how much do you tip your server?

I am not in food service, but why don't you think of it like this...

1. They are incentivized to provide good service when a most of their salary is resting on the tips they receive.
2. Most waiters/bartenders make well below minimum wage before tips, so "their salary" isn't quite the income you would like to believe.
3. Because "salaries" costs the restaurant/bar less, their prices can be reduced to attract more customers.
4. Now you have the opportunity to make someones day by giving them a good tip when their service truly is exemplary. If it isn't, leave a standard tip (should be figured into the cost of your meal mentally) and be done with it. If they are so bad/rude that you feel they don't deserve a tip at all talk to their manager.

 

I wish that would happen, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Am I supposed to believe that a 12 ounce glass of ordinary beer, which everyone knows can be purchased at stores for a full retail price of $1 or so (in GA that is), must sell at a minimum of $3 to $5 for a restaurant/bar to stay in business?

 

generally tip between 15 to 20% but have been known to leave as high as 25% if the service is exceptional...pisses me off when they add 15% to the bill and the service stinks...I talk to the manager and tell them I ain't paying the full tip amount and tell him why!!!! Most of the time they will take it off...

 

I hate having to add gratuity to bills. I usually avoid it if I can because, even though I'm confident in my service, I don't want anyone to be forced to pay me a certain amount. Although, auto gratuity does come in handy when you have a big party of young teenagers that don't know what they are doing

 

Agree on adding tip to large parties...but have had problems in past where tip was added to bill and the service was lousy.If the service is good I might even add some...Ken

 

Grocery stores are designed to run on VERY thin margins. Hence the fact you can buy beer so cheaply. Restaurants, on the other hand, are not. The cost may not be completely justified, but running a restaurant is typically a horribly inefficient business from a cost perspective.

 

Drewskie....Many bartenders aren't permitted to give free drinks out.It is called theft of company property.

 

maybe you're not aware of everything that goes on in the bar

it does happen

 

Shenanigans!

 

I am aware of what goes on ! I have witnessed criminal charges pressed against servers and bartenders for giving out "free" drinks. Some bar owners allow complimentary drinks.Most corporate owned bars do not.

 

I can understand that, especially since Im assuming you're the owner? That money comes straight out of your pocket and into the bartenders in the form of a huge tip.

 

Depends on where I am.

There are two breakfast places that my girlfriend and I go to regularly. We know the waitresses by name and they have our orders memorized and they are always giving us complimentary coffee and such. When we go there, and we have our preferred waitresses, I generally tip 50-55% (usually comes out to around $15).

Everywhere else it is solely based off of the server's attitude and attentiveness. I've tipped as little as 5% and as much as 55%.

Fink

 

Well why dont you just sit at home open your own beers and pour your own drinks? Then you wont have to worry about it anymore.

 

bartenders have one of the most stressful jobs in the restaurant business. And they generally make ~2.15 per hour...

 

Fink

 

The better the service the bigger the tip !

 

...that's what she said...

Fink

 

I'm just curious how bartending is more stressful than serving?

 

Have you been to the "Bone Fish Grill" in Augusta? They charge $9 for a Bud Lite.

I went to the Bone Fish this past Wednesday with my family for my Dad's birthday(Same day the 12th) and we were seated very quickly, our waiter, Chad, had a great sense of humor and made us laugh every time he came to the table. He filled our drinks quickly gave us great service. I ordered a Sirlion steak and Crab cakes with the Au Gratin Potatoes and my side. We waited about 15 minutes for the food to come, which wasn't that long considering the company I was in made it go by quickly, when it did come I didn't have my potatoes before he sat the plate down good he realized that the kitchen hadn't fixed it to be sent out yet. He was very apologetic about it before I even realized something was wrong! He promptly got them for me and brought them back. Granted it was a Wednesday night and there was maybe 30 people there, but our service was out standing. Our bill come to 98.xx a numerically correct tip would have been about $20, but the service was so great we left him a crisp $50 bill. The steak wasn't the best I've eaten, I'm a Ribeye guy myself, but I'd defiantly go back just because of him.

 

its not, actually I would say serving is more stressful.

sorry if I came across as saying its the other way around.