How Do Restaurants Divide Tips?
#1
Original Poster




Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,293
How Do Restaurants Divide Tips?
Is there a general rule of thumb? Does it depend on the type of restaurant -e.g., upscale with numerous servers, kitchen help. Is there a difference depending on whether you leave cash or put the tip on a credit card?
#2




Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Adelphi, MD
Programs: Qatar Privilege Club, Korean Air Skypass, ANA Skyweb, Amex Premier Rewards, Chase Sapphire Preferred
Posts: 810
How Do Restaurants Divide Tips?
If there are several people waiting on the table, they usually put the tips in a pot and evenly divide. Other restaurants, the server will give a small percentage to busboys, bartenders etc.. Should be no difference between credit card and cash although sometimes the forget to add the tip to the credit card later. By the way, some people do not tip at all.
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
I've known of restaurants that had elaborate rules about dividing normal and extraordinary tips among all staff on duty, not just those working the table, where more senior servers within their job title got more.
#5
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 52,783
It depends on each restaurant as to how they divide tips to if they need to split tips. Some don't, others have to tip the bartenders, others have to tip basically everyone.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Nomad
Programs: AS MVPG75k, SQ Gold
Posts: 182
Everyone in the dining room. With very little exception, kitchen staff (cooks, chefs, etc.) are not included in tips even if the restaurant has a "chefs counter" or sushi bar where you are served directly by a chef. Unfortunately when the food is good, tipping higher never actually affects those doing the cooking. Occasionally when I was a cook someone would pay the bartender to give the kitchen staff a free round of beers after service those were greatly appreciated.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: A metal nomad
Programs: Mucci des Delices Exotiques,Order of the Platinum Hairbrush,Her Royal Diamond
Posts: 25,104
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,871
interesting did NOT include these restaurants?
NOUGATINE AT JEAN‑GEORGES
THE MERCER KITCHEN
settlement papers said all the restaurants denied wrongdoing and that they had complied with labor laws, but settled for a variety of reasons including the risk of the outcome of ligation.
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Nov 13, 2013 at 4:43 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,871







