Eating Out

[chewbakkah]

First of all let me state that I am a server (p.c. word for waiter/waitress) so I know what i'm talking about when it comes to this subject.

This is a friendly reminder to always tip your server when you go out to eat, if there is obviously a single person dedicated to getting you things you need without you having to get up and get them yourself you NEED to tip. These are the reasons.

first and defiantly the most important: we make WAY less than minimum wage and depend on our service to bring us tips to help pay the bills. in tx we only make $2.15 an hour and there is no way we can even pay for gas to get to work with that much pay.

secondly, we're handling your food! ever seen the movie "Waiting"? we will remember your face and you will be eventually dealt with, if not something drastic then defiantly with bad service next time you eat


I say this because last night i gave this lady and her daughter impeccable service as they were my only guests in my section, she treated me like i was a child that was ignorant because i wait tables (i have a bachelor degree). and then she didn't leave a single cent as a tip. She wrote a check with the exact amount for the bill and left nothing on the table. SHE WROTE A CHECK!!!! this means that now i have her full name, address, phone number, routing number to her bank, and account number. WHAT A FREAKING IDIOT. luckily for her i'm a good person and would never try to steal someones identity or use their bank account. but i'm NOT above leaving dead animals on her door step, or signing her up for every junk mail/phone scam i come across.

moral of the lesson, if you can't afford a tip, go to walmart, buy some groceries that will last weeks for what you would spend eating at my restaurant.

in tx the acceptable tip % is 15%, and thats low as a national average, come on pony up the money and tip on quality of service!

[vant]

I used to tip 15% at restaurants, but lately I've been leaving around 20%.

What's your degree in?

[PerforminNorman]

I know how you feel. My parents owned a restaurant for 20 years. I understand the purpose of the gratuity and how it plays an integral part in the server's income. My wife is now a server at a local restaurant. She makes beans for a salary and really does what she can to help the customer. She tells me stories quite frequently about how people leave her little to no tip. It infuriates me. I'm the opposite end. I tip well almost every where I go. Even at Sonic. Today I went to Dixon's Chili and this sweetheart of a girl was just awesome at taking care of our needs. My bill was $5.65. I gave her a $5 bill. I appreciate a nice smile and good service.

On another note. I agree with you. If you can't afford the price of going out to eat, including the tip, go to McDs.

[IT L GO]

Originally Posted by PerforminNorman

I know how you feel. My parents owned a restaurant for 20 years. I understand the purpose of the gratuity and how it plays an integral part in the server's income. My wife is now a server at a local restaurant. She makes beans for a salary and really does what she can to help the customer. She tells me stories quite frequently about how people leave her little to no tip. It infuriates me. I'm the opposite end. I tip well almost every where I go. Even at Sonic. Today I went to Dixon's Chili and this sweetheart of a girl was just awesome at taking care of our needs. My bill was $5.65. I gave her a $5 bill. I appreciate a nice smile and good service.

On another note. I agree with you. If you can't afford the price of going out to eat, including the tip, go to McDs.

I hope that your post was a TYPO

Let me see now the bill was 5.65 and you gave her 5.00. Sounds to me like you really stiffed her but good

[wvphoto]

i am a great tipper

if i have great service.

i don't mind being a bad tipper if i get bad service.. its a 2 way street..

someone who signs up for 2.bux an hour.. should bust their hump to get good tips..

i hate getting ignored in a restaurant.. no refills...etc..

otherwise.. i tip great

[PerforminNorman]

Originally Posted by IT L GO

I hope that your post was a TYPO

Let me see now the bill was 5.65 and you gave her 5.00. Sounds to me like you really stiffed her but good

I don't think I typo'd. She was just super nice and I left her a little more just to let her know I appreciate her attitude.

Maybe I'm missing your point.

[mcss383]

I think he means you gave $5 total for a $5.56 bill. ie shorting the bill by 56cents. I thought that when I first read it too, but I believe you meant a $5 tip on top of the bill.

I always tip, how much depends on the service but I am still nice. Rarely will I go below 10% unless the service was nothing more than dropping my plate off and sit back talking to your friends the rest of the time. Then you get nothing. I always try to hit at least 15%, but I keep the math simple. lol

[Torched02]

Originally Posted by PerforminNorman

I don't think I typo'd. She was just super nice and I left her a little more just to let her know I appreciate her attitude.

Maybe I'm missing your point.

He thought you gave her a $5 to cover the entire bill.....I think everyone else picked up that you paid the $5.65 bill and gave the $5.00 as her tip. Obviously not a rocket scientist.

