Tipping for large group meals
Feb 5, 2019, 7:34 pm
#16
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This is why many restaurants add an 18-20% tip to the bill for parties exceeding a given size, usually 4 or 6. That is noted on the menu and thus agreed to in advance.
It ends all of the handwringing about large tips. This tip just looked large, but I wonder how much OP would have flinched about a $18 tip had he been alone and spent $90 on the meal rather than $750 for 8 of those meals.
It ends all of the handwringing about large tips. This tip just looked large, but I wonder how much OP would have flinched about a $18 tip had he been alone and spent $90 on the meal rather than $750 for 8 of those meals.
Feb 5, 2019, 10:40 pm
#17
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I generally tip on what would be considered good service
regardless of where I happen to be dining
but on the same note I am so tired of the restaurant having us make up pay for their employees
It is not my responsibility to make sure your staff is payed what they should be
And of course the worst is when they don’t provide decent service but still expect a big tip
Op you did just fine
regardless of where I happen to be dining
but on the same note I am so tired of the restaurant having us make up pay for their employees
It is not my responsibility to make sure your staff is payed what they should be
And of course the worst is when they don’t provide decent service but still expect a big tip
Op you did just fine
Feb 5, 2019, 10:44 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
I generally tip on what would be considered good service
regardless of where I happen to be dining
but on the same note I am so tired of the restaurant having us make up pay for their employees
It is not my responsibility to make sure your staff is payed what they should be
And of course the worst is when they don’t provide decent service but still expect a big tip
Op you did just fine
regardless of where I happen to be dining
but on the same note I am so tired of the restaurant having us make up pay for their employees
It is not my responsibility to make sure your staff is payed what they should be
And of course the worst is when they don’t provide decent service but still expect a big tip
Op you did just fine
At the end of the day the tip is optional.
Feb 5, 2019, 10:47 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2013
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Another thing to keep in mind is restaurants deduct income tax from that server's check based on a percentage of the total bill amounts. In nicer restaurants I've seen that percentage be 15% or higher because that's the normal range of overall tips. If that server works in a restaurant that taxes above 13.3% she potentially had to pay taxes on money she didn't actually earn.
I've even been in places in LA where they say don't tip on your credit card bill because then we have to report it. Well i guess no tip for you then.
Tip what you feel they deserve don't let them guilt trip you for more.
Feb 5, 2019, 10:54 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
As for why restaurant servers "shouldn't" pay income tax, it is a political belief held by many.
Feb 6, 2019, 2:17 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2009
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My wife just switched to days and her restaurant is attached to a hotel. They bumped her hourly from $2.85 to $6.00 because the comp'ed breakfast crowd tends to skip tipping. Personally, I leave $5 or 15-20% (whichever is higher) of the actual meal retail price for any free meal that I have served at a hotel (eg. Hilton Garden Inn).
Also, tipping for an included breakfast in a hotel is insane. I really don't understand how the tipping culture has got to where it is in the US.
Feb 6, 2019, 7:36 am
#22
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Coming from a country where we actually pay servers and where tipping is more of a recognition of good service, it seems absolutely insane to me that someone living in a developed country like the US, could be paid only $2.85 an hour or even the $6 an hour when she won't get tips. So effectively what people do is subsidize the restaurant industry while the restaurant owners pay slave - like wages.
Also, tipping for an included breakfast in a hotel is insane. I really don't understand how the tipping culture has got to where it is in the US.
Also, tipping for an included breakfast in a hotel is insane. I really don't understand how the tipping culture has got to where it is in the US.
Feb 6, 2019, 7:58 am
#23
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I would disagree that 20% is the norm in the USA. This may be common in a few places such as NYC (OP didn't mention where the meal occurred) or when the person paying (usually with OPM) thinks that this impresses others and there might be tipping "suggestions" (either travel/etiquette advice or those automatic calculators), but it's far from universal.
IMO in most places, the benchmark would be 15% of the bill BEFORE TAXES for adequate service in most full service restaurants. I'd tip a bit more for better service, but not go to 20% unless it had been very cordial and professional outstanding service in a more formal or luxurious restaurant.
I suspect the OP reported on the check including tax, so the tip might actually have been 15% or higher.
I'm also surprised that restaurant policy didn't just add whatever they consider to be the standard tip (often kindly rounded up to make it worse, or even miscalculated in their favor) for a party of this size, of course hoping that customers don't notice and will actually tip twice.
IMO in most places, the benchmark would be 15% of the bill BEFORE TAXES for adequate service in most full service restaurants. I'd tip a bit more for better service, but not go to 20% unless it had been very cordial and professional outstanding service in a more formal or luxurious restaurant.
I suspect the OP reported on the check including tax, so the tip might actually have been 15% or higher.
I'm also surprised that restaurant policy didn't just add whatever they consider to be the standard tip (often kindly rounded up to make it worse, or even miscalculated in their favor) for a party of this size, of course hoping that customers don't notice and will actually tip twice.
Feb 6, 2019, 8:28 am
#24
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,976
Northern Californa, Silicon Valley. Indeed I always tip based on the the check including tax. So, before tax... then I'm well inline with the expectations. Is the tip is calculated before tax universal across the states or regional different as well?
Seems I have much more to learn than I thought about US tipping culture.
Seems I have much more to learn than I thought about US tipping culture.
Last edited by fassy; Feb 6, 2019 at 8:36 am
Feb 6, 2019, 8:36 am
#25
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
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I'm also surprised that restaurant policy didn't just add whatever they consider to be the standard tip (often kindly rounded up to make it worse, or even miscalculated in their favor) for a party of this size, of course hoping that customers don't notice and will actually tip twice.
Last edited by fassy; Feb 6, 2019 at 8:51 am
Feb 6, 2019, 8:54 am
#26
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Posts: 4,125
I would disagree that 20% is the norm in the USA. This may be common in a few places such as NYC (OP didn't mention where the meal occurred) or when the person paying (usually with OPM) thinks that this impresses others and there might be tipping "suggestions" (either travel/etiquette advice or those automatic calculators), but it's far from universal.
IMO in most places, the benchmark would be 15% of the bill BEFORE TAXES for adequate service in most full service restaurants. I'd tip a bit more for better service, but not go to 20% unless it had been very cordial and professional outstanding service in a more formal or luxurious restaurant.
I suspect the OP reported on the check including tax, so the tip might actually have been 15% or higher.
I'm also surprised that restaurant policy didn't just add whatever they consider to be the standard tip (often kindly rounded up to make it worse, or even miscalculated in their favor) for a party of this size, of course hoping that customers don't notice and will actually tip twice.
IMO in most places, the benchmark would be 15% of the bill BEFORE TAXES for adequate service in most full service restaurants. I'd tip a bit more for better service, but not go to 20% unless it had been very cordial and professional outstanding service in a more formal or luxurious restaurant.
I suspect the OP reported on the check including tax, so the tip might actually have been 15% or higher.
I'm also surprised that restaurant policy didn't just add whatever they consider to be the standard tip (often kindly rounded up to make it worse, or even miscalculated in their favor) for a party of this size, of course hoping that customers don't notice and will actually tip twice.
Feb 6, 2019, 6:06 pm
#27
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One reason we have cheap food in restaurants is the fact that restaurants are not required to pay minimum wage. It is true that servers are paid below minimum wage. The employer takes taxes out based on minimum wage for hours worked. It is up to the server to claim any cash tips they receive and not accounted for in their paid wages ( yeah that happens 100% of the time).
Feb 6, 2019, 6:14 pm
#28
Join Date: Nov 2013
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All that is really of no concern to any US restaurant diner. We just add 15-20% in that tip line.
Feb 6, 2019, 6:32 pm
#29
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No state has a lower effective minimum wage for restaurant workers. Most states allow the employer to pay $2/hr instead of $8/hr, but if the employee falls short of $8/hr after tips, then the employer must make up the difference.
All that is really of no concern to any US restaurant diner. We just add 15-20% in that tip line.
All that is really of no concern to any US restaurant diner. We just add 15-20% in that tip line.
Feb 6, 2019, 11:19 pm
#30
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IMO in most places, the benchmark would be 15% of the bill BEFORE TAXES for adequate service in most full service restaurants. I'd tip a bit more for better service, but not go to 20% unless it had been very cordial and professional outstanding service in a more formal or luxurious restaurant.
I was given a tablet to sign at a restaurant this week and the tip had been pre-set to 22%. I wonder how many customers just hit the OK button without noticing.