We usually tip well, in the 25% range and up. BUT - I get seriously annoyed at the servers who think they’re entitled to 20% and up. When did that happen? I’m not that old. Food prices have already gone up a whole lot, and restaurants are empty, so when you are expected to add 25% plus close to 10% in taxes to a restaurant bill...no wonder the restaurants are consistently empty now.
We tip high because we can afford it, I worked in a restaurant for a few years, and I know there are cheap people who tip nothing. I still get annoyed at the entitlement mentality of people with NO education and really minimal job skills. Yeah, food service is hard...so are lots of other jobs. You don’t like your earnings in food service, then get into a different line of work. (On the flip side, if somebody doesn’t like tipping, DON’T eat in restaurants where you are expected to tip, or you are a world class jerk because you KNOW those servers are being paid slave wages unless you tip.)
In a fine dining establishment you should try to tip at least 18%-20%. Fine dining to me means running up a bill of %100 or more for two people. 25% is nice for the server, not obligatory in my book
In a more humble place shoot for at least 15% tip
There is no excuse for not being able to figure out 15%
Just divide your bill by 7 and you have it
Thus a $14 bill (pretax) means a $2 tip for that to reach 15%