Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg left no tip after Rome lunch

The Telegraph ^ | May 29, 1012 | Nick Squires

[dr_lew]

The owners of the kosher restaurant in Rome's Jewish Ghetto – a historic quarter in the centre of the city – were surprised when Mr Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan walked away without leaving a gratuity.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Anyone else think its odd they are eating in a kosher restaurant in Rome? I mean I have heard that the food is good there, but if you do not keep kosher, why eat there? (And as far as I have read, he’s not religious at all, and she didn’t convert).

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It’s simply one culinary variation on Italian food. Very good, as I have experienced (and I’m not Jewish). Wonderful fried artichokes and beef meatballs.

[Caipirabob]

Waiters at Nonna Betta, which specialises in Roman Jewish cuisine, were amazed by Mr Zuckerberg's parsimony, not just because of his huge wealth but because of Americans' reputation for tipping generously, as is expected of them at home.

Maybe he was embracing the local culture for crappy tipping. Everyone's a whiner these days....LOLOLOLOL...

[sheana]

I worked at a country club tending bar for 10 years, some of the richest people in town were members there. We had a 10% gratuity added into every food and bar tab. They would break their fingernails picking a dime up off the bar before they would leave it.

[trisham]

Poor guy. I wonder what percentage of his wealth would have been acceptable to them?

[SaraJohnson]

Zuck is a “typical white person”, as Obammy would say. He said “Zuck you!” to that poor waitress. But wait a minute! He’s a rich Demonrat!

[liberalh8ter]

Depending on when you took this class, things have changed in Italy. When Italians had the Lira, the exchange rate was very pro dollar. It was always greatly appreciated when you gave Italians your dollars or even your small change. Now, not so much. Tipping is generally frowned upon except in areas that are dependent upon tourism. Those areas are very accustomed to tipping and staff are paid accordingly.

[Graybeard58]

Scotty Pippin of the Chicago Bulls had a moniker, “no tippin Pippin”.

Pippen lost me as a fan when several years ago, every member of the Bulls, except Pippen, signed a basketball for a wheel chair bound boy. Pippen explained that he doesn't autograph for free for anybody.

[Graybeard58]

I even stopped buying Lay’s potato chips at that time because the bags had a picture of Pippen on them.

[Polynikes]

“It might have something to do with losing 10 billion dollars this week in stock value?”

At this moment FB is 28.69 and dropping. Just wait till the 3mos and 6mos lock up period for insiders expires. Ouch. Talk to to me when they go to the Pinkies. My bet is they will end up like Myspace.

[goron]

“At this moment FB is 28.69 and dropping. Just wait till the 3mos and 6mos lock up period for insiders expires. Ouch. Talk to to me when they go to the Pinkies. My bet is they will end up like Myspace.”

Once people understand how their data and browsing habits are exploited by FB to marketers, (and stalkers) the FB fad will be over. You’re right, Myspace used to be so hip, then overnight ‘poof’ everyone left. Your Facebook stock will be about as popular as those Avacado Green appliances in the early 70s are today!

[MD Expat in PA]

Depending on when you took this class, things have changed in Italy.

I took the class in 2004 but that’s good info to know. Although I didn’t make the trip when I thought I would, one day I’d still like to visit Italy being that I’m a history buff and my two favorite periods of history are ancient Rome and the Renaissance.

The man who taught the class was an “older” gent so perhaps he was not so up on things. But the class was still a hoot. He was quite the character, a bit of a Renaissance himself. He grew up poor to a widowed mother during the war in a town near Naples but came to America right after the war as a young man with nearly a dime in his pocket, worked his way through college and eventually became an engineer of some sort (he wouldn’t talk about his work) and worked for the US Army at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in MD. He also sang opera and was a very accomplished painter – he brought some of his landscape paintings to class and they were surprisingly very, very good.

The class at the local CC was supposed to be about learning “conversational” Italian but we learned a lot about him and Italian culture and some very good and practical advice about traveling abroad, like how not to get robbed by the “m-fing” gypsies, how not to get ripped off by dishonest merchants, why visiting a religious shrine or museum in cut off shorts and a tank or halter top is in poor taste in any country but especially so in Italy, how not to stand out as a tourist, especially an American tourist and make yourself a target for pick pockets or even terrorists, where to find the best restaurants and bargains, like walk just a few blocks away from the popular tourist places and ask a local for a recommendation and of course how to ask them in Italian, what foods to eat and what foods not to eat (like buy a banana or some other fruit like an orange from a market where you peel the skin but avoid all others if you want to avoid the “runs” and spend the rest of your vacation on the sh!tter) and how to best use the rail systems, why not to rent a car because Italians are crazy drivers, and for the “ladies” – how to know when an Italian man is hitting on you and the proper authentic Italian “gesture” to make to him to tell him to “get lost and go….” – LOL! He was definitely not the PC type but the class was a whole lot of fun.

What he said as I recall, about tipping was that in many cases it wasn’t necessary or expected if the gratuity was included or if eating in a small family run eatery where you are being waited on by the owners. He suggested the US dollar coins because he claimed that they were highly “collectible” over there and among especially the older waiters, made for nice gifts to their children or grandchildren. But as you said, that may not be so much the case anymore.

[liberalh8ter]

Your post had me laughing and reminded me of my Uncle! Most of my family came to America from Portico di Caserta and Calabria though some remain. Many of the things you relayed in your post I too have heard. My great Aunt returned to Naples faithfully each year and always brought lots of coins for the bellman, hotel staff and waiters. I remember in the 80's her telling me that a dime was like a dollar and also very, very appreciated!

One of the things you have to be very careful of is the children. They're used as decoys for the pickpockets. Also, pairs on scooters will steal purses from women as they drive by the sidewalks and public transit is a petri dish of tourist crime.

Italy is a beautiful Country and its people are like no other. It's true; take the time to go a little further from the touristy areas and you will have a much better experience and save money, too!

[TexasRepublic]

“Anyone else think its odd they are eating in a kosher restaurant in Rome? I mean I have heard that the food is good there, but if you do not keep kosher, why eat there?”

Is that odd? I am not Jewish and certainly not kosher [I observe the see-food diet], but I like a good kosher Reuben sandwich as much as the next guy.

[Fast Moving Angel]