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Should I still tip 15%?

post #1 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:27pm
Thread Starter 
If I am spending $150+ on a meal for two people? that is like over $20 just to have a guy open a bottle of wine and bring you some food. Is it bad form to tip less in a place like that or is it understandable?

Not trying to be a prick of stat a war, I usually tip at least 30% at cheap places like Denny's because the food is really cheap and they shouldn't get skimped because of it.
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post #2 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:29pm
Tip a % according to the level of service you received and how happy you were with it. Whether that's a $20 meal or a $500 meal.
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post #3 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:30pm
I'd say that it is generally expected that you tip X% regardless of check heft. Unless of course you are in Japan, where tipping is considered rude. Sigh, God bless Japan.
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post #4 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:32pm
There is usually a lot more waiting staff per patron in nicer, more expensive restaurants. Dinners are also often longer which means there's less turnover of tables, i.e. less checks. So when tips are divided, you need to take that into account.

Personally, I tip the same % regardless of the amount. That % is also higher than 15%.
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post #5 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:34pm
You still tip at your normal percentage. If you're spending $150 on a meal everything about it should be much better than the $20 meal at Waffle House, and this includes the service. At Waffle House you tell the person what you want, and they grab it and plop it down on your table. At a nicer restaurant, one would expect that the server know more about the food, be more attentive to your needs, suggest wine pairings, etc.

Basically, 20% quality service at a nice restaurant is better than 20% service at Waffle House, thus it costs more in real dollars.
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post #6 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:35pm
I should add to my original answer that it doesn't actually make any sense, only that it is what is widely expected and practiced.
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post #7 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:35pm
Tip according to service! And no, just becasue you are paying $150 for 2 people should make you a cheap tipper..
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post #8 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:37pm
OP, shouldn't your intern be tipping for you anyway?
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post #9 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:43pm
I tip 20% no matter what--people live off of tips, so unless they're terrible I'll give them that percentage no matter what. Same goes for cabs, my friends always wonder why I tip NYC cab drivers so much.
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post #10 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kwilkinson View Post
OP, shouldn't your intern be tipping for you anyway?
Our intern packs his lunch everyday because he is unpaid, but what does he have to do with any of this?
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post #11 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gdl203 View Post
Personally, I tip the same % regardless of the amount. That % is also higher than 15%.
Same here.
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post #12 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by menofcharisma View Post
I tip 20% no matter what--people live off of tips, so unless they're terrible I'll give them that percentage no matter what. Same goes for cabs, my friends always wonder why I tip NYC cab drivers so much.

It is because you are an extremely generous and amazing human being.
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post #13 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrG View Post
You still tip at your normal percentage. If you're spending $150 on a meal everything about it should be much better than the $20 meal at Waffle House, and this includes the service. At Waffle House you tell the person what you want, and they grab it and plop it down on your table. At a nicer restaurant, one would expect that the server know more about the food, be more attentive to your needs, suggest wine pairings, etc.

Basically, 20% quality service at a nice restaurant is better than 20% service at Waffle House, thus it costs more in real dollars.

Stop hating on Waffle House!

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post #14 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gdl203 View Post
There is also usually a lot more waiting staff per patron in nicer, more expensive restaurants. So when tips are divided, you need to take that into account.

Personally, I tip the same % regardless of the amount. That % is also higher than 15%.

Excellent poast. I'm the same.

I tip 15% for decent service, nothing exceptional but also nothing that annoyed. 20% when the food and service generally exceed expectations and 25%+ for exceptional service and food... regardless of the size of the tab.
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post #15 of 328
4/19/10 at 3:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hamish5178 View Post
Stop hating on Waffle House!


Hey, no hate here. Far be it from me to pretend I'm above a little Waffle House every now and then. In fact, MrsG and I "brunched" at WH just last weekend. We just don't have a Denny's where I live, so I had to sub it out with something we do have.

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