Originally Posted by
cepheid
In cases where the host also serves you directly, e.g. by taking your name for the waitlist, making sure you are seated on time and in order, walking you to your table, pulling out your chair, giving you menus, making sure you're familiar with the restaurant, etc... would you also tip them?
The host taking our name from a waiting list? What waiting list? When we make a reservation, we're not put on some waiting list. When we arrive at the time of the reservation, we expect to be seated momentarily. When the host takes us to our table, no, we don't tip. At places like Le Perigord the host (or as he calls himself, the captain) expects to be tipped. We went there once for a special occasion and never returned. Back to wait lists.... We don't go to restaurants to sit and wait for a table. If they don't take reservations and they're busy, we go someplace else. So I can't answer your question about waiting list tipping.
In cases where the busser serves you directly, e.g. by clearing your dishes and/or de-crumbing your table between multiple courses, would you also tip them? In those cases, you receive direct service from more than one person - why should they not all get tips? It seems disingenuous to suggest that some servicepeople should get tips and others should not; either they all should, or they all should not.
No. He's not paid to do things we request like waiters are.
Originally Posted by QueenofCoach
In other words, "How can I make it possible for you to stiff the people you would otherwise share tips with, people who will make your job miserable if they catch wind of what you are doing? How can I ensure you will be the least liked waiter in the restaurant?"
That's not my problem...if they are being stiffed by their employer, that's THEIR problem. That said, if some busboy does something above and beyond his duties (like maybe gets us another waiter if the one we have is bad or does the work of the waiter because the waiter is somehow missing), then yes, I would tip him directly in cash.
For average service, I'll just tip based on what the bill says. I don't care how the money is divided. But on extraordinary service, you bet I'll do what I can to see that those who go above and beyond get paid for that service. ^
It's a pity....a bad experience with a waiter might cause us to tip either nothing or something like a nickel. The cooks and other staff might have done their jobs well but they won't get money because the server screwed it up. It's ridiculous that they should be punished for bad service perpetrated by others.