[IT L GO]

Originally Posted by PerforminNorman

I don't think I typo'd. She was just super nice and I left her a little more just to let her know I appreciate her attitude.

Maybe I'm missing your point.

Norman. I think your Chinese abacus is broke.

The bill is 5.65 and you left 5.00. To me that means that you left no tip and shorted her 65 cents. Maybe you should have said " I paid the check (bill) and left her a 5.00 tip". She must have been awfully cute Just trying to have a little fun a slow night.

[jub jub]

I always tip well. It pays dividends in what you are returned back in life. The saying "You reap what you sow" is absolutely correct!

[PerforminNorman]

Clarification. I paid the bill at the front desk. Then I walked back and handed her a $5 bill. LOL That is too funny.

Now, last week my friends and I went out to eat at La Fuentes. Normally their service is good. However, this guy was horrible. He took our order, the other servers delivered the food and our personal server only came back when we flagged him down for the bill. He never came back to check on us or refill our drinks. He got stiffed. That is totally unacceptable.

Now, you should see the look on the girls faces at Sonic when you tip them at the drive thru. In my area, they took away the "walk out" drive thru. Now they have a window just like McD's. Kinda screwed the girls out of some tips. Man, that makes me want a corn dog.

On another note. I have a tendency to eat very little lunch. Sometimes I eat one taco and drink water as I hate being full and at my desk. Makes me feel lethargic. I realize the server still has to come check on me and fill my water, so I tip accordingly.

I think the industry should go to a service based gratuity instead of a & based one. Just because I ordered surf and turf, doesn't mean my server was any better than the gal at the local taco joint.

Just my .02 and worth what you paid for it.


One last thing. If a server comes to the table with a smile on his/her face, the battle is 1/2 won.

[GR8 WHITE]

Excellent Service = Excellent Tip

Lousy service... NO TIP.

There is no happy medium for me. Because that is their job. CUSTOMER SERVICE and if it sucks, well, what do they expect? FREE MONEY? A partial handout??? I don't think so.

I know how I would serve those if I was a server because I know how I like to be served. If I ask for water as my main drink, I expect it filled just as if you would walk around filling coffee. I also don't like consitant interruptions, "Is everything ok, can I get you anything else" Waiter/waitresses need to be attentive and alert yet also keen on when and when NOT to interrupt. Also, ensure that if someone places an order first in a busy resturaunt, don't think others don't take notice who gets their food first. Especially if we been "waiting". A sure TIP KILLER. But if the service is good, I tip good. If not, I could care less what job you signed up for. (Not YOU buddy, but a waiter who sucks)

No one pays us military well and we place our life on the line. Where is OUR tip?

If you want good wages for serving, go to Germany. They get PAID well and a considerable tip is 1 dollar (Really 1 Euro) per person at the table REGARDLESS of the bill amount. If there are 10 people at the table and the bill is $200 dollars, a $10.00 tip is exceptional. I don't know why our society says that "TIPPING" is a must when that is the profession one chooses. "Tipping" is sometimes ok for excellent service, but now I see it more often in supermarkets, the commissary etc for people who bag my shit. WTF? That is the cashiers job. And I got to pay EXTRA for someone who can barely speak English to bag my groceries on top of my food bill? Thats ridiculous. I also see "TIP CUPS" outside fast food resturaunts now too. Society needs to start paying the waiters and waitresses a decent salary. Because not always will you get "GOOD SERVICE" and if they suck at serving, FIRE THEM! I feel bad because it seems that making people happy in your resturaunt is overlooked by some. It sucks that there are very few like you left. Oh, and lets not even start the "15 to 20 minutes wait" when there are OPEN SEATS!!!! In Germany? There is no such thing as "WAITING". You walk in, look around, pick a table/seat and park it. And, if there is one woman/man at a table that seats four, she/he is obligated to SHARE her table with 3 others. No such thing is the USA. Here, we WASTE the available seating waiting for some overstuffed Italian or Mexican family to get done eating and talking, yapping, and taking their 3 hours of family time while others are waiting to eat. Sorry, thats just the way it is here. I love eating and talking too, but I am also courteous when I see lines waiting. In Germany, it is all about the CUSTOMER! Not here. Here? Its all about "ME"

[ZO6 AL-X]

Originally Posted by GR8 WHITE

Excellent Service = Excellent Tip

Lousy service... NO TIP.

There is no happy medium for me. Because that is their job. CUSTOMER SERVICE and if it sucks, well, what do they expect? FREE MONEY? A partial handout??? I don't think so.

I know how I would serve those if I was a server because I know how I like to be served. If I ask for water as my main drink, I expect it filled just as if you would walk around filling coffee. I also don't like consitant interruptions, "Is everything ok, can I get you anything else" Waiter/waitresses need to be attentive and alert yet also keen on when and when NOT to interrupt. Also, ensure that if someone places an order first in a busy resturaunt, don't think others don't take notice who gets their food first. Especially if we been "waiting". A sure TIP KILLER. But if the service is good, I tip good. If not, I could care less what job you signed up for. (Not YOU buddy, but a waiter who sucks)

No one pays us military well and we place our life on the line. Where is OUR tip?

If you want good wages for serving, go to Germany. They get PAID well and a considerable tip is 1 dollar (Really 1 Euro) per person at the table REGARDLESS of the bill amount. If there are 10 people at the table and the bill is $200 dollars, a $10.00 tip is exceptional. I don't know why our society says that "TIPPING" is a must when that is the profession one chooses. "Tipping" is sometimes ok for excellent service, but now I see it more often in supermarkets, the commissary etc for people who bag my shit. WTF? That is the cashiers job. And I got to pay EXTRA for someone who can barely speak English to bag my groceries on top of my food bill? Thats ridiculous. I also see "TIP CUPS" outside fast food resturaunts now too. Society needs to start paying the waiters and waitresses a decent salary. Because not always will you get "GOOD SERVICE" and if they suck at serving, FIRE THEM! I feel bad because it seems that making people happy in your resturaunt is overlooked by some. It sucks that there are very few like you left. Oh, and lets not even start the "15 to 20 minutes wait" when there are OPEN SEATS!!!! In Germany? There is no such thing as "WAITING". You walk in, look around, pick a table/seat and park it. And, if there is one woman/man at a table that seats four, she/he is obligated to SHARE her table with 3 others. No such thing is the USA. Here, we WASTE the available seating waiting for some overstuffed Italian or Mexican family to get done eating and talking, yapping, and taking their 3 hours of family time while others are waiting to eat. Sorry, thats just the way it is here. I love eating and talking too, but I am also courteous when I see lines waiting. In Germany, it is all about the CUSTOMER! Not here. Here? Its all about "ME"

I agree completely with you. If I get great service, I tip pretty well and almost nothing if service is bad. That's just the way it is. If they're not good at what they do, they should be fired.

This country is out of control with all the tipping. I only tip waiters, valet and my barber. As far as how you're treated in restaurants while in Europe - I've heard similar stories from others. No "Me" mentality there.

[GR8 WHITE]

Z06 AL-X - Yes, thats another one.... BARBERS. Don't forget, the PIZZA DELIVERY guy. (Or gal). In the military, they charge $8.50 for haircuts and more often than none, I give them a $1.50 tip. Then, we are nearly REQUIRED to get a haircut once per week!!!! But why? They take 15 minutes to cut our hair, and if they do 4 per hour, that is more than we make as Soldiers. Go figure. And then if you TIP? That averages about $9.50 to $10.00 per cut. X 4 weeks = just about $40.00 per month. That is more than some women use to maintain their hair!!! So, we have to tip because they cut our hair? WHY? Because they "cut my hair good?" Thats their JOB! And if they cut it CRAPPY then they get fired. Thanks for reminding me. Valet, yeah, I can see that. Valet is a conveneince. Haircuts, bagging and a fast food drive thru are ridiculous, but because "society says" we feel OBLIGATED. Or because they sit that plastic see thru container visibly located where you feel th epressure. Maybe it is just me. But I think the "TIPPING" in this country is way out of control. Waiters/Waitresses, YES dependent on GOOD service. Not "ok" service. Again, if they do not like their job or they are just not good at it, they can go serve food at a fast food drive thru and hope to get tipped for standing there and handing out the bagged food. Or they can come work for the commissary. They seem to think bagging groceries is criteria enough for tipping. What's next? Wal-Mart? Target? Hell, in Germany, they don't even bag your groceries and the cashiers sit down in chairs...YOU have to bag your OWN stuff!!! Now that I think of it, I may as well tip the next police officer who pulls me over for doing his job too.

[vant]

Originally Posted by GR8 WHITE

...Now that I think of it, I may as well tip the next police officer who pulls me over for doing his job too.

Let us know how that works out.