Meal Tipping Protocal in Montreal
 

I was in Montreal last weekend for my first time in seven years. After taking in an Italian dinner I went to pay my bill of $13.25. I ended up having to ask the clerk what the standard tip was and she got uncomfortable and said "10-15% but some people give less, or more". I ended up giving her $2.75 to be safe.

What is the standard amount there? I'd like to know for next time.

10% used to be the standard in Canada 30+ years ago but it's creeping up to the U.S. levels (pushed by industry?) Some restaurants will add 18% gratuity in some cases but servers generally seem to be happy with 15% on the pretax total.

15% to 18%

You did fine. ;)

Sounds like the waitress was giving a fair ballpark range. In Canada, I tend to give 15%, more for better service. Her reticence may have been that she was not going to dictate what you should be expected to give, as it is more a gratuity than a service fee.

I have only seen an 18% add-on for groups more than 6, and never in Chinese or Japanese restaurants.

It really depends on the restaurant. I'd say 10-15% is still a pretty safe bet.

The expectation is 15% on everything, including drinks. The server would also like a tip based on the taxes. Another way to look at it is to give at least an amount that reflects the effort. Was giving someone $2.75 to serve you dinner the right amount? Would they have done the same work if the bill were $60? The amount in this case was certainly no problem.

You did fine. I use 15% of the pre-tax amount and go a bit higher for excellent service. The exception is for very cheap meals, e.g. breakfast where I make sure I leave at least $1.00 - $1.50 per diner.
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13F

Agree with earlier posters, as discussed in this sticky thread. My late Canadian father generally tipped 10% in an average restaurant but I think the tipping customs are fairly consistent with those in the U.S. at this point.

10% was 30 years ago since lots of Canadian restos charge your wiatress an 8% tip out so on a $100 bill she would only get $2. 15% is standard and if service is great feel free to tip more.

One of my friends is a server a Joey b/w her university courses and she often has to pay out when serving folks from certain areas of the world!!!

15% and 1 buck for every alco drink you purchase; 2 bucks for a pitcher and more than 5 drinks in a round 2/3 bucks.

Have to concur with a 10-18% range for standard service as customary but expectations kind of vary based on situation.
Reiterating some previous comments but...

- If your server has to tip out the bussers, bar, kitchen, hostesses, food runners, etc, there goes a good chunk of their gratuities.
- Some restaurants charge an indirect service fee (eg. tea charge at dim sum, etc).

I have to disagree on that one. They may be consistent with where the US used to be, but today I find 15% is the minimum exepctation in the US and many people there tip in the 18-20% range if not more.

Overall there is a greater expectation for tipping (and in larger amounts) in the US than in Canada.

I'm generally 15% before taxes - more if service is great less if service was mediocre with a minimum of $1.00.

Your tipping in Canada? That's still in the same general ball park as US tipping customs. It just isn't as nuanced as in some other countries unless you want to make it so. Simply put, for American visitors at least to western Canada*, you won't go far wrong by following your own tipping habits. Yes, you'll probably do fine being a little more conservative in your tipping habits in Canada, and staff in the YYJ-area family-style restaurant my late father habituated continued to treat him kindly in return for his 10% tips.

*A caveat: My own dining experiences are largely confined to one of those places far remote from YYZ or YUL. The inhabitants of YVR-land mostly understand even when American tourists ask for "the check" instead of "the bill." ;)