husband used to be a restaurant cook. (thats how we met....no..don't say how cute...)
I ALWAYS tip the waitress/waiter...unless the service is LESS than I expect. I know how to order (correctly..I read menu's) I also ask questions. If I don't like the food, I call the manager over...if the service is bad, I leave mail for the company, on their web site. (most restaurants have those now.) I never yell at the wait staff or the manager...but I believe that when I order something it should be the way I want it and it should be whats printed in the menu....

I normally tip 20% or more...depends on the wait staff and season...(more at Christmas)

I shop at a commissary (AF) and the baggers work for tips..At Christmas I always tip more ( usually it's $5. during the rest of the yr.)...I gave my bagger $10 at Christmas...I made her cry..then she had to hug me...

If people perform a service for you and you DON'T tip, then shame on you...being a tightwad will not get you anywhere...you can't take money with you when you die.

Answer 6

First off, I am American. Second, I have been a waitress for about 7 years. (Not in the same place, and more recently I bar tend, anyway). If I get good service I leave $5 for anything under $20. Whether its a $3 tab or more. Over $20 I give between 20 and 25%. If I get bad service I leave no tip. I don't hide or run. I look them strait in the eye as I leave. I work hard for my money, I will not hand it over to someone who did not do their job. And, I hand them the tip.

Answer 7

Waitresses rely mainly entirely on their tips because they don't make a hourly wage like other professions. Tipping a waitress is a way of thanking them for waiting on you hand and foot. The next time you go to a place to eat count how many times they go to and from your table to get you things. It isn't a easy job. The average amount of times a waitress helps one table has got to add up. Always tip!! I usually tip the waitress 10% of the bill or more. Never any smaller. There is no need to sneak out the back door. Just keep in mind that a tip is better then No tip at all. Put yourself in their shoes.

Answer 8

I try to give at least a 20 % tip for a good waiter/waitress.
If they are "so-so" , I will leave 15 %
If they are terrible, and it's due to being new, I leave them a big tip and am nice to them--they need to know they will get better and we understand. If they are bad because they don't seem to care -- then they get a very small tip.
If they are nearby, I hand them the tip. If I don't see them and need to leave, I put it on the table.

Answer 9

I always tip. I leave it on the table and the waiter/waitress gets it. I usually tip 15%. If the tip should be $2.15 I usually round up to $3.00. That is the custom in Czech so I also do it here in the states. Good luck and God Bless!

Answer 10

Dude I leave a tip on the table. I usually tip twice the tax if not more depending on what kind of a mood I am in.