How much should you tip your server?

Question

So being that it is the Holiday season, I notice, as a server, that tips tend to decrease. I realize that money is tight and that you need to buy presents for your family and friends. Why are you going out to dinner if you can't afford to tip your server? The thing is, guests don't realize is that the money tipped is not the money that your server keeps. Servers have to tip out bussers, bartenders, and in some instances food expeditors and hostesses. Regardless of the tip that is left, servers are taxed on the full amount of sales. What that means to someone not working in the food industry is that you can work a 40 hour week and still get a paycheck every two weeks of $150- $200. For parties of seven or more the gratuity placed is generally placed at 18% of the bill. Tips are the base of our income. Can you please keep that in mind for our familes during the holidays?

Answer 1

10-20%, unless special favors are asked and performed; then 30%.

Answer 2

Traditionally, servers are paid by tips. They are exempt from minimum wage laws because of this, which means they are getting - the last time I checked - 2.97 per hour. Why are they paid by tips? Partly because it's always been like that. Partially because the server can make such a difference in how pleasant a meal is. A good server makes you feel at home, remembers the drink order of 8 people at a table, and refills without needing to be told. A bad server gives everyone the wrong drink, leaves you to go dry. A good server makes sure the order is right, gives the salad people time to eat salad, reminds the meat-eaters that the plate is HOT, etc. Simply put, your server makes the difference between whether your meal is pleasant or a pain in the butt. It's a lot of work, requiring smarts, heavy lifting, and attention to detail. And, if you are a Capitalist, the best reason to tip your server is that this weeds out the people who are incompetent. If the server is bad, less tip and when they can't make a living they drop out of the field. But the good servers are rewarded, so they have a better life, which makes them happier, which makes them better servers yet. When you tip appropriately, it also proves that you are an experienced person who knows how the world works.

Answer 3

I use to be a waiter and then switched to being a banquet waiter in a hotel restaurant. There were many weddings and events being done all the time. There the tip is built right into the customer pay check and people also tip you for getting drinks and other things beyond the normal banquet terms. I would make $100-$150 a day working for the Hyatt and other companies. Funny thing, I also discovered the worst tippers of all were Blacks, then Doctors, then Jews-apologies if I sound stereotypical. They also argued the most. The best tippers were politicians, businessmen, entertainment and people at weddings.

I know this will should racist, but the poor tippers were so regular, I would always call in sick or find a way to get a different event when they came in.

People who short tip you any time are not playing by the 15% rule. It also maybe that your restaurant has poor food or customers like that. If they is so, I recommend working for a different place

Answer 4

10% is exceptable as long as the service & the food are the same.
That doesn't mean taking my order & slapping down my food.
A smile & being attentive will get you more.
I don't enjoy having to pour my own wine or looked at stupidly when i ask for something like how dare i.
Most servers these days are there own worst enemies. They have an attitude from the moment you sit down.
I appreciate good service as i have spent more than 15 years in the industry & will definetly tip accordingly.
Give the service that is expected & you will receive what you are worth. Thats what makes the difference between a server & a professional.
I know the customer is not always right. Some of them are just complete wankers.
However if you always have the attitude that they are right even when they are not you will be compensated & your family will benefit.
Remember its your family that you are doing it for & not the customers.
Smile as they walk out the door & then call them every name under the sun once they've left as your counting your tip jar.

Answer 5

I personally think tips should be incuded in all bills of everyone who is dining in the resturant. That way you dont get someone that's cheap and runs the staff around but doens't want to fork up anything. When I go out to eat it's always a 20% if there good and at the least it's 15% if we had bad service. I used to work in the industry and understand about having to be tipped out by the wait staff. I agee with you. If you can't afford to tip the people that are serving you stay at home and cook yourself a meal!

Answer 6

I'm sorry but 10% is just not exceptable!! Has everyone forgotten that 15% is the standard. In this day and age 10% of most tabs are not very much. Why don't people realize that just because I don't work a 9-5 job doesn't mean that I don't work hard. I realize that customer service is what pays my bills so I have to give everyone great service. But for what when there are many people out there that think 10% is a good tip?!

Answer 7

A tip of 10-15% is sufficient for a waitress or server. In large groups, gratuities are generally figured into the bill.

If you're feeling generous, a tip larger than 15% would certainly be appreciated by the serving staff, but not necessary.

Although, if your service was not good it's best to bring that to the attention of management, but do leave an appropriate tip regardless.

Wait staff that pander and solicit a tip should be reported to management also. Such as with the inappropriate way this question was asked and answered by the asker.

Answer 8

I take the total bill and divide it by six. That is usually about 12%, that is the minimum! If it was great service, tip higher. I left a $5 tip the other day and didnt even eat. The restraunt was out of both menu items that I wanted. I was told this after the server brought out my tea. It was NOT HER FAULT the place didnt stock properly. and I took up her table and time. Just put yourself in your servers place and treat them how you would want to be treated.

Answer 9

When I go out, I always tip 5 dollars for each person who is eating. I know that is alot but my fiancee', my aunt, and my sister all work in the food industry and I know how much tips mean to the waiter/waitress.

Answer 10

as a professional waiter...

i can easily say, get over yourself and that was not a question, but a rant.

tonight i got stiffed on an $80 tab... they wrote in "cash" in the tip part of their CC slip, but left nothing...

i truly believe that it was an oversight, AND that i will see them again (and not mention it to them).

sure it bothered me, but it doesn't change anything.

if you stop looking at each tip and see the average, you may get over yourself and realize that tomorrow still comes...

if i seem mean by saying get over yourself, i'm sorry... but it took me a long time to do it myself and i would save anyone the process if i could.

Answer 11

I leave 20% unless the service was poor, then 10% (zero if the service was abysmal). If the service was exceptional 20%+