Interesting perspective from the referenced site:
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TIPPING TO CUSTOMERS!!!!
I have seen several customer compliants on this site about why they should tip according to the PRICE of the food.
OK, Let me break it down for you.
SERVERS DO NOT TAKE HOME THE WHOLE TIP YOU LEFT THEM!
Based on the SALES of the food, the server/bartender has to leave MANY other people tips too- and yes that comes out of the lousy tip you left. At my particular restaurant, i have to leave 5% of my sales to other people working with me- the bussers, the bartenders, the expo, the food runners.
SO that 15% tip you left me becomes a 10% tip in actuality.
THAT is why you tip based on the price of the food.
If you leave me 10% of a tip, I only get to take home 5% of that tip.
If you can't tip 20%, and you KNOW this- don't go out to eat! When you stiff your server, you are actually STEALING from them. Because no matter what kind of tip you leave, the server still has to tip out many other based on the price of the food you ate. And if you didn't tip- then it has to come out of the servers own pocket.
You can't blame everything on your server. Sometimes the kitchen is backed up and the food takes a while. There is NOTHING a server can do about this. Sometimes the Bar is over loaded and your drink takes forever. Believe me, the server is just as frustrated as you are! But we can't jump behind the bar or food rail and start making things ourselves! We have to wait just like you do- and we know that every minute that goes by our tip gets smaller and smaller. We are more concerned about your food and drinks than you are, believe me.
Our livelyhood depends on it.
I always tip with cash. Never with a card. And if I have to, I throw on an extra buck, and note on the charge slip that the extra buck is so the waitron doesn't get shorted when he/she redeems his/her tips for the night.
In my perfect world.... Waiters make 40K/yr with benefits. Split tips. Sommier makes 50K. Head of the house, 80k. Dishwashers, 20K.
Very low turnover. Everyone learns everyone's style. Bottom line, it's a great place.....
Why has Trotter been the only one that's managed to do that and survive?
/john
While I agree with everything that's been said here regarding tipping well and especially being nice, I'm sorry but this is way over the top.