How much should I tip at a restaurant?

Question

How much should I tip if I get great service, good service, adequate service or bad service?

If I get great service I would tip anywhere above 25%, if I get good service I would tip 20-25%, if I get adequate service I would tip 10-20%, if I get bad service I would tip anywhere less than 10%, if I get extremely poor service I would tip them a quarter and report them to the manager.

Answer 1

Your check covers the food and drinks you ordered at dinner. Your tip covers the service you received.

Tips are based on service, not food quality, ambience or whatever else. Tips are you're way of communicating your agreement with the level of service you recieved. If you're steak was under-cooked, that's not the servers fault; if the server does nothing to fix the situation, ie, ask to take it back to the kitchen to get re-fired and brought up to the right temp, then that is their fault.
As a chef, I've seen it all, from tables not tipping at all to tables leaving $1000 on a $400 ticket. Tips are expected by servers because that's their pay for the job they provide. THEY DO NOT GET PAYED BY THE RESTAURANT.
In fact the more money they make in tips, the less money they recieve in the form of a paycheck as the taxes from their tips come out of their paycheck.
The bottom line is this, if you want service when you eat out you need to pay for it like you would anything else. Just because it's called a 'tip' doesn't mean it becomes optional, it just means it's at your discretion to decide the amount.

If I'm not pleased with the food (which does happen), I let the server know, it's something that he/she should know, as they can let the kitchen know that food isn't coming out seasoned correctly or to the right temp. (I rely on my servers to let me know if my kitchen isn't producing the best food they can)
Even if the food isn't up to snuff, the server still provided the service I expected and I will gladly pay them for that service. Since I appreciate good service, I will tip up 100% of the check total (to a limit...) on average I tip between 20% and 30%, if a server doesn't provide the level of service that is expected, then I will let them know on a comment card, but I still make it a habit to not tip less than 12 or 15%
Additionally, servers tip out many different positions in the restaurant, as the servers relies on those positions to help provide the diners with the level of service expected. It's amazing how little servers are left with after tipping out 10% to the food runners, 12% to 15% to the back servers, 5% of wine sales to sommeliers, 10% of drink sales to the bartenders, 8% to the hosts, and the kitchen. It's not unreasonable for asserver to tip out as much as 45% of their tips to the other members of the service team (just because they don't introduce themselves at the beginning of the night doesn't mean they don't play a vital part in your dining experince.)

Answer 2

If you go to a buffet I personally leave a couple bucks on the table, since someone is always coming and taking away your plates and stuff. the standard is about 15% of your bill however if your server is above average and your meal is great etc, you could go 20% of your bill. If you are a regular at a place and become known to tip well the servers will be falling allover themselves to make sure you have a good experience for that tip. If you pay by credit card, you have the choice to tip on your card (servers get these in cash) or just leave the tip on the table as you would normally. i like to do this personally since there is always the chance that a dishonest server could add another 0 to the tip amount. better to be safe than sorry. As for the restaurant asking for a tip, i would assume that if it was for a group of people that they would include a tip with the bill. Some restaurants do this as some people are real a holes when it comes to a large group.

Answer 3

Tip the server based on their service. If the food doesn't taste good or your steak was over cooked, guess what, not my fault. That should not affect my tip. Now if you're staring at an empty glass for a while, something that is within my power, sure deduct "some" not give them a buck because you're a cheap ***, and was already looking for an excuse to leave a bad tip. Servers usually make half of minmum wage, so there is no such thing as a paycheck. It's all about tips. If they were excellent, tip them 30%. If your bills was 10.00 and they were excellent give 'em a 5. If people want to have all of these rediclously high expectations and they get met then put your money where your mouth is. If you are one of those "chicken with extra seasoning, french fries no season, hold the lettuce tomatoe pickle, beverage with my meal not now, sauce on the side,extra this, side of that " type of people just stay at home. I bring you your food, that's it. I didn't cook it, and i'm not here to be your best friend. Just keep that in mind

Answer 4

The amount of your tip is at your discretion, but the more the merrier. Try thinking like your server - what would you want to recieve? Think karma.

In similar past posts, some folks have said, "I don't understand why I have to tip at all. In Europe, you don't have to tip. In Europe, 7-8% is a great tip," etc, etc.

In Europe, the restaurants pay their waitstaff. In America, restaurants don't pay their waitstaff. In America, the dining guests pay for their service. I can't answer the philosophocal "why?" but you should know this is the case. Base pay differs from state to state, but here in Colorado, servers rang in 2007 with joy, as hourly pay was raised from $2.13 to $3.85! Here, servers don't even get the meager minimum wage afforded to fast food workers!

Therefore, if a waiter or waitress provides you with service, you owe them something for their work. If you think they worked for it and did their best, then give whatever amount you can. Any server should be happy to get your 20-25% tip for good service. Know that if you give a tip of 30%, 40%, or more, you will make their day. If a server is rude or ignores you, disregard this advice. I'm just speaking for good service. Bad service has many roots. Talking to the manager as you suggested is probably the very best thing to do in that case.

I know people out there have said they are tired of tipping for everything, but I even give drive thru clerks a buck. They work hard and very quickly to provide you with a fast meal, and yet they can't afford to feed their families on the $6.85 an hour they make. When I worked the drive thru many years ago, even the rare 50 cent "keep the change" would make my day on the kind of wages I was getting. Money just doesn't stretch as far as it used to, so if you've got it, share the wealth!

Answer 5

I eat out at least 3 times a week and I am prone to tip at least 20% for adequate service and good food. If the food is bad or the service apathetic the tip is zero. If the service and the food are really good I will absolutely tip more than 20%. In fact if the server is working hard that can make up for a sub par kitchen in my eyes. I frequently will tip 30%+ if I can see an effort being made. Servers tend to get screwed on their base salary so if they make an extra effort I think it's appropriate to reward them.

Answer 6

You are right... great service deserves more than 25% and good should get 20 ish but adequate should get more towards the 20% as 10% is flat out offensive. Bad service should get about 15%.

Answer 7

I always start at 20%. Servers rely on their tips. If the service was out of this world, I'll go up to 25-30. If the service is poor, it's usually 18. Servers have to deal with so much bull while trying to keep a smile on their face.

Answer 8

While I agree with SKEETS, a tip should be based on service. If service is good, I tip 20%, if average 15% and if really poor, 10%. I also tell the server if the service is not up to snuff, and that is the reason for the low tip.

Answer 9

ptwyne.... bad anwer and bad habits... i used to work as a waiter and i have friends that still do.. you should watch the movie waiting with ryan reynolds. if you were thanked by a waitperson for not leaving a tip they were probably thanking you for returning so they could have the kitchen do things to your food. (drop it on the floor, add hair who knows). in most states waitstaff do not even make minimum wage so it is far from decent. it is an absolute insult not to tip..
the government has decided that because of the interaction between the waitstaff and the customer that the customer should have some say in what the waitstaff makes. you are literally making the waitstaff pay out of their pocket to serve you if you do not tip. this is because in addition to standard taxes taken out of their pay check waitstaff are also taxed on their sales amount. in california it is around %8 so if you have a $100 tab they would be taxed $8 just to wait on you. on top of that they split their tips with other positions in the restaurant (bussers, bar, etc.) on a $100 tab you would cost a waitperson at least $15. does your boss tax your check more everytime you do your job. probably not it is a different industry therefore subject to different rules.

basically i would say it depends on where you live.. you should check and see how much waitstaff are taxed based on their sales and tip at least that no matter what.then go up from there. i always leave %10. there is no reason to make someone pay for my meal if i go out to a restaurant to eat even if the service does suck.. if you only leave %10 they will more than likely get the message.

also when traveling you should always check for the customs where you will be visiting. it may be rude in japan to tip but rude in the U.S.. i don't know how many times i waited on people from other countries that didn't leave a tip because it wasn't customary where they were from. so check first.

also if no service was provided and you don't want to leave a tip then don't. i like to tip as well as the person waiting on me dictates but i will not leave a tip at a starbucks, or some fastfood type restraunt just because they put out tip jar.

Answer 10

15 percent is for standard service... if u get good service u should always tip above that... if u go to an establishment with a big party and "gratuity" is included and u get good service u should still tip another 15 percent.. i have been in the service industry for 5 years and i've had the 100 dollar tips and the ppl to stiff me... remember we make 2.13 an hour and most of that if not all is taken in taxes this is how we support our children... and if u don't have the money to tip then guess what! u don't have the money to go out hit up the mcdonalds dollar menu!!