How do you tip?

I generally tip 20%, but will go higher or lower depending on service, with a minimum of $3. There have been times I've gone out alone for lunch and the bill ends up being around $10. I wouldn't feel right leaving $2, even if it's justified because of a small bill.

I have only ever purposely stiffed a waiter once, and that was one evening at an Italian restaurant. We were seated, brought drinks, our order was taken, then the waiter completely forgot about us and served 2-3 other tables before he came anywhere near us again (about 40 minutes), and we could flag him down to ask wtf was going on. We watched him walk over to the window and get our order, which had been sitting there for god knows how long, and then he actually served it to us. It was cold, of course, and we sent it back. The guy was unapologetic and treated us like one of us had peed in his soup or something.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by GRUN-2

For everyone bitching about being broke college kids. If you're broke, don't go out for food where you get served. Either get take away, eat somewhere cheaper, or learn to cook your own goddamned food.

I completely agree. If you go out to a proper restaurant, where you know it's customary to tip, don't be a fuck and short the person serving you because you can't afford it. Most restaurants, no matter who they are, are willing to allow you to order your food to go.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by The_Melomane

13. ...Please also remember when using a To-go service, that the people that bring out your food don't always make 7 or 8 dollars an hour. Most of the time they work for tips too.

I'm sorry, call me a cheap bitch, but this is where I draw the line. If my dinner is leaving the restaurant in styrofoam containers, and I have not used a table, I am not tipping.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Shin

I just find it hard to imagine walking into a restaurant that wasn't a take-away place and asking for food to go, it's just not something you'd do in my experience.

And call me a snob but asking for a bag to take away the leftovers at the end of a meal is really chavvy.

Shin, to clarify, I was talking more about the average place here in the U.S., and not a high-brow restaurant. I wouldn't walk into a place like that and ask for my lobster to go. I would assume if someone wanted food from a restaurant, but was being too cheap/broke to tip, they likely aren't going for a place that requires wearing a tie.

I agree it sounds awful to ask to take home the scraps off your plate, but in the U.S. the average restaurants serve you so much damn food you more often than not can only finish about half. It's disgusting. The leftovers issue has become very common here because of it.


Edit: Sorry for the repeat. I was being really slow and Seris posted before I finished.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?