Restaurant tipping - advice?

Question

Are you supposed to tip on the total bill - including the tax? Or just the food & beverage portion, excluding the tax?

It makes a big difference in NYC where the tax is nearly 9%

Answer 1

I tip on the whole bill, usually 20% unless I was unhappy, then 10-15%. Actually even if the bill was $100, and the tax is $9, the additional tip is only about 1.50, so I'm not sure why you're asking about it. Not meaning to be smart, just pointing out that if you're spending $100, another dollar or two isn't much worth worrying about. And if the bill is $50, the additional tip is less than a dollar.

Answer 2

Ettiquette-wise, you are supposed to leave at least a 15% tip in a restaurant if you are satisfied with the service. Here in NYC, what my friends and family have always done to figure out how much of a tip to leave is to double the amount of tax to the nearest dollar, since it is in the area of 15%. Given, it's a little bit more, but it does give you a fair estimate which you can then adjust higher or lower, depending on the quality of service you recieved.

Answer 3

Generally what I do is double the tax and then round to the next dollar UP. That is the least I will tip, unless the service was just horrible. Normally, if it was great service and a restaurant I frequent, I'll tip around 25% to ensure I'll get the same great service the next time I go in.

Answer 4

Tip on the portion excluding the tax.

Answer 5

the total...for example if the total food cost is $30 than you tip 15%-20% of that 30 dollars...so the tip would be 4.50 or 6...

Answer 6

I leave 15-20% all of the time, unless the waiter waitress is snotty and the service is bad, then I leave 50 cents.

Answer 7

I tip 20% on the whole bill.