15% or 20% for tip?
 

I am trying to figure out the acceptable amount to leave for tips and I have always been told it is 15% of the bill, but recently people have been telling me that you should leave 20% if you received good service. What is it?

Use your judgment. 15% is not a bad tip.

I think that 15% is the basic tip and goes up depending on how you feel about the service. Obviously if you feel the service is horrible, then the tip is so much simpler.....a big fat 0 :)

15% for me is standard. For real good service, I'll give 20% or more but it also depends on what type of place also.

It depends how much the meal is for me. If the bill comes to $100 then they will never get more than $15-$20, which is a pretty good tip. If the bill comes to $40, if i've had good service then I may leave $10 which is more than 20% but the waitstaff probably need it more.

Also see this extensive discussion in Omni: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/omni/...come-20-a.html

I met my boys at IHOP Saturday morning and left 25%. I hadn't seen them in a month and so we occupied the table for well over an hour despite the meal having been served and eaten in about 45 minutes. Preventing a table from turning, in my mind, is justification for a higher percent.

In this case, the server came out the front door to personally thank me which made me feel pretty good.

:) I don't actually sweat over the tip that much. I shoulda payed more attention in math class:p. But my tips are influenced by how often I think I am likely to be using the establishment in the future.;)

I generally split down the middle and leave 18%! :)

Funny enough, you should have paid attention in english class as well. ;) just kidding.

I agree with you 100%. If its the place you dine at once a week or once every other week, then you should feel more inclined to leave a bigger tip.. IMHO

for breakfast or lunch, when you're in and out in under 45 minutes, then 15% is fine, but for longer service.. especially dinner when I can easily take up a table for 2 hours.. I'm inclined towards 20%+

20% It's easier to do the math :D

:) Yup, we always generously over-tip if we are lingering at a table in a busy restaurant.;)

I work as a server at an IHOP, and this past weekend morning, I had a table camp out for 2.5 hours. In that time, I probably could have had 2 more tables if they hadn't camped out. And then, they only left me 15%. Plus, they destroyed my average turn time.

It's good that you tipped well after staying longer than usual. I'm sure your server appreciated it. ^

my approachmy approach also, last night at Shaw's Crab House during a $.25 per oyster night (^), we sat at the bar, everyone around us was getting drinks, food & attention on a regular basis, some served even though seated long after we were. Our barkeep/server visited us every 20 minutes at the most, there was not even the occasional glance to see how we were doing (I was timing). You guessed it, zero tip. I bartended for years 'back when', a good barkeep pays attention to ALL seated at the bar, so I had no desire to reward at all her lack of service.
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In regards to tipping, what about high dollar dinners say $200+, is it always 15%? on alcohol also? or is there a curve?
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