What is the right %to tip when eating out?

Question

I am a waitress and people just don't tip well. Do people realize that we only make 2.33 an hour?

Answer 1

It sucks that you don't make much of a wage, here in Las Vegas you get at least $6.15 plus tips and I've worked at places where the pay you $9 plus tips and have excellent benefits.
Anyways, Im still offended by those who don't tip well. I generally strive to give the best possible service (except for the regular A holes that I know don't tip).
A large party should leave at least $1-2 per person, otherwise 15% min unless the service was horrid. Then I leave 10% or less. On etime a server came back to ask me how I wanted my VEGGIE burger cooked and I had to explain a VEGGIE burger is NOT meat, then I overheard her telling the manager I was rude and changed my order. WHAT? No tip for her.
A server that does a good job, remembers us (we frequent the same places over and over again) and doesn't assume that just because we're almost done eating means that we don't want refills get $5-$7 standard tip from the two of , when my daughter tags along it becomes a $7-$10 tip.

Answer 2

isn't 2.33 an hour less than min wage?!
i think the right amount to tip depends on the attitude of the waitress and it also depends on how much someone spent.
but the % should be about 8-10% unless the waitress was utterly horrible.

Answer 3

Normally, 15 to 20 percent of the total bill—20 percent for a first-class place. Note that people tip more in urban areas. According to the Zagat Survey, the average gratuity in city restaurants across the United States is about 18 percent. If you've had a drink at the bar, leave the bartender 15 to 20 percent, or at least $1 a drink. Give the coat-checker $1 a coat. Tipping sommeliers is optional (they usually get a share of the waiters' take), but if you'd like to tip them separately, you can slip them 10 to 20 percent of the cost of wine, in cash. (Subtract that amount from your total tip.) For food that's delivered to your home, tack on 15 percent. What about those tip jars on the counters at coffee and takeout joints? "The level of service a counter employee provides doesn't require a tip," says Peggy Post, head of the Emily Post Institute.

Answer 4

Its really not our problem. I don't mean to be flip but its not the customers problem that the restaurant you work for doesn't pay a living wage.

As far as tipping, I standardly tip 15-20% for good service, 25-30% for hands down excellent service and nothing for attitude and/or poor service. That also gets a complaint to the manager. As far as poor food, that is not the waiter/waitress's fault and even if the meal is comp'd, I tip according to what it would have cost.

Answer 5

LETS BE HONEST---You have never worked an 8 hour shift an got a pay check for the $18.64 you claim to get paid. I no longer tip---I pay taxes on every dime I earn and you do not. If I leave a tip at the Denny's how much do you expect me to leave??? The same for resteraunts that put the 18% gradutity on the check--I have it removed and pay for what I ate. I am no longer embarrassed. I am 60 and tired of people telling me how much to pay, I have seen it far too often waiters and watress out back on a smoke break bragging of the $1`25 that they have gotten so far for tips. I know that all the tips are not turned in at the end of the day. It is still not claimed for taxes. I no longer contribute to that type of tax evasion. One other comment: Gas prices are goin up and tips will go down--and so will the customer numbers. If this is your chosen profession you should not be complaining it is MY money that I give to you not the governments. If ya feel cramped by the wages there are other professions.

Answer 6

thats bad making that much an hour. good ettiqiute says at lleast 15% but maybe more if the waitress does a really good job,you still should be making at least 5 dollars an hour especially with the cost of living these days lol!

Answer 7

The general percentage is 10% for poor service, 15% for average service, 18 % for good service and 20% for exceptional service.

If the waiter/ waitress is very professional and helpful, I usually toss in a bit more, as it's well worth it for a satisfying dining experience.

Answer 8

How is your employer getting away with that kind of miserable pay??? That's way below minimum wage !

I tip 15% for mediocre service and 20% for good attentive service. I do not with hold the tip just because the kitchen is slow , but I do let the manager know.

Answer 9

Some people just don't care!! waitress are suppose to get at least 10% of the total bill,, as long as the service was good.

Answer 10

Yes I do. But I base my tip on the quality of serve and the attitude of the server. Give me a pissy attitude and you get a pissy penny tip give me a wonderful attitude and get a 15% tip